Om Namah ShivayaVetrivel Muruganukku AroharaHar Har Mahadev
Home / Nayanmars / Meiporul Nayanar
The king who shielded his own assassin because he wore the sacred ash.

மெய்ப்பொருள் நாயனார்Meiporul Nayanar

Native placeThirukovilur (Tirukkoyilur), capital of Miladu Nadu
Associated templeVeerateeswarar Temple, Thirukovilur
Guru PujaKarthigai - Uthiram
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The Life

Meiporul Nayanar was the Malaadu (Sethi) chieftain ruling from Thirukovilur, a devotee who honoured Shiva's servants above all else. A rival king, Muthanathan, unable to defeat him in open war, came disguised as a Saiva ascetic carrying a holy book, claiming to reveal a secret scripture. Admitted with reverence, he drew a dagger hidden in the book and stabbed the king as Meiporul bowed to his feet. As his loyal guard Dathan rushed to cut down the assassin, the dying king forbade it, for the man wore the sacred ash and matted locks of a Saiva and must be escorted unharmed beyond the borders. Commending his people to serve Shiva, Meiporul meditated on the Lord, who appeared and bore him to Kailasa.