Iyarpahaiar was a
native of Kaveripoompattinam. He was
a Vaisya by caste. To him Siva Bhaktas were the living manifestations of Lord
Siva.
Lord Siva was pleased
with His devotee. He wanted to reveal his true greatness to the world. So, the
Lord, in the disguise of a Brahmin, with sacred ashes smeared all over his
body, came to Nayanar’s house. He welcomed the Brahmin with great joy, as the
very sight of the holy man thrilled the Nayanar. The Brahmin said “Oh noble
soul, you are far famed for your charitable nature. Learning that none returns
empty-handed from your house, I have come to you for a gift. I shall disclose
it to you, if you promise to give what I want. The Nayanar agreed readily
provided I have it with me. The Brahmin at once revealed what he wanted It is
the gift of your wife. Nayanar had no difficulty at all in granting this! The
supreme devotee of the Lord that he was, he did not stoop to doubt the
credentials of the Brahmin who, though he appeared to be a Siva Bhakta, had
such an undesirable desire such is the unquestioning nature of devotion. Nor
would Nayanar hesitate to fulfill the Bhakta’s wish, on the plea that it
involved unrighteousness for, to him worship of the guest was greater Law than all the moral codes.
Nayanar went inside the
house and informed his wife of all that had happened. She was shocked at first,
but quickly regained her composure. To a chaste wife, the husband is God, and
whatever he commands is Law and Dharma. She readily agreed