Tiru-Navukkarasar Nayanar
Appar
or Tiru Navukkarasar flourished in the 7th century A. D. He is one of
the four Saiva Samaya Acharyas (Saivite spiritual teachers). He was born
in Tiruvamoor in Tirumunaipadi Nadu. Pukalanar was his father;
Mathiniyar, his mother. Mathiniyar gave birth to a daughter whom they
named Tilakavathi. After some years, Mathiniyar had a son whom they
called Marulneekiar, the dispeller of darkness or ignorance. Early in
life he mastered all the Shastras.
When
Tilakavatiar reached her twelfth year, she was betrothed to
Kalaipahayar, a military commander in the Pallava army. Before the
wedding, however, he was sent by the king to fight another, and he died
in battle.
Pukalanar
fell seriously ill and died. Mathiniyar committed Sati (died on the
husband’s funeral pyre). As the children were recovering from this
shock, the news of Kalipahayar’s death reached Tilakavathiar: and as
she, since her betrothal, had regarded him as her husband, she decided
to commit Sati, too. But, Marulneekiar pleaded with her reminding her
that now she was his mother, and also threatened to die if she would not
change her mind and live. Tilakavathiar changed her mind for the young
brother’s sake. Even though she was young, she led the life of an
ascetic. She was highly devoted to Lord Siva. Her glorious ascetic life
has been sung by Sekizar, the author of Tirumurai. She was mother to Appar.
Marulneekiar,
even while young, had realised the unreality of the world. He engaged
himself in all kinds of charitable works. He was eager to find out the
best religion and to follow it. He had heard much about Jainism and its
wonderful practice of Ahimsa. He believed that Jainism would give him
emancipation and so became a convert. He even went to Pataliputra (in
South Arcot district) and joined the Jain school. He attained mastery
over all their scriptures.
Tilakavathiar
was heart-broken over this change in her brother. She abandoned her
native place and settled in Tiruvadigai Virattanam, in a Mutt she built
there. She prayed fervently to Lord Virattaneswarar to save her brother
and shower His grace upon him. The Lord appeared in her dream one day
and said: ‘My child, your brother has already done severe Tapas in order
to attain Me. I will surely turn his mind, by making him suffer from
severe colic, and then take him to My fold.’
Marulneekiar
fell a victim to severe colic. He could not bear the pain. The Jains
tried their best but could not relieve the pain. He felt intuitively
that it was an eye-opening experience. He lost faith in Jainism. He
thought of his sister. He threw away the Jain garb and without informing
anybody, returned to his sister. He fell at her feet and prayed to her
to protect him. She understood it was His Lila, and said that by the
grace of Lord Siva, he would be all right. She smeared the holy ashes on
his forehead and repeated the Panchakshara Mantra. His ignorance
vanished. She took him to the temple of Virattanesvarar. He worshipped
the Lord and sang a hymn: ‘Oh Lord, I have insulted You and Your
religion. I have committed many evil acts. Once on the bank of Godavari,
I argued with the saints and established the superiority of Jainism.
For all this evil, Lord Yama himself has come to me in the form of this
excruciating pain. Oh Lord, You are my sole prop and refuge. Save me. I
will ever keep Your Lotus Feet in my heart.’ When he concluded the song,
the pain disappeared. A celestial voice said: ‘From now on you will be
known as Tiru Navukkarasar, ‘Lord of Speech’. Your glory will spread everywhere.’ Thus Lord Siva’s grace restored his faith in Saivism.
Tilakavathiar
was immensely happy, too. Tirunavukkarasar became a staunch devotee of
Lord Siva and lived in Him repeating the Panchakshara Mantra.
The
Jains at Pataliputra were afraid that, if the king came to know that
because of their inability to treat Tirunavukkarasar (to whom they had
given the name Dharmasenar) he had left them and gone back to Saivism,
he would take them to task. So they concocted a new story and showed
Tirunavukkarasar as a traitor against the king and the royal religion,
viz., Jainism. The king ordered his ministers to produce
Tirunavukkarasar before him. They went to Tiruvathikai, with an army.
