Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
Namakku Munpin Kunavilai Yayinum
Imakkulakkudi Pakarkkiniyavar
Thamakkunamin Adichil Thakavura
Amaikkumaren Nanenankena
Ilayankudi was the birth place of Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar. Although he was wealthiest, he was a man of hard working nature; he worked hard on his farm fields and serves the devotees of Lord Shiva. He visualized Lord on the very appearance of his devotees on their smeared mark of ashes, Rudraksha and matted hair. He receives his guests – devotees of Lord Shiva with utmost reverence, he prostrate before them and wash their feet with water, he consume the Charanamrita Thirtha of the devotees, he worships the devotees with Deepam, Dhoopam, Nivediyam as similar to the offerings made to Lord. He pleases his guests – devotees of Lord with his nectar like speeches and send them off after paying due respect and honor.
Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar firmly believed that the wealth he had possessed were the blessings of Lord and it belonged to Him. He was very meticulous to utilize them only for serving Lord and his devotees. Lord Shiva was pleased at the devotion of Ilayankudimara Nayanar and desired to reveal his sincere devotion to the world. Years passed by, Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar’s wealth started to melt away but his virtues remains the same. Though he found it difficult to meet both the ends, his self-less devotion to Lord and his devotees grew more intensely. Finally, he was left with no wealth; he had to sell himself to meet the daily needs and receive his guests - devotees of Lord.
Nayanar and his virtuous wife had to face the dreadful face of poverty. They had to spend several days without food; they amicably handled the awful state of their living. Once it was raining heavily, Nayanar and his wife had no food to partake and soon they both fell asleep due to tired of hunger. Immediately, they heard a knock at the door. Nayanar rushed to open the door and found a devotee of Lord; he was all soaked to the skin due to the heavy rain. Nayanar forgot all his tiredness and received his guest with utmost respect and offered him with fresh clothes to wear. Nayanar requested his guest to relax for some time and promised to be back with food to appease his hunger.
Though Nayanar was already promised to be back with food to his guest, he became very uneasy at the thought of nothing has left at home to offer his guest. He remembered the grains they had sowed that day on their backyard. He and his devoted wife set off in the dark and heavy torrential rain, the whole village was in sleep and there was not enough light to pick the seeds sown. They found all the grains were floating on the flooded water and they picked up the grains effortlessly. His wife hurried to kitchen and agonizingly realized the truth that there was no firewood to cook. Nayanar plucked one of the strong pieces of wood from the roof - top of their house and handed to his wife. She created cooking fire instantly, she fried the grains and crushed them, within seconds Nayanar joined her with some spinach/lettuce picked up from their backyard. Within in a short time his wife cooked a fine meal for their guest. The couple felt very happy at the progress they have made, they recalled the compassion of Lord which made them to serve their guest in honor.
Nayanar with greatest pleasure approached the place where his guest was relaxing. Unfortunately, Nayanar could not see his guest anywhere; Nayanar continued his search for him. He was terribly shocked at the disappearance of his guest without having meal and waveringly searched for him in the whole house. At last, Nayanar painfully realized that the guest arrived was nowhere in his home. He was extremely dejected, suddenly he could witness a sharp illumine luster before his eyes, he could visualize Lord Shiva with the Mother of Universe Goddess Parvati. The most pleased Lord blessed Nayanar and his devoted wife with perpetual salvation.
Sri Guru Puja is widely celebrated on the day –Makam in the Tamil month of Avani to commemorate the above incident at the birth place of Maranayanar in Ilayankudi.
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Courtsey: shaivam.org
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