Arivattaya
Nayanar Temple,
Kannanthangudi – Legends
Arivattaya Nayanar was a Nayanar saint,
venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism.
He is the 12th of 63 Nayanar saints
of Hinduism. The life of Arivattaya Nayanar is described in Periya
Puranam written by Sekkizhar
(12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars.
One of the most prominent Nayanars, Sundarar (8th
century) venerates Arivattaya
Nayanar in the Tiruthonda Thogai.
Arivattaya
Nayanar was born as Thayanar on a Thiruvadhirai (Adra) star day in
the Tamil month Thai in a wealthy Vellalar family
in Kannanthangudi, a village located in Thiruvarur District.
Thayanar was a staunch devotee
of Shiva and lived in Kannamangalam village with his wife. Though Thayanar was
the richest man in Kannamangalam, he led a righteous life. He was blessed with
fertile farmland and
adequate wealth. Thayanar and his chaste wife vowed to spend selfless service
to Shiva. The couple made it routine to offer fine variety of cooked rice along
with spinach to Shiva as Naivedyam (food offering). Thayanar
continued his humble and modest life with devotion by serving Shiva and his
devotees.
Lord Shiva wanted to test the
devotion and faith of Thayanar and his wife. Thayanar lost his wealth
gradually, but his devotion still remained intact. Once a farm-owner, now
Thayanar worked as a daily wage labourer in the fields. Yet he vowed to
continue his devotional duties and offered Shiva cooked rice, made out of the
grains he earned as wages. He was contended with the poor-quality grains those
remained for him and lived in poverty with his staunch faith in Shiva.
Over a period of time the
village was affected severely by drought and famine. Thayanar and his wife
struggled to earn a livelihood and starved for days together. Thayanar's wife
was never discouraged by the hardships. For the continuance of services to the
Lord, the couple sold everything they had. One day, the couple prepared and
packed a basket full of cooked rice, green spinach, mango pickle, milk, curd,
buttermilk, butter, ghee and the holy ashes. They proceeded towards Thandalacherry Neenerinathar
Temple to offer the food.
The aged couple appeared thin
and lost their energy due to incessant starvation. Hunger and poverty were
taxing them. Thayanar, who carried the food basket lost his control and fell
down on the ground. The food fell on the ground and was wasted. Thayanar was
much moved and wept terribly. His carelessness was the reason for the loss of
food meant for God and he wanted to punish himself for the sin. He took a
dagger and thrust it on his neck. Thayanar felt the presence of some force,
preventing his attempt for suicide.
When he opened his eyes, Lord Shiva
and his consort Parvati appeared before the couple by
sitting on their celestial bull vehicle. Lord Shiva appreciated the couple's
selfless devotion and faith and declared that they passed their trial of faith.
Lord Shiva blessed the couple with Salvation. Since saint Arivattaya Nayanar
was born in the star Thiruvadhirai (Ardra) of Tamil month Thai, the saint is
being worshipped in Shiva temples on this specific day and is celebrated as
Arivattaya Nayanar's day.
