INTRODUCTION :
Iyarpagai Nayanar was a great Nayanar saint, and considered as one among the 63 nayanars. His bhakti on Lord Shiva is unimaginable and unthinkable in this today’s world. It is described that his body was covered with holy ash and his each and every cell chants the shiva mantra and he shines like a precious stone.
LIFE :
Iyarpagai Nayanar was born in Kaveri-poompattinam, Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu. Iyarpagai Nayanar belonged to the Vaishya caste and was an ardent Shiva devotee. He used to serve Lord Shiva by preparing the holy Prasad (food offering) from his home, and also provided food to his devotees, and he took care of shiva devotees in a proper manner. Once, Lord Shiva transformed himself as an Old Shaivite saint and went to Iyarpagai's home, and he was warmly welcomed by Iyarpagai and his wife. The old Saint had asked Iyarpagai to send his wife to his house in order to serve him properly. The great nayanar asked his wife to fulfill the wishes of the old saint (Lord Shiva). As per her husband’s command she proceeded with the divine saint. Iyarpagai protected the saint and his wife on their travel. On knowing about the incident, the relatives of the nayanar, were got angry and tried to attack the saint with their weapons. But they could not fight and win with Iyarpagai, since he was very much skilled in handling weapons, and killed his relatives by chanting the Shiva Panchakshara mantra. Then the divine saint asked Iyarpagai Nayanar to return to his home. The Nayanar worshiped the divine saint and left from that place. After some time, he heard the crying voice of the saint, and he immediately went to the spot to safeguard the saint. On reaching the spot, the Saint had disappeared, and Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati gave their divine appearance and Lord Shiva blessed the couple for a peaceful and a prosperous life, and after their death, they attained MUKTHI. Sundarar praises Iyarpagai Nayanar in the famous text Tiruthonda Thogai. Iyarpagai Nayanar is worshipped in the Tamil month of Margazhi, and he is also worshiped as one among the 63 Nayanars in the shiva temples.
IMPORTANCE :
Iyarpagai Nayanar was a great devotee of Lord Shiva, and he devoted his entire life on worshiping Lord shiva. He provided food to the devotees of Lord Shiva and also satisfied their needs and wishes as per their requirement. In this today’s fast changing world, we cannot imagine a person with such a great bhakti on god. Let us try to develop ourselves such kind of bhakti, and live peacefully in our life. Let us worship the nayanar saint and be blessed.
“OM SREE IYARPAGAI NAYANARE NAMAHA”
“OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”
“OM SAKTHI PARASAKTHI”
SENT BY
R.HARISHANKAR
