The Hindu : Rich heritage left by Nayanmars

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 15, 2003

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Rich heritage left by Nayanmars

CHENNAI FEB. 15 . The lives of saints, who by their humility, devotion and service, reveal to us the message that by the display of even a gesture that we have faith in obtaining God's grace, He will not fail to come to our help when we seek it from Him. These Divine representatives hailed from different castes and communities and from various strata of society — from a king to commoner. They were aware of the goal of life and were firmly established in demonstrating their God-love. They extended solace and hospitality to devotees who had been seeking Divine Grace. By their own thoughts, words and deeds, these mystics radiated the great Truth that God can be experienced by a genuine display of faith in Him.

The 63 Nayanmars, who firmly held to the feet of Lord Siva, were addicts of Divine humanism, as described by Sekkizhar in his monumental chronicle of their biographies called "Periyapuranam". The bond of devotion held them together. Suffering is often the badge of a devotee's life but the path they chose to tread led them to receiving the grace of God. "Repose faith in Him, He will surely come to you" was their clear declaration. The Saiva philosophy points out how the individual soul, to rediscover its relationship with God, should be aware of the pathways — of service, of worship, of contemplation and acquisition of spiritual knowledge.

The Nayanmars said that the taints in the people should be removed. They preached that God resides within and that by singing His glory, His blessings can be received. Their own outpourings or hymns reveal their total dependence on God's grace. They have thus left us a rich cultural heritage. The underlying message from their works and verses remind us that God, the unseen, always guides us. These saints showed us the goal of life by clinging on to the feet of God and that ultimately all of us must get back as dust from which we evolved.

In a lecture, Sri R. Ramamurthi mentioned how one of these saints, a ruler and a virtuous administrator, saw Siva Himself in all those who wore the "sacred ash" on their foreheads and body. He honoured such believers. When a foe approached him in the guise of such a devotee with a view to killing this servant of Siva — Meypporul Nayanar — the latter pardoned him thereby demonstrating that true devotion will drive away all passions, hatred and enmity. His was an instance of forgiveness.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Miscellaneous

Stories in this Section

All in the game

Cartoon I

The Hindu Crossword 7597

Solution to puzzle 7596

Rich heritage left by Nayanmars

dated February 15, 1953: Constantine praises Indian bowling

dated February 15, 1953: V.P. Menon on the Services

Weather