Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
Karpuru Manaiviyarum Kanavanar Kana ellam
Porpura Meyyu Ramal Porundhuva Poricheyya
Irpuram Pozhiya Thankan Iruvarum Veru Vaiki
Arpuru Punarchi Inmai Ayalari Yamai Vazhdhar
Thirunilakanda Nayanar was an ardent devotee of Lord Natarajar and Goddes Sivakami of Chidamaram . He visualized Lord Nataraja in his cosmic dance form with His consort – Mother of the Universe – Thillai Nayaki witnessing the enchanting beauty of the Lord in the Golden Hall of Chidambaram. Thiru Nilakanta Nayanar was a potter, makes attractive pots and other items using clay and it was his livelihood to take care of his family. His wife was a beautiful young and pious woman, highly devoted to Lord Nilakanta, (Lord who is having blue throat). She chants the divine name of Lord ‘Thirunilakantam’ incessantly which made her to carry out her work at ease.
Once, Thiru Nilakanta Nayanar had an attraction towards another woman, who was selling herself for bodily pleasures. Thiru Nilakanta Nayanars wife came to know about this, she felt humiliated at the malicious act of her husband. As a devoted life, she continued to serve Thiru Nilakanta Nayanar with all his needs but refused to perform the duty of a wife in his bed. In order to bring down the resentment between them, in their husband and wife relationship, Thiru Nilakanta Nayanar approached his wife with sweet words. It mounted the anger of his wife and she ordered not to touch her in the name of Lord Thirnilakantam. Instead of using the word (Do not touch me in the name of Lord) ‘me’ she used ‘us’ (Do not touch us in the name of Lord). Instantly, he whisked off his hand from her and agreed to her order ‘Let it be’. From that moment onwards Thirunilakanda Nayanar made a promise to himself that he will not touch any woman in his life. The promise to his wife made enormous changes in the life of Thirunilakanta Nayanar, the covetousness and desire for the bodily pleasures died instantaneously. The young couple lived a righteous life abstaining from any sensual pleasure. The absence of physical intimacy made no changes in their responsibility and respect towards each other. They grew old with their strict vows, lived an honorable life at the devotion to Lord.
Once, a Sanyasin visited Thirunilakanda Nayanar. Nayanar received the Sanyasin with due respect and honor. While leaving, the Sanyasin handed Thirunilakanda Nayanar with a pot (used for receiving alms) and instructed him to safeguard the precious pot, which has amazing nature of purifying the things rest on it. The Sanyasin also added that he would be paying visit to Nayanar once again to claim his pot on his return journey. Thirunilakanda Nayanar received the pot dutifully from the Sanyasin and kept it safely.
After some period of time, the Sanyasin paid a visit to Thiru Nilakanda Nayanar and claimed for his pot. Thiru Nilakanda Nayanar went on search for the pot he had kept it safely. He continued his search but could not find the same. He was ashamed of his negligence with utter shame and guilt revealed the truth to Sanyasin. The Sanyasin, who is the Knower of All – used his illusionary powers to disappear the pot safeguarded by the Nayanar, He approached Nayanar in a rage and accused him a culprit and because of his carelessness he had lost his precious pot. Thiru Nilakanda Nayanar was utterly painful situation he was readily offered the Sanyasin with the replica of the lost pot, but the stubborn natured Sanyasin refused to accept anything.
Thiru Nilakanda Nayanar pleaded him and begged for forgiveness, he had kept pot safely and he was truly unaware of its missing. Finally, the Sanyasin demanded that if Thiru Nilakanda Nayanar was true to his words he should give a promise holding his wife’s hand. Thiru Nilakanda Nayanar instantly refused to take any oath holding his wife’s hand. Sanyasin proclaimed that Nayanar is the wrongdoer, so he should get punished for his mistake. Sanyasin sternly declared that the matter should be taken to the assembly of chief Brahmins of their village. Finally, the assembled Brahmins heard the complaint against Thiru Nilakanda Nayanar and verdict followed, Nayanar should give an oath holding his wife’s hand and take a dip in the temple tank. Nayanar flatly refused the action of holding his wife’s hand and take a dip. Nayanar described the assembled Brahmins about their vow they had taken in their life in the holy name of Lord, not to touch his wife in his life. At last, they decided to take holy dip together holding both the ends of a stick. As the whole villagers witnessing, the couple moved to the temple tank holding both the ends of a stick and had a dip. It was an absolute miracle; there was young couple with attractive features come into sight from the temple tank in its place of elderly Thiru Nilakanda Nayanar and his wife. In the meantime, Sanyasin got disappeared at the happening of events. Immediately, everyone could visualize Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati blessed the young couple with eternal youth and piousness for their righteous life abstaining from sensuous pleasure and the honorable life they had lived at the supreme faith on Lord.
In the Tamil month Thai - Vishakam celebrated as ‘Guru Puja Day’ of Thiru Nilakanda Nayanar in his Mukthisthalam – Thirupulicharam in Chidabaram.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
Courtesy: Saivam.org/dishq.org
