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Home > Devotees > 63 Nayanmar Stories
iyarpakai nAyanAr
One of the ancient cities of the world which was the capital of the
early chOza kings, the city in which the river kAvEri enters into
the sea, that famous town was called kAvirippUmpattinam or
pukAr . That being the capital on the shore was a very big trade
center.
The leading businessman of that town, owner of boundless properties,
but slave for the people who do true slavery to the crescent ornated God with
matted hair, who never says "no" to the devotees who asked for something but
gives much before they ask for, called iyarpakaiyAr (contradictor
to the normal behavior (of the world)). While iyarpakaiyAr was leading the
married life serving the Lord, God came in the form of a devotee who chants
the holy vEdas in order to exhibit that the dedication of iyarpakaiyAr never
derails. With a face like the blossomed lotus he gave Him a warm welcome.
He told iyarpakaiyAr that if he is ready to give whatever he is going to ask
for He will tell what He wants. Immediately iyarpakaiyAr replied, "If I have
anything that you ask for, that is yours. No doubt in it. Please ask". The
Lord who had concealed Himself in the form of devotee asked for his wife.
iyarpakaiyAr replied, "I am glad that I have the thing you asked for"
He told his wife, who was the form of chaste and had a never downgoing love
for her husband, that he gave her to the devotee. She was petrified with
shock. She was worried but consoled herself and told him, "If that be your
wish I consider that as my duty" and bowed down. iyarpakaiyAr admiring
her love and chaste heart bowed down in responce. She excelled anything else
by her deed.
iyarpakaiyAr bowed to the Lord and asked what else he can do for Him.
The Lord asked him to escort Him (!) so that He is not attacked by His
relatives. n^AyanAr told I should have done it even before you told me. He
took his sword and shield and went with the devotee and his wife like the
royal lion that goes out for hunting. The relatives of iyarpakaiyAr and his
wife were irked by the act of iyarpakaiyAr and decided "iyarpakai has become
crazy and somebody is taking away the girl. We won't allow it to happen".
They all set out with their weapons and besieged them in the outskirts of
the town. The Lord shivered as if He was scared, but the girl of great deed
said, "Don't worry, iyarpakai will win". iyarpakaiyAr warned them to run away
and get spared. But they scolded him for bringing bad name to the entire family
by sending his wife with a third person. They tried to attack the God in the
devotee form. Angered by their intention to attack the devotee iyarpakaiyAr
raised his sword against his own relatives and the entire group was killed
by him and he, whose head had the crown of the holy feet od Lord shiva,
went around without anybody to oppose.
iyarpakaiyAr told the devotee that there is no need to be afraid. The
chaste hearted lady and he followed the holy feet of the Lord which were
unseen by even brahma and vishNu. As they aaproached the
place chAykkAdu , He told iyarpakaiyAr to return. n^AyanAr bowed
down and returned without turning back. The Lord pleased by his true devotion
shouted loud, "Oh! iyarpakai, who did the deed which is unimaginable ! come
immediately!!". iyarpakaiyAr rushed back in a moment to see if anybody else
escaped and give trouble to the devotee. He didn't see the devotee and saw
only the lady. He saw the Lord shiva who and whose devotees are of greatness
which is beyond the limit of expression. The Lord appeared on the Holy bull
with pArvati like a creeper of maragatham to His side. n^AyanAr
didn't stand, fell down and praised that Honey with the words the competes with
his love. The Lord told, "Your love is faultless and so are you. You and your
flawless wife stay in our abode". With the flower rain of dEvas, praise of
all good thinking sages, they both got the boon of staying with and
worshipping the God of Lords. Their relatives also entered the Heaven.
Let the fame of iyarpakaiyAr of giving away even the wife, who is in fact
more than one's own life stay in the mind.

gurupUjai : mArkazi uththiram
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