Great Devotees of Lord Siva 14

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called Abhirami Amman. Abhirami Pattar, a great devotee of Mother, sang

beautiful songs in praise of Her: and the Mother Who was highly pleased with

this, changed the new moon day into a full moon day, in order to save him from

the king’s wrath. For more details of the temple please visit:

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s063.html Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar was a

Brahmin. He got the name because he was always holding a pot (an incense pot)

in

his hand. He considered burning of incense before the Lord was the best service

to Him. Lord Siva was highly pleased with the Nayanar’s intense devotion and

his wonderful service. He wanted to put it to test, so that the true glory of

his supreme devotion to the Lord may be understood by all. By the will of Lord

Siva, Nayanar became poor suddenly. He sold all his property. His family was

starving. Still, he continued to burn incense before the Lord. One day his

dutiful wife thought: ‘Everything has been sold. Only this Mangalyam (a sacred

thread with a pendant, which every married woman must always have on her

person, till the husband dies, when it is removed), is left. I will give it to

my Lord: though it is inauspicious to do so. Let him sell it and obtain some

rice, with which we could feed the children who may die of hunger otherwise.’

She removed the Mangalyam and

gave it to her husband, who gladly received it. As he was proceeding to the

market to sell it, Lord Siva Himself appeared before him, in the guise of a

hawker and said that he had very good incense. The word incense at once made

Nayanar forget himself and the mission! He quickly bought incense for the price

of the Mangalyam, and went to the temple to burn it before the Lord. His wife

patiently waited for his return, and, not finding him even after nightfall, put

the children to bed and remained praying. The Lord was immensely pleased with

this noble couple. The faithful wife was prepared to part with even the most

sacred ornament for the service of her lord, her husband. That night Lord Siva

appeared in her dream and blessed her with all wealth.

Roman" size="3">She woke up from her sleep and was amazed to find all types of

wealth in the house. She sang His glories. Immediately she prepared a nice meal

and was waiting for her lord’s return. After blessing the Nayanar’s wife,

thus, Lord Siva appeared before Nayanar in the temple and said: ‘Oh noble soul,

I am immensely pleased with your devotion. Your dutiful wife is anxiously

waiting for you in the house with milk and food. Kindly go to your house.’ It

was only then that Nayanar became aware of this world! He returned to the house

and found that it had been transformed into a heaven, by the grace of the Lord.

Siva Bhaktas, too, had assembled in the house in large numbers. They all sang

the glories of the Lord. The Nayanar treated the wealth that the Lord had

bestowed upon him as the property of Siva Bhaktas and served

them. Tirumantiram by Rishi Tirumular Verse 269: Giving is

Aiming TrueSeek not wealth that many reckon as life indeed,Nor waste your days

on fools, of wisdom dark,But turn your feet to the eternal Home and praise the

Lord,Then

true bowman you prove, hitting straight the mark. Commentary: Do not go after

accumulation of wealth as if it is all to life; nor waste your days flattering

fools of dark wisdom. Praise the Lord. You shall reach His home. Verse 251:

The Charitable Realize the SelfWho the self realise, seek and adore

the Feet of the Lord;Who the self realise, most freely give in charity;Who the

self realise, Lord of Tattvas

become;Who the self realise, Kin to the Lord in dear amity. Commentary: They

who adore the Feet of the Lord realise the Self; they who give freely in

charity realise the Self; they who cognise the Tattvas realise the Self. The

Lord is kin to those who realise the Self. Verse 252: Charity is

Within Reach of AllEasy to

all to offer in worship a green leaf to the Lord,Easy to all to give a mouthful

to the cow,Easy to all to give a handful, sitting down to eat,Easy to all,

good, kind words on others to bestow. Verse 256: By Your

Charities Lord Knows YouTo him who renounces, no kith or kin has he;To him

condemned to beg, no true delights has he;To him who charityless is, the Lord

denies His Presence;By the measure of thy charity done, the Lord is known to

thee. Commentary: The Lord denies His presence to him who has not given in

charity. Only by the measure of your charity does the Lord know you. Except

charity, what kith and kin can a man have after death? Verse 257:

Charity Leads to Life EternalSome in charity overflow; by such noble deeds

done,Noble gods they become in human beings' high esteem;And the many who hold

this fleshly body their dear God,To them comes Death, saying; "I, your God

supreme."

Roman"> Commentary: Men who give in charity are esteemed as gods on earth. To

others death comes saying “I am your God.” One day Nayanar wanted to visit

the temple at Tiruppanandal. The Lord of this temple is Arunasatesar. Thatakai

was the daughter of an Asura. For getting a son, she worshipped the Siva Lingam

regularly. One day at the end of the worship, she wanted to garland the Lingam.

As she lifted the garland with both her hands, her cloth began to slip from her

waist. She held it with her elbows, and hence could not raise her hands (and the

garland) high enough. To relieve her, the Lord leaned to one side and accepted

the garland. Many people tried to pull

the Lingam straight: but it could not be done. Nayanar heard that the king of

the place was upset about it and wanted the Lingam to be straightened. Nayanar

wanted to help the king. He tied the Lingam to his neck with a rope (the rope

of God-love) and gently pulled it. The Lingam became upright! Devas rained

flowers from heaven. All were amazed and recognised the glory of the Nayanar

and his great devotion to the Lord. After spending some more time in the

service of Lord Siva and His Bhaktas, Nayanar reached His Abode. Sivaya

Namah

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