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Consummate devotion

CHENNAI : The Periya Puranam of Sekkhizhar documents the lives of the 63 Nayanmars who hailed from different strata of society. It was their exceptional devotion that united them as savants to be revered and worthy of emulation. Among them Nandanar, known popularly by Thirunalaippovar after his irresistible desire to visit the Lord in Thillai (Chidambaram) every day, stands as an exemplar to the statement that devotion alone matters to God ultimately.

In his discourse, Sri B.Madhavan said that in his work Nandanar Charitram Gopalakrishna Bharatiar had highlighted exceptional devotion as the leitmotif in this Nayanmar's life. In a song in this work, he says categorically, "It does not matter if one is low-born as long as devotion is there." One may wonder why all this fuss about birth and social status. Only when one reads about how miserable the circumstances were, from which Nandanar hailed, that it is possible to appreciate his consummate devotion.

Hagiological tradition describes that Nandanar lived in Aathanur, a fertile village but he belonged to its outskirts close to the paddy fields where his kinsmen dealt with the carcasses of animals. Periya Puranam notes that as in the case of such settlements, poultry, dogs, pigs and children roamed the streets as companions and the members were often found to be drunk on toddy. How is it possible to relate piety to such a place! But it is in such wretched surroundings that a strange person in our Nandanar lived who was filled with rapturous devotion to Lord Siva.

He followed his hereditary profession but transformed it into loving service to God. He used to stand before the gates of the shrines singing and dancing out of devotional ecstasy. On one such occasion he went from his village to the temple at Thiruppunkur yearning to behold the deity inside. But the image of Nandi (bull) stood like a mountain before the sanctum hiding his view and he stood there praying.

He thought perhaps his sins stood in the way of beholding the Lord. And, to his wonder the Nandi moved aside and he could see Him to his heart's content. Perhaps the Lord had requested His mount not to stand in between Him and His devotee! Oblivious to this miracle Nandan was elated that at last his heart's desire was fulfilled.

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