Native placeKanamangalam, Chola country
Associated templeKanamangalam
Guru PujaThai - Thiruvadhirai
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The Life
Thayanar, a Vellala of Kanamangalam, daily carried a devout offering to Shiva of fine red rice, tender greens and mango, worshipping without fail even as poverty overtook him. Reduced to living on meagre wages, he still offered all his paddy to the Lord and went hungry himself. One day, weak with fasting, he stumbled while bearing the cooked offering to the temple, and everything spilled into the cracks of the parched earth. Overcome with grief at failing the Lord, he took the reaping-sickle (arivaal) and set it to his own throat to atone. Shiva stayed his hand, letting him hear the sound of the Lord relishing the fallen food, and revealed His grace. From the sickle he is remembered as Arivattaya Nayanar.
சுந்தரர் (சுந்தரமூர்த்தி நாயனார்)Sundarar (Sundaramurthi Nayanar)
The comrade of Shiva whose wedding the Lord halted by claiming him as His bond-slave.
Thirunavalur (Tirunavalur), Nadu-naduRead the life ›
திருநீலகண்ட நாயனார்Thiru Neelakanta Nayanar
The Chidambaram potter bound for life by his wife's vow taken in Shiva's name.
Chidambaram (Thillai)Read the life ›
இயற்பகை நாயனார்Iyarpagai Nayanar
The Puhar merchant who surrendered even his own wife at a devotee's word.
Kaveripoompattinam (Puhar)Read the life ›