Arupaththumoondru Nayanmarhalil Ivarhal

2

Arupaththumoondru Nayanmarhalil Ivarhal

                                     அறுபத்துமூன்று நாயன்மார்களில் இவர்கள்

As usual, Nandiyar bows to Iraivan and Annai, goes around them  thrice  with folded hands and then bows to each of the sixty three Nayanmars standing with  folded hands on the right side of Easan. As he stands in front of each of them recollecting their noble deeds, he takes more time than usual.

Naradar reaches there in haste…

On seeing him, Nandiyar bows to Naradar in reverence.

Naradar

 Not finding you at the entrance, where you are usually positioned to receive visitors, I got a little perplexed… Lo! You are having a leisurely dharisanam of the Nayanmars!  A group of seven Munivars (Saptha Rishigal) are reaching here to have the dharisanam of Easan. Won’t you be standing at the entrance to receive them?

Reminded of his duty, Nandiyar quickly bows to the Nayanmars and reaches the entrance with Naradar. He receives the Sapth Rishigal with due respect and welcomes them. They bless him and go inside. Naradar goes along with them. After having the dharisanam of Easan they return. Lost in his own thoughts Nandi does not realize their arrival. The Munivars raise the voice chanting “Sambo Mahadeva”, bringing Nandi back to attention. Nandi Bowes to them and sees them off. Naradar stays back and observes that Nandi is morose.

Naradar

Nandiyare! I am afraid that something is troubling your mind… Please tell me what it is?

Nandi (with tears in his eyes)

All these people have attained the high status of Nayanmars and are with Iraivan all the times!  Though I am the loyal servant of Iraivan I didn’t get that status! Look at me! I am as a gate keeper welcome all who wishes to have dharshan of Iraivan! Is it not that something to worry about?

Naradar laughs aloud and this makes Nandiyar further sadder.

Naradar (in an appeasing tone)

Nandiyare! How can you harbor such a feeling in your heart?  While these sixty three Nayanmars stand on the right side of Easan, You have the blessing of being seated in front of Him all the time! You are hailed as Nandibhagawan, Nandheeswarar and the Second Nandi! All the pujas performed for Easan are done in your honour on the day of Pradosham. Why are you perturbed?  Have you forgotten that you, having incarnated as Manickkavachagar, are also one among the four Saivakkuravargal in equal status with Thirugnanasambandhar.Thirunavukkarasar and Sundaramoorthiyar?  Those who worship Easan, worship you as well! Please cast off your sadness and become cheerful as before!

Nandi looks at him…  His expression remains pitiable… He takes Naradar by his hand and takes him to the right side of the Sannadhi.

Nandi

See here!  First, Sundaramoorthiyar.. Then Thillaivazh Anthanar…. Next Thiruneelakantar….  All the sixty three Nayanmars are here and like this in every temple of Easan…I am no way lesser than any one of them in either faith or services. Don’t I have place in their row?

Naradar looks at Nandi compassionately.

Naradar

If you think that they got the status of Nayanmars for their deeds, it is blatantly wrong! It is only to propagate their glory to the world,( அடியவர் பெருமை அகில உலகமும் அறிவதற்காகவே) they have been granted this status by Easan.  Haven’t you understood this? It is Easan’s list of Nayanmars that were pronounced through Sundaramoorthiyar in his Thiruththondarthogai.

I will now tell you some new facts about the sixty three of them.

Out of them twelve of them belong to Brahmin community. … 

They are …

Kugiliyakalaya Nayanar, Muruga Nayanar, Rudra Pasupathy Nayanar, Chandeswara Nayanar, Appudiadigal Nayanar, Thiruneelanakka Nayanar, Naminanadi Adigal Nayanar, Thirugyanasamabandar Nayanar, Somasimara Nayanar, Sirappuli Nayanar, Gananatha Nayanar and Poosalar Nayanar. 

Four belong to veera Saiva Maraiyorsect… They are Sunadaramoorthy Nayanar, Pugazhthunai Nayanar, Sadaya Nayanar and Isaigyaniyar.

Among them are six kings. They include… Cheraman Perumal Nayanar,  Pugazh Chozha Nayanar, Nedumara Nayanar, Indanghazhi Nayanar, Mangayarkarasiyar  and Kochchengan Chozha Nayanar.

There are five minor Chieftains. They are… Meipporul Nayanar, Kootruva Nayanar, Narasinga Munayaraya Nayanar, Iyadigal Kadavarkon nayanar and Kazharchchinga Nayanar.

 The five, Iyarpagai Nayanar, Amarneedhi Nayanar, Moorthy Nayanar , Karaikkal Ammaiyar  and Kalikkamba Nayanar belong to trading(chetty) community.

.

One belongs to the caste of Maruthuvar! He is Siruththonda Nayanar.

Thirteen of them belong to the farmer’s community… Ilayakudimara Nayanar, Viranminda Nayanar,

Manakkanchara Nayanar, Arivattaya Nayanar, Thirunavukkarasu Nayanar, Eyarkon Kalikkama Nayanar, Moorkka Nayanar, Sakkiya Nayanar, Sakthi Nayanar, Vaayilar Nayanar, Munaiaduvar Nayanar, Seruththunai Nayanar and Kotpuli Nayanar.

There are two cowherds- one is Aanaya Nayanar and the other Thirumoolar.

There are nine individuals belonging to different professions.

Thiruneelakantar  --  Potter(Kuyavan)

Thiruneelkanta Yazhpanar – Musician(paanar)

Kannapa Nayanar – Hunter (Vedavan)

Yenadhi Nayanar – sandrar(maram eri)

Nesa Nayanar – Saliyar

Kaliya Nayanar – Oil Miller(vaaniyan)

Thirukkurippuththonda Nyanar – Washerman(vannan)

Thirunalaippovar -  Animal Chopper(pulaiyar)

Apart from the above ,there are six of them whose caste is unknown(Marabu Ariyar). They are Eripaththa Nayanar, Kanampulla Nayanar, Kari Nayanar, Kulachchirai Nayanar, Thandi Adigal Nayanar and  Perumizhalai Kurumba Nayanar.

Only to show to the world that Easan does not distinguish between a king (Arasan) and a pauper (Aandi).There are mix of men and women. All are equal in His Sannadhi. That is the reason all of them stand to his right in His Sannadhi!

If you closely watch the various sect of Nayanmars, you can see Easan is the supreme commander of this Universe and under his services, he has Emperors, Chieftains, Ministers, Army Chiefs, Soldiers, people of all the four castes and their distribution has representation of all the population.

Those who born in the earth all are equal! If one tries, he can attain the status of a Nayanmar.  A high cast Thillaivazh Anthanar and a low caste potter Thiruneelakantar are equal in status and they stand next to next.  There is not an iota of distinction among them in front of Easan.  You have unnecessarily troubled your mind.

Asking Nandi to look at the sixty three Nayanmars carefully again, Naradar continues..

 Naradar

Observe carefully! Are there any one belonging to Devas among them?

Nandi shakes his head in the negative.

Naradar

Who are you? Aren’t you among the Devas?  Do you now understand why there is no place for you among them?

Nandi nods his head to indicate that he has understood the import.

With realization Nandi begs his pardon for raising the issue.

Naradar

There is another peculiarity here… All the sixty three were born human.  It is humans who always revere

Devas! But here in Kailayam, all the thirty three crore Devas, after they worship Easan bow to the sixty three Nayanmars reverentially.  The adiyavars of Easan command such exalted position. Only humans can try and attain to be always near to the Paramporul.

This fact is not even known to the many of the humans. They go to the temple worship Easan, Annai and Navaggrahams and then come out without paying respects to the Nayanmars. Do you remember that at the time of revealing the greatness of the Nayanmars, he grants them a boon that, “those who worship me will also worship you!”

People who go to the temple and come out without worshipping the Nayanmars disobey the command of Easan, and hence their act is punishable.

Naradar comes out after bowing to the sixty three Nayanmars and Nandi follows.

On the entrance to Kailayam

Naradar (giving a slight glance at Nandi in the back and bowing Easan, loudly)

Om! Namo Narayana!

Nandi (giving a quick retort loudly)

Om Namasivaya!

Om Namasivaya!

Om Namasivaya!

There… Iraivan laughs aloud!

Tiruchchitrambalam