63 Nayanmars - Life of Thiru Arivattaya Nayanar !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

Enravar Poriseyya Idappava Kanarayath Thondri

Nanruni Purintha Cheikai Nanudhal Udaney Kooda

Endrum Nam Ulakil Vazhavey Endravar Udaney Nanna

Manrule Adum Aiyar Mazhavidai Ukaththuchendrar

Kana Mangalam is situated on the river banks of Cauvery, one of the flourishing regions in the Choza Kingdom.   Thayanar (Arivattaya Nayanar) was a fervent devotee of Lord Shiva lived in this village with his wife.   He was one of the wealthiest men in that village; he was modest and led a righteous life.  He and his chaste wife believed in self-less service to Lord.  He owned vast agricultural land, he offered Lord with the most superior quality grains produced from his farmland as Bhog (Naivedhyam) along with spinach. 

The Almighty wanted to test the devotion of Thayanar.  Thayanar continued his humble and modest life in serving Lord and his devotees.  Gradually Thayanar’s riches vanished but his status as a faithful devotee to Lord remained intact.  He worked in others farm field and earned his wages in the form of grains.   He served the Lord with the best grains available and fed the family with the lowest quality grains received as wage.   He was contented and remained composed as usual at this stage of sheer poverty too.  Time passed by, the village was struck by severe famine and drought.  Thayanar and his wife find it difficult to find the minimum necessities of life. Sometimes, they had to starve for many days without anything to consume.   Thayanar’s wife who was equally devoted like her husband most willingly handed all their belongings, ornaments, vessels and valuables for sale.  They continued their sincere service to Lord with that money.

One day, Thayanar and his wife carried a basket full of cooked rice, spinach, mango pickle along with ghee, butter, milk, curd and holy ashes as Bhog to Lord Shiva, they resumed  their journey to the temple of Lord Shiva in Kannathangudi (one of the villages in Thanjavur district and birth place of Thayanar).  The couples were weak and tired of incessant starving.  They were completely worn out of hunger and thirst.  On their half way, Thayanar abruptly stumbled and fell on the ground in a huge thud with the basket and other materials.   They both withered all the offerings on the ground they were carried.  Thayanar was alarmed at this terrible sight and wept bitterly. He was totally uncontrollable with the mounting pain and guilt.  He considered this act as a severe sin due to his carelessness.  He felt ashamed at this treacherous act and decided to kill himself.  He furiously took out his dagger and thrust it on his neck.  Suddenly, two hands stretched out from the ground and caught Thayanar’s, with an intention to bring him to a halt.  The most compassionate Lord Shiva appeared on his celestial vehicle with Goddess Parvati and blessed Arivattaya Nayanar and his wife for their selfless-devotion.  The couple attained Salvation for their unparalleled devotion to Lord.  

In the Tamil month Thai – Thiruvadhirai is widely celebrated as Guru Puja day to commemorate the above incident. 

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!