Ayavandeeswarar Temple,
Seeyathamangai – Legends
Tiruneelanakka Nayanar:
Tiruneelanakka Nayanar was
a Nayanar saint,
venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism.
He is generally counted as the twenty-eighth in the list of 63 Nayanars. He is described
as a contemporary of Sambandar (first half of the 7th
century CE), one of the most prominent Nayanars. The life of Tiruneelanakka
Nayanar is described in the Tamil Periya
Puranam by Sekkizhar (12th century), which
is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars. One of the most prominent Nayanars, Sundarar (8th
century) venerates Tiruneelanakka Nayanar in the Tiruthonda Thogai, a hymn
to Nayanar saints, calling him Nilanakkan of Sattamangai. A hymn by Sambandar
also honours him.
Tiruneelanakka Nayanar was born
in Thirusathamangai,
an important town in the Chola kingdom. The town is currently
called Seeyathamangai.
Tiruneelanakka was born in a family of Brahmins (priest caste), whose
duty was to recite the Vedic scriptures. An expert in the Vedas,
he was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva and served his devotees, by washing
their feet and welcoming them to his home. He used to worship in the temple as
the Agamic texts. Once on the day
of Poornima (the
full moon day), Tiruneelanakka and his wife went to the Shiva shrine. While Tiruneelanakka
was performing his daily ritual worship of the Lingam (the
aniconic form of Shiva worshipped as the central icon in temples), a spider
fell from his web on the lingam.
The wife blew away the spider,
wherein some saliva could have fallen on the Lingam. In some versions, she goes
a step further and spits on the spot where the spider falls. This action was in
accordance with the tradition of spitting on a part of a child where the spider
fell so as the poison of the spider does not spread in the body. Tiruneelanakka
considered her action blasphemous and asked the wife what she had done. She
replied she just blew away the spider as per tradition. The infuriated Brahmin
said that she had contaminated the lingam by her saliva, as per Agamic
scriptures and she should have removed the spider by some other means.
The Brahmin offered rituals to
purify the lingam and apologized to the god. Further, he abandoned his wife in
fury. While the wife spent her night in the temple, Tiruneelanakka went home
and slept. Lord Shiva appeared in Tiruneelanakka's dream. While a part of the
body was normal, rest of it was swollen by the spider's poison. Lord Shiva
remarked that his normal area was where Tiruneelanakka's wife had blown / spat.
Tiruneelanakka realized that devotion (love) was superior to rituals. In the
dawn, he went dancing to the
temple and worshipped Ayavandeeswarar. He returned with his wife.
Tiruneelanakka continued to
serve Shiva and his devotees with love. Having heard of the child saint Sambandar's
glories, Tiruneelanakka visited to meet him in person. Tiruneelanakka heard
that the Nayanar Sambandar accompanied by another Nayanar Tiru Neelakanta Yazhpanar and
an entourage of devotees were coming to Thirusathamangai. Tiruneelanakka
decorated Thirusathamangai for welcoming Sambandar and hosted him at his home.
He honoured Sambandar with due respect. Tiruneelanakka made numerous
arrangements for Sambandar to spend the night at his house.
Sambandar also suggested that
Yazhpanar and his wife, who were travelling minstrels and composed music to
Sambandar's hymns to be given accommodation. The caste-conscious host was
uneasy inviting the Shudra (low-caste) couple of Tiru Neelakanta
Yazhpanar and his wife home. After insistence by Sambandar, the host gave them
a place to sleep near the Homa kunda, the fire altar used for
sacrifices. The fire of Homa kunda shone brightly in the night, giving
testimony to the couple's devotion. Tiruneelanakka discerned that devotion is
superior to caste barriers too.
Sambandar accompanied
Tiruneelanakka to the Ayavandeeswarar
temple and composed a hymn in honour of the god and his host
Tiruneelanakka Nayanar. Tiruneelanakka wanted to accompany Sambandar on his
travels, but the child saint instructed Tiruneelanakka to stay in Thirusathamangai
and serve Ayavandeeswarar and his devotees. Sambandar left and Tiruneelanakka
complied. After a while, Sambandar invited Tiruneelanakka Nayanar to his
wedding in Thirumana
Nallur (presently known as Achalpuram). Tiruneelanakka officiated as
the presiding priest of the wedding ceremony.
After the wedding, Sambandar,
his bride and the wedding party went the Shivaloka Thyagar Temple of
Shiva, in Thirumana Nallur. Sambandar prayed to Lord Shiva, seeking
salvation. Shiva appeared as a blazing flame and granted his wish. Then
Sambandar, his bride and all the wedding guests, including Tiruneelanakka
Nayanar merged in the Light of Shiva. An image of Tiruneelanakka Nayanar is
worshipped in Ayavandeeswarar
temple. Tiruneelanakka Nayanar is worshipped in the Tamil
month of Vaikasi, when the moon enters the Mula nakshatra (lunar
mansion). He is depicted with a crown and folded hands. He receives collective
worship as part of the 63 Nayanars.
Chettinad traders rebuilt this
Temple:
Once, a group of Chettinad
traders were passing through Thirusathamangai. A young girl came suddenly from
nowhere and invited the elder person of the group to visit the dilapidated
temple in the village. The elder person was so mesmerized by the
divine look of the young girl and also did not want to disappoint the girl,
agreed to visit the
temple. Once, entering the
temple, the girl vanished, and traders believed it to be the play of
the Goddess. On seeing the dilapidated condition of the
temple, they decided to rebuild the
temple.
Ayavandeeswarar:
Lord Brahma (Ayan) worshiped Lord Siva here. Hence, Lord Shiva came to be called as Ayavandeeswarar.