Nayanmar Overview
| Nayanmar | Thiruneelakanda Naayanaar |
|---|---|
| Birth Place | Thillai (Chidambaram) |
| Category | 63 Nayanmar (Saivite Saints) |
| Tradition | Saiva Siddhanta / Tamil Bhakti Movement |
History & Sacred Legend
In Chidambaram, there once lived an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. He was a potter by caste and profession. He had the highest regard for the devotees of Lord Siva, too. He was ever eager to serve them. He was leading an ideal household life. He made beautiful begging bowls of clay and offered them free to the devotees of Lord Siva, with great joy. Lord Siva, in His aspect of Neelakanta was his sole refuge and prop. Hence, he was called Tiru Neelakanta Nayanar.
He would always tell others how, for the protection of the world the Lord drank the virulent poison, and he would assure his friends that they who took refuge under His feet would be purged of all sins and would finally be taken to His Abode. In spite of his virtuous qualities, once he fell a victim to lust. One day, he visited the house of a prostitute. When he returned home, his dutiful and pious wife understood this. This irritated her, though she did not show this and continued to serve him, as before. But, she had decided not to have any sexual relation with him.
One day, as he approached her with passion, she took an oath and said: 'In the name of Neelakanta, I ask you: do not touch us.' Though she only meant herself, she had used the word 'us'. Since she took the Name of the Lord and since she had used the word us, Neelakanta Nayanar decided that from that day he would not touch any woman in the world. Such was his sincere devotion to the Lord. They continued to live together in utmost purity and austerity without anyone knowing about their secret resolve.
Years rolled by and they grew old. To reveal their extraordinary virtue to the world, Lord Siva came in the guise of a Siva Yogi and entrusted a clay begging bowl to Neelakantar for safekeeping. The Lord then caused the bowl to disappear and demanded it back. Accusing Neelakantar of theft, the Yogi insisted that Neelakantar take a purifying dip in the holy temple tank holding his wife's hand to prove his innocence. Holding the ends of a stick together, they took the sacred dip, and by divine miracle emerged transformed into youth and beauty. Lord Siva and Mother Parvathi appeared on the Rishabha and blessed them with eternal residence in His Divine Abode.