Nayanmar Overview
| Nayanmar | Tiru-Navukkarasar Naayanaar |
|---|---|
| Birth Place | Thiruvaamur |
| Category | 63 Nayanmar (Saivite Saints) |
| Tradition | Saiva Siddhanta / Tamil Bhakti Movement |
History & Sacred Legend
Appar, also revered as Tiru Navukkarasar, was born in Tiruvamoor as Marulneekiar. After the early demise of his devout parents, his elder sister Tilakavathiar led a life of pure tapas and devotion. In his spiritual search, Marulneekiar embraced Jainism under the name Dharmasenar at Pataliputra. Through Tilakavathiar's earnest prayers at Tiruvadigai Virattanam, Lord Siva inflicted a severe colic upon him. Recognizing the divine play, he returned to his sister, received holy Vibhuti and the Panchakshara Mantra, and sang his first hymn, instantly curing the ailment. A celestial voice conferred upon him the name Tiru Navukkarasar ('King of Divine Speech').
The Pallava king, incited by Jain leaders, subjected Appar to severe ordeals: confinement in a burning lime kiln, deadly poison, a rogue royal elephant, and being cast into the open sea tied to a heavy stone. Through unyielding devotion and the chanting of the Holy Five Letters (Namah Sivaya), the kiln became a cool bower, poison turned to nectar, the elephant bowed in veneration, and the stone floated like a boat to the shores of Tiruppapuliyur. Witnessing these miracles, the Pallava monarch converted to Saivism and erected grand temples to Lord Siva.
Appar undertook extensive pilgrimages across Tamil Nadu, clearing temple weeds with his weeding hook (Uzhavarapadaithazhumbar) in supreme humility. He formed a profound spiritual bond with young saint Tiru Jnanasambandar, miraculously opened the locked temple doors at Tirumaraikadu (Vedaranyam), brought Appudi Adigal's dead son back to life, and relieved a famine at Tiruveezhimalai through divine gold coins provided by the Lord.
Yearning to reach Mount Kailasa, Appar crawled on his bare chest through northern wilderness until Lord Siva granted him the sublime vision of Mount Kailasa in the sacred waters of Tiruvaiyaru. After a magnificent life of 81 years completely immersed in holy service and compose thousands of soul-stirring Thevaram padigams, Appar peacefully merged into the divine effulgence of Lord Siva at Tirupukalur.