Introduction

The saintly devotees of Shiva are known as Nayanmar (Nayanar). There are 63 of them. The activities of these devotees differ, but the one thing in common is their intense love for the Lord. 

They followed different ways of praying the God and led different kinds of life styles - brahmacharyam (Sandesar), grihastam (Nilakandar), vanaprastam (Aiyadikal Kadavarkon), sanyasam (Thirumular). 

Their traditional work (akin to caste system) too differed - Sampandhar (reciting Vedha), Appar (farmer), Nilakandar (potter), Thirunalaippovar (cobbler) and so on.

There are both male and female (Ichainyaniyar, Karaikkal ammaiyar) devotees. 

The wives of many of these Nayanmars too were equally devoted to Lord Shiva as their husbands were (Thirunilakandar).

Some of them were highly learned while some others excelled with their simple devotion though not learned in any scriptures (Kannappar). 

Some of them were kings (Pukazch chozar) and some others didn't even have even a house to live in (Thirumular). 

They all excelled in their own way - single minded devotion to Shiva.

One can find some important qualities in the lives of these saints. Most of them did not undertake a service that was different from their regular lifestyle. 

The weaver Necar had taken the service of providing clothes whereas the farmer Marar gave them food. 

The service they undertook may look mundane, like throwing a stone on the Shivalingam everyday, but they did it with intense love for the Lord and with determination, undermining the hurdles on their way.

1. Sundaramurthi Nayanar -1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
2. Thiruneelakanda (or) Tiru Neelakanta Nayanar
3. Iyarpakai (or) Iyarpahai Nayanar
4. Ilayaankudi Maara (or) Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar
5. Meiyporul (or) Maiporul Nayanar
6. Viranminda (or) Viralminda Nayanar
7. Amaraneedi Nayanar
8. Yeripatha (or) Eripatha Nayanar
9. Yenathi natha (or) Enadinatha Nayanar
10. Kannappa Nayanar
11. Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar
12. Manakanjarar or Manakanchara Nayanar
13. Arivattaya Nayanar
14. Anaya Nayanar
15. Murthi Nayanar
16. Muruga Nayanar
17. Rudra Pasupathi Nayanar
18. Tiru Nalai Povar Nayanar
19. Tiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar
20. Chandesvara Nayanar - there are two page for him
21. Tiru-Navukkarasar Nayanar - there are three page for him
22. Kulachirai Nayanar
23. Perumizhalai Kurumba Nayanar
24. Karaikal Ammaiyar
25. Appuddi Nayanar
26. Tiruneelanakka Nayanar
27. Nami Nandi Adigal
28. Tiru Jnana Sambandar - 1 and 2
29. Eyarkon Kalikama Nayanar
30. Tiru Mula Nayanar
31. Dandi Adigal Nayanar
32. Murkha Nayanar
33. Somasira Nayanar
34. Sakkiya Nayanar
35. Sirappuli Nayanar
36. Siruthonda Nayanar
37. Cheraman Perumal Nayanar
38. Gananatha Nayanar
39. Kootruva Nayanar
40. Pugal Chola Nayanar
41. Narasinga Muniyaraiyar
42. Adipattha Nayanar
43. Kalikamba Nayanar
44. Kalia Nayanar
45. Satti Nayanar
46. Aiyadigal Kadavarkon Nayanar
47. Kanampulla Nayanar
48. Kari Nayanar
49. Ninra Seer Nedumara Nayanar
50. Mangayarkarasiyar
51. Vayilar Nayanar
52. Munaiyaduvar Nayanar
53. Kazharsinga Nayanar
54. Seruthunai Nayanar
55. Idangazhi Nayanar
56. Pugazh Tunai Nayanar
57. Kotpuli Nayanar
58. Pusalar Nayanar
59. Nesa Nayanar
60. Kochengat Chola Nayanar
61. Tiru Neelakanta Yazhpanar
62. Sadaya Nayanar
63. Isaignaniyar

All saints general intro and gist of all person - in Tamizh and in English

Planned to post an article about each one per week.  
Birth Places of each Nayanar - Click here
Suggestions are welcome.

Regards,

Vanakkam Subbu

Hari (only copy and paste, the article)

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