When Tirunavukkarasar heard of the charge against him, he said: ‘Oh
Ministers! I am no longer your king’s subject. I am the subject of Lord
Siva, the protector of all beings, the destroyer of all sins, the Lord
of all gods, the bestower of immortality and eternal bliss. Disobedience
to the king may amount to treason in the case of other people, not
mine, because I am under His protection. Fear cannot approach me,
because I am under the protection of one who once kicked Lord Yama, to
save His (Siva’s) Bhakta.’ The Ministers recognised his greatness: but
were afraid to return without him. They, therefore, begged of him to
come with them out of his supreme compassion, and to establish the glory
of Saivism. Tirunavukkarasar went with them.
The
very sight of Tirunavukkarasar enraged the king who asked the Jain
heads to decide upon the proper punishment to be meted out to him. They
suggested that he be thrown into a burning lime kiln. Accordingly, he
was shut up in a kiln for seven days. He remained there, fixing his mind
on the Lord and repeating His Name. By His grace, the heat of the kiln
was transformed into a cool breeze. At the end of seven days, the Jains,
to their surprise, found Tirunavukkarasar alive, and absorbed in deep
meditation. They attributed this to the power acquired by him when he
was a Jain: and advised the king to poison him. Again, by the grace of
Lord Siva the poison was transformed into nectar. Again, the Jains
attributed this to the efficacy of the Jain Mantras which
Tirunavukkarasar had learnt from them, and advised the king to have him
trampled by the elephant. Tirunavukkarasar, boldly facing the elephant
sang a hymn in praise of the Lord. Tirunavukkarasar’s loving look
transformed the elephant’s nature and it went round him and prostrated
to him. The Mahouts goaded it: but it got wild and attacked the Mahouts
and the Jains and killed some of them. Those who escaped ran to the king
and fell at his feet. This was a great disgrace.
The
king was greatly worried. The Jains finally advised the king to have
Tirunavukkarasar tied to a stone and thrown into the sea. In accordance
with the king’s orders, this was done. Tirunavukkarasar fixed his mind
on Lord Siva and was continually repeating the Panchakshara. He sang
hymns in praise of the Panchakshara. As soon as he finished the song the
stone began to float. Tirunavukkarasar sat on the stone and was happily
borne on the waves and safely taken to the shores of Tiruppapuliyur.
Thus did the Lord save His Bhakta.
At
Tiruppapuliyur, there was a huge congregation of Siva Bhaktas to
welcome him. He worshipped the Lord and sang hymns in praise of the
Lord. ‘Oh Lord, the unseen Protector: You are my guide and saviour. You
are my father, mother, sister and everything. Oh Lord of Mercy, You
saved me from all dangers. Due to Your grace and love alone I am alive.’
Addressing the mind, he says: ‘Oh mind, when you have totally
surrendered yourself to Him, why do you fear any danger? None can harm
you. Fear not.’ Again, turning to the Lord, he says: ‘Oh Lord of Mercy, I
want no more birth. If I take birth at all, owing to past Karma, let me
remember Your Name always. Even if I take birth as a worm, let me not
forget Your Name. Let me find delight in uttering Your Name.’ Then
Tirunavakkarasar returned to Tiruvathikai, after visiting many holy
places on the way. When Pallava king who persecuted him came to know
this, and when he recalled the many miracles he had witnessed, he was
convinced of the superiority of Saivism. He went to Tiruvathikai, fell
at Tirunavukkarasar’s feet, and begged his pardon. Tirunavukkarasar
embraced the king with all love and affection, and the king embraced
Saivism and built the magnificient temple of Siva called
Gunabharaveechuram at Tiruvathikai.
Tirunavukkarasar
then spent his days in worshipping and serving the Lord in various
ways, to set an example even to saints that they should not relax their
eternal spiritual vigilance, lest they should fall a prey to Maya and to
exhort them to lead the ideal life of a humble devotee for the guidance
of others. He also visited many sacred shrines, thus emphasising the
glory of pilgrimage.
The
thought that he had lived for some time with the Jains, eating their
food and mixing with them made Tirunavukkarasar feel that his body was
still impure, for the worship of Lord Siva. He prayed to Lord Siva: ‘I
do not want to live any more in this impure body. Let me have the stamp
of Your Trident and Nandi on my body, and then I shall regard it as fit
for Your worship.’ At once a divine servant of Lord Siva approached
Tirunavukkarasar and put the stamp of the Trident and Nandi (one of the
Saivite rituals of initiation, according to the Agamas) on
Tirunavakkarasar’s shoulders. He experienced supreme bliss immediately.
Tirunavukkarasar
then went to Chidambaram. The very sight of the temple tower sent him
into a trance. He sang thrilling hymns here and prayed: ‘Let me serve
You. Your Bhaktas know no want nor fear. Even Lord Yama cannot dare to
approach them. I have come to Your Abode where no sin can approach. I
have surrendered myself to You. I have enshrined Your Lotus Feet in my
heart.’
At
Chidambaram, he heard of the glory of Tiru Jnanasambandar and how he
was blessed by Parvathy. He was eager to meet the great saint who was at
Shiyali. As Tirunavukkarasar was proceeding towards Shiyali, Sambandar
also was happy and was eagerly looking forward to this meeting. When
Tirunavukkarasar reached the outskirts of Shiyali, Sambandar went
forward to receive him. They fell at each other’s feet, and set an
example in saintly conduct. They went to the temple and worshipped the
Lord. At Sambandar’s request, Tirunavukkarasar sang a hymn here: ‘When
the whole world was submerged during Pralaya, Lord Thoniappar was seated
with His Consort in the boat of Pranava (OM) surrounded on all sides by
Devas in the form of birds.’ Even now the temple of Lord Thoniappar is
in the form of a boat. They who cling to His feet are protected.
Along
with Sambandar Tirunavukkarasar visited the temple at Tirukkolaka. He
then took leave of Sambandar and left the latter’s Ashram and after
visiting many shrines, reached Tiruvavaduthurai. He sang a hymn here
expressing intense Vairagya: ‘Oh Lord, I am caught in the wheel of
births and deaths. I am tired of this. Show me a way to get out of it.’
Then
he came to Sattimutham. He prayed to the Lord: ‘Oh Lord, place Thy
Lotus Feet on my head before I leave this body.’ The Lord said: ‘Come to
Tirunallur. I will fulfil your wish.’ Tirunavukkarasar accordingly went
to Tirunallur and worshipped the Lord Who placed His Feet on the head
of Appar. He sang: ‘Oh Lord, Thy Holy Feet are adored by men on earth
and the gods in heaven. Even great Tapaswins cannot touch Your Feet, if
their devotion to You is tainted. But They are easily accessible to the
real devotees who serve with faith and devotion. The sacredness of Your
divine Feet cannot be understood by ordinary men. They are the bestowers
of all prosperity and immortal bliss.’
After
visiting some more places of pilgrimage, Tirunavukkarasar went to
Tingalur, where he formed a miracle and brought saint Appudi Adigal’s
son back to life—we shall read this in Appudi Adigal’s life.
At
Tiruvarur, he was given a rousing welcome by the Siva Bhaktas. He had
the Lord’s Darshan there. His heart was overflowing with love. He shed
tears of love. He danced in joy. He was immersed in divine bliss. He
sang hymns expressing regret for his mistake in joining Jainism. He felt
that he would have been blessed with the Lord’s Darshan earlier had he
remained a Saivite and carried on His worship, with devotion. He also
sang a hymn praising the sincere devotion and greatness of Nami Nandi
Adigal who lighted the lamp with water in this sacred shrine when he
could not get oil anywhere.
Then
Tirunavukkarasar went to Tirupukalur, after visiting other shrines on
the way. Tiru Jnana Sambandar was there, too, and the two saints met
each other for the second time. At Appar’s instance, Sambandar went to
Tiruvarur and had the Lord’s Darshan there. Both the saints remained at
Tirupukalur for some time: and many other saints took this golden
opportunity of having the Darshan of these two great Acharyas (spiritual
preceptors) together. Tiru Neelakantha Nayanar, Siruthondar, Muruga Nayanar and many others came to Tirupukalur, and the place was converted into a divine realm during the stay of the two Acharyas.
The
two saints then moved on to Tiruveezhimalai. Famine raged there at that
time. Appar (another name for Tirunavukkarasar) and Sambandar were
greatly moved by the suffering of the people and prayed to the Lord for
relief. The Lord promised to give them a golden coin each every day,
with which they could feed the people. Lord Siva placed two coins, one
at the western entrance and the other at the eastern entrance to the
temple: the Nayanars collected the coins and
relieved the suffering of the people. The famine soon came to an end.
Both the saints praised the glory of the Lord and left.
Then
they came to Tirumaraikadu or the present Vedranyam. Once upon a time,
the Vedas themselves used to worship the Lord here. When people
neglected the study of the Vedas, this was discontinued. From that time,
the door by which the Vedas used to enter, remained closed. There was
another door by which people would go in and worship. Appar and
Sambandar heard of this when they came there. Sambandar desired to enter
through the door which remained closed. He requested Appar to sing a
song. The doors opened by themselves, by the Will of God. They went in
and worshipped the Lord. When they returned to that entrance, Appar
requested Sambandar to sing a song, so that the door could close again.
Sambandar sang and the door closed again. At night one day, Lord Siva
appeared and commanded Appar to come to Tiruvaimoore. The Lord appeared
before him and walked in front of him. Appar followed Him, but could not
approach Him. Suddenly the Lord entered the local temple and
disappeared. Appar went inside the temple but could not find the Lord.
In the meantime, Sambandar, learning of Appar’s departure, followed him
and came to the temple. Appar entreated the Lord to bless Sambandar with
His Darshan. The Lord fulfilled Appar’s wish. Then, they went to
Tiruvaimoore and from there returned to Tirumaraikadu.
Mangayarkarasiar and Kulachirai Nayanar,
the queen and the minister of the Pandyan king, sent messengers from
Madurai to Sambandar, reporting the evil influences of the Jains and
urging for his immediate presence in Madurai. Sambandar wanted to go
there immediately. Appar, in the meantime, told him of all that happened
to him and tried to stop him from going. But, so great was Sambandar’s
eagerness to serve the Lord, that he went.
Tirunavukkarasar
then visited Tiruvavaduthurai, and came to Pazhaiyarai. Here he came to
the Vadathalai temple and worshipped the Lord from outside. He came to
know that the Jains had converted this into a Jain temple, and that they
had removed the Siva Lingam to an unknown place. He prayed to the Lord:
‘Oh Lord, I will not proceed an inch from here till I have the Darshan
of Your image which has been removed by the Jains to an unknown place.’
The Lord appeared before the king in his dream and said: ‘Oh king, My
Bhakta Tirunavukkarasar is fasting, to have My Darshan. Go at once and
drive out the Jains, so that Tirunavukkarasar could enter the temple and
have My Darshan.’ He also told the king where the Lingam lay hidden.
The
king woke up and immediately summoned his ministers. He went to the
temple, drove away the Jains and fell at the feet of Tirunavukkarasar.
The temple was immediately reconverted into a Siva temple and the Lingam
installed once again. Tirunavukkarasar worshipped the Lord and was
happy.
During
another pilgrimage, Tirunavukkarasar felt the pangs of hunger as he was
approaching Tirupainjeeli. Lord Siva wanted to appease his hunger and
thirst. He created a tank and a garden on the way, so that
Tirunavukkarasar could quench his thirst and rest in the garden. The
Lord Himself waited there in the guise of a Brahmin, with food in hand
and gave it to Tirunavukkarasar as soon as he arrived there. Appar took
the food, drank the water and was resting when the Brahmin enquired
where he was going.
He
said that he was going to Tirupainjeeli. They both started to walk.
When they were near the place, the Brahmin suddenly disappeared, and
Appar understood that it was none other than the Lord Himself. He wept
bitterly for not recognising Him earlier and rolled on the ground on
account of His separation.
After
visiting Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, and Kalahasthi, where he sang
the glories of Kannappar, Appar felt a desire to go to Kailasa. He went
to Banaras, and worshipped Lord Viswanath. He turned northwards and
crossed many thick forests infested by wild animals. By his mere look,
the wild animals became tame! He walked night and day. His feet were
sore. Then he crawled with his hands. His elbows began to bleed now.
Then he used his chest and crawled on. His chest also began to bleed and
the ribs began to break. Still, Appar, undaunted, continued his journey
to Kailasa, rolling on the ground. Appar wanted to go to Kailasa: but
the Lord wanted that he should live in the world for many more years
singing His glories. The Lord created a tank nearby and appeared before
Appar in the form of a saint, with matted locks, Rudraksham and holy
ashes. The saint found out from Appar that he was proceeding to Kailasa,
and said: ‘Oh friend, the Lord of Kailasa cannot be seen by human
beings. So, turn back.’ Appar said: ‘So long as I have this body, I will
not turn back, without going to Kailasa,’ and turned towards the saint
again after bowing to him: but the saint was not there. Appar understood
it was the Lord Himself. The Lord afterwards kept Appar invisible
company, giving him encouraging words now and then. Appar mentally
prayed to the Lord: ‘Oh Lord, give me a fresh body, so that I may
continue the journey.’ The Lord directed him to take bath in a near-by
tank and said: ‘You will see Me and My Abode, Kailasa in Tiruvayar.’
Appar, repeating the Panchakshara, took a dip in the tank. He came out
of the tank, and found himself in the tank at Tiruvayar, hundreds of
miles away, to the south! He came outside and saw everywhere Siva and
Sakti. He entered the temple and saw Mount Kailasa there. He saw Lord
Siva seated with Mother Parvathy, surrounded by gods, and celestial
servants praising His glory. He went into a trance and sang His glories
and danced.
Then,
Appar had a Mutt built for him at Tirupoonthurai and remained there.
Sambandar had, in the meantime, defeated the Jains at Madurai and was
coming to Tirupoondurai. Appar went forward to receive him. Without
Sambandar’s knowledge, Appar quietly joined those who were carrying his
palanquin. On reaching Tirupoonthurai, Sambandar cried out: ‘Where is
Appar?’ and Appar, from below the palanquin coolly announced himself. At
once Sambandar jumped out of the palanquin and fell at the feet of
Appar who had, by his example, demonstrated the humility of a true
saint. They embraced each other and shed tears of love. (Incidentally,
it is interesting to note that Appar was advanced in age and Sambandar
was only seven years old at the time.)
Then,
Tirunavukkarasar wanted to see the state of Saivism in the Pandyan
kingdom, for himself and left for Madurai. The king, Ninra Sheer
Nedumara Nayanar, the queen Mangayarkarasiar, and the minister Kulachirai Nayanar
welcomed him with devotion. Appar remained there for some days,
worshipping the Lord. Then he went to Rameswaram and other sacred places
before returning to Tirupukalur.
Lord
Siva wanted to test him here. When Appar was doing his services in the
temple, the Lord made the entire floor appear as though it was strewn
with gold and diamonds. To Appar, gold and diamonds were worthless
‘straw’. He collected all of them and threw them in a near-by tank.
Again, the Lord made celestial damsels appear before him and tempt him
with their charms. Appar remained undisturbed. His entire heart and soul
was centred on the Lotus Feet of the Lord.
Appar spent the rest of his life there and at the age of 81 merged himself in Lord Siva.
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