Guest guest Report post Posted June 30, 2005 Sai Ram Brothers & Sisters This is the continuation of the “Periyapuranam Series”………………….. 10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> font-weight:bold">10. THIRUNALAIPPOVAR NAYANAR font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">On the banks of the river “Kallidam” there was a village called Adanoor in the Chola kingdom. font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold">Nandanar who belonged to the untouchable/lower by caste was born in that village. He was an embodiment of humility and devotion. Lord Shiva was his sole refuge. The real affection only to the glorious feet of Lord Shiva, peerless, disciplined in his profession were his characters. He would often visit the holy places of pilgrimage, and supply leather drums and such other musical instruments that are played in the worship of the Lord for the temples. When he went near the temples, he always remained outside and worshipped the Lord mentally as he was not allowed to go inside nay temples due to the caste he belonged. The only hold he had throughout in all the hard times was the love, not an ordinary love to die off at the meeting of obstacles, a determined, pure, sincere love for the Almighty. font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Nandanar a man of immense love for the Lord, which was probably not understood by anyone around other than that Lover Himself, would stand outside the temple wherever he finds one, chant, sing , dance and enjoy in that Glory that is Omnipresent. He wished to salute and serve the Shivalokanathan of Thiruppunkar. bold">With a gigantic interest to worship the God he came by the door side straight in front of the Lord's altar. The holy Bull that is in front of the Lord came in between his vision to the Lord as he had to stand outside the temple. font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:purple;font-weight:bold">The Lord Asutasha, the Easily Pleased, knowing the ardent love of this splendid simple devotee showered his grace by asking the Bull to move aside a little bit so that Nandanar could see Him. He showed the world that it is the sincerity of devotion that matters to Him and not the caste, creed or race. The differences are only in the crooked eyes of the human beings and not in His graceful vision. bold">The humble devotee who was lifted to the top of the world saluted, bowed down, fell down, prostrated. The poor devotee wanted to do whatever service he can possibly do to the Lord of Shivaloka bold">and dug a nice pond from the bad surroundings. At the completion of service circumambulated the God and returned back to his place happily. font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">This way he went to many of the Lord's abodes to salute and did whatever service he could. color:blue;font-weight:bold">One of his ever unfulfilled wish was to see the “Ananda Thandavam” (Blissful dance) of Lord Nataraja at Thillai. Though he had the urge to go, he never went as he was part of the so called low caste birth. Still he never dropped the thought of going, instead he would say, "I will go tomorrow". (“Nalaippovan” means in Tamil that he would go tomorrow. Hence he became known as “Thirunalaippovar”). This tomorrow never arrived and many tomorrows went but he didn’t go. Finally when he couldn’t bear it anymore, he convinced himself to go to Thillai. font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:blue;font-weight:bold">Reaching the frontier of that holy place, he saw the smoke from the sacrifices that were being made and heard the sound of vedhas being chanted. Scared to enter the town that appeared so holy, he circumambulated the town many times and out of fatigue he slept there. 10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:purple;font-weight:bold">The Loving Lord Shiva appeared in the slave's dream telling him to enter his holy abode through fire 10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">. "Comic Sans MS";color:purple;font-weight:bold">At the same time the Lord appeared in the dreams of the priests of Thillai instructing the same to them 10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">. color:blue;font-weight:bold">The fearful priests came to the devotee and told the Lord's saying. Feeling blessed the excellent devotee of the Lord whose love can never be charred by any fire entered the flame praising the Holiest of the holy things, His graceful feet. bold">He emerged from the fire with a new holy body, with sacred ashes smeared all over, the holy thread and matted locks. font-weight:bold"> color:blue;font-weight:bold">He was then taken inside the temple by the priests. In the Kanaka Sabha, he worshipped the Lord. He went into a divine ecstasy and was completely absorbed in the dance of the Lord. font-weight:bold"> color:purple;font-weight:bold">A dazzling light was seen in the room, and Nandanar had disappeared. He had become one with Lord Nataraja font-weight:bold">. font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:green;font-weight:bold">Let the steadfast devotion of Thirunalaipovar Nayanar (Nandanar) toward the Lord, in spite of all the obstacles he faced due to the lower caste he belonged, till he merged with the Lord stay in our mind!!!!!! font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:windowtext">Sai Ram font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:windowtext">Shivathmika 10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:green;font-weight:bold"> 10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:green;font-weight:bold"> 10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> Attachment: (image/jpeg) image001.jpg [not stored] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
