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Monday, April 6, 2020

Arivattaya Nayanar Temple, Kannanthangudi – Legends

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.