63 Nayanmars - Life of Thiru Meypporul Nayanar !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

 

Vedhanaiyedhi Vizhdhavendharal Vilakkappatta

Thadhanan Thaththaan Thanum Thalayinal Vanagithangi

Yadhunan Cheyken Yenna Enpiran Adiyar Poka

Midhidai Vilakka Vannam Kondupoi Viduninenrar

Sri Meypporul Nayanar was a great ruler of the ancient kingdom Chethinadu and the famous city Thirukkovalur as its capital.  Thirukkovalur is one of the prominent place closely related to the myth where Lord Shiva beheaded the demon Andhakasura.  Meypporul Nayanar was a righteous ruler   and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He was highly learned and well versed with Agama Siddhanthas.  He visualized Lord in all his devotees’ presence in their smeared faces with holy ashes, matted hair locks and Rudraksha.  He had great respect and honor for the devotees of Lord Shiva.  He ruled his kingdom wisely, his country flourished with rich natural resources and the people had great respect for their King.  Therefore, the entire people of the Kingdom had happy and prosperous life.  The kingdom and its people found supreme pleasure in the special prayers and festivals conducted under the instruction of Meyyporul Nayanar on regular basis.  Nayanar’s glory and fame known to everyone and it stirred up the jealousy amongst the rulers of neighboring state.

 

                          

 

Muthanathan was the king of neighboring state; he was a ruthless King envious at the glories of Meyyporul Nayanar and attacked his Kingdom - Chethinadu several times with his enormous army and failed repeatedly. It provoked Muthanathan to play a trick against Meyyporul Nayanar.  He disguised as a devotee of Lord Shiva and entered the city of Meypporul Nayanar.  Although it was unusual hours in the night the access to the palace was effortless, in its place he took great pleasure in the respect and honors offered to the devotee of Lord.  Finally, Muthanan arrived in front of Nayanar’s private chamber.  Dathan - the faithful servant of the King felt curious seeing a devotee of Lord Shiva during the odd hours scuttling in to the private chamber of the King.  Dathan tried to stop Muthanathan, with the good intention that it was an odd hour to awaken the King from his deep sleep.  But, the devotee of Lord was not willing to listen anything Dathan had to pronounce.  He swindled on Dathan with a quick answer that he wanted to share some important lessons on Sastra with the King.  Dathan was suspicious at the act of the devotee; unfortunately he failed to stop Muthanathan at the entry point.  Muthanathan rushed inside the chamber, seeing a devotee at the bedside of the King, wife of Nayanar got alarmed and woke him up. At once, King received the devotee with great respect and honor, prostrated him and enquired him the reason for his unexpected visit.  The devotee replied that he wanted to impart some knowledge to Nayanar at the divine instruction of Lord and he insisted Nayanar to remain on his own in the chamber.  Nayanar immediately sent off his wife from the chamber.  Soon, the devotee turned violent and stabbed Nayanar on his back.  Dathan who was already suspicious at the act of the devotee hurried to the chamber and saw the King lying on the floor amidst the pool of blood and Muthanathan with his knife.  Dathan mounted with anger rushed to attack Muthanathan, before long Meyyporul Nayanar commanded ‘He is the devotee of Lord Shiva and he has the appearance of Lord himself.  The devotee of Lord Shiva should not be ill-treated and it is our responsibility to make sure that he is not facing any dangers from the people while crossing our Kingdom.’  Dathan sincerely followed the command of his master.  He escorted Muthanathan while crossing their Kingdom, people gathered and Dathan explained the whole disastrous experiences with them.   They were furious and mounted to attack Muthanathan, but Dathan ordered them to stay calm as it was the order of their King at his deathbed.  The people remained calm watching their rival walking away.  The people with their eyes soaked in tears admired their King and his virtues.

Dathan returned to the palace and informed the King about the news that he had send off Muthanathan without any harm.   Nayanar was holding his life to hear the pleasant news from Dathan.  Nayanar conveyed his last message to his men ‘It is the responsibility of people of Chethinadu to receive the Devotees of Lord Shiva with honor and respect and serve them at any circumstances.  Let the country flourish with peace and prosperity in the name of Lord and his devotees.’ Uttering these words Meypporul Nayanar took his last breath and attained the Abode of Lord Shiva.

The Tamil month Karthikai – Uthiram is widely celebrated as Guru Puja day in Thirukkovalur, the birth place of Meypporul Nayanar.

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!


 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!