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Total detachment

CHENNAI: The Periya Puranam is a hagiography of the Saiva saints, Nayanmars, documented by Sekkhizhar in verse. Each saint included in this work had a unique way of expressing his devotion and experiencing God, and hence provides inspiration for spiritual seekers to emulate according to one’s preference. Pattinathar is effusive of his praise of Tiruneelakantar, Siruthondar and Kannappa Nayanar. What sets these three saints apart from the rest?

In his discourse, Sri R.Selvaganapathy said it was difficult for even a spiritually evolved person to overcome attachment to his body, spouse and child. Hence these attachments are the most difficult to surmount in spiritual life. These three saints were exceptional because each one exemplified detachment. Tiruneelakantar developed total detachment the moment his wife told him not to touch her while Siruthondar sacrificed his child to extend hospitality to devotees. Kannappa Nayanar’s love of God was so sublime that he did not hesitate to gorge his eyes out to arrest the blood flowing from the deity’s eyes thereby showing that he did not care for his body. Venkoba was a humble potter who eked out a living baking and selling pots, and he would go about his work with the divine name “Tiruneelakanta” on his lips that this name stuck to him.

When the Lord bade Sundarar before the assembly of devotees in Chidambaram (Thillai) to sing the praise of the devotees living in this hallowed place, and gave the opening line as well, he followed it with reference to Tiruneelakantar: “Servitor to the potter named after the blue-throated holy Lord…” He might have given him this exalted place because this potter-saint lived in Chidambaram but his life as chronicled in the Periyapuranam shows how he developed total dispassion when his wife rebuked him in the name of the blue-throated Lord (Tiruneelakantan). It wrought such a transformation in him that from that day he lived only for God. The couple continued to live under the same roof but dedicated themselves to the higher calling that had changed their lives forever. The Lord intervened when they turned old to proclaim their devotion to Him to the world at large.

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