Native placePullirukkuvelur (Vaitheeswaran Koil), Sirkazhi taluk
Associated templeVaitheeswaran Koil, Pullirukkuvelur; Thillai Nataraja temple, Chidambaram (mukti)
Guru PujaKarthikai (Krithikai)
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The Life
Kanampulla Nayanar was born to a farming family in Pullirukkuvelur, a devout servant of Shiva who spent all he had on lighting lamps in the Lord's temples. As his wealth dwindled he moved to Chidambaram, earning his living by cutting and selling kanam-pul grass, and with the little he made he still kept the temple lamps burning. When a famine came and no one would buy his grass, he twisted the dry grass itself into wicks to feed the flame. One night even this failed, and the lamp began to die; unwilling to let the Lord's light go out, he thrust his own hair into the flame to keep it burning. At that moment Shiva appeared before him, blessed his selfless devotion, and freed him from the cycle of birth and death.
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 ›