Nayanmar Overview
| Nayanmar | Eyarkon Kalikama Naayanaar |
|---|---|
| Birth Place | Thiruperumangalam |
| Category | 63 Nayanmar (Saivite Saints) |
| Tradition | Saiva Siddhanta / Tamil Bhakti Movement |
History & Sacred Legend
Eyarkon Kalikama Nayanar was born in Tiruperumangalam in Ponni Nadu into the noble Eyarkudi family, traditional Commanders-in-Chief to the Chola monarchs. He was an ardent, unswerving devotee of Lord Siva whose reverence for the dignity of the Almighty was paramount.
When Kalikamar heard that Sundaramurthi Nayanar had employed Lord Siva Himself as an intermediary to resolve a domestic misunderstanding with his consort Paravayar, his devotional heart was deeply wounded by what he perceived as irreverence towards the Supreme Lord. Sundarar, recognizing Kalikamar's intense righteousness, prayed to the Lord to reconcile their mutual misunderstanding.
To unite His two great devotees, Lord Siva afflicted Kalikamar with severe colic and declared in a vision that only Sundarar could cure it. Kalikamar, preferring to surrender his life rather than accept relief from one he thought had slighted the Lord, cut open his abdomen. When Sundarar arrived and witnessed the tragic sacrifice, he drew a blade to end his own life in grief. By the grace of Lord Siva, Kalikamar was instantly restored to life. The two saints embraced in eternal divine harmony, exemplifying the sublime nuances of Bhakti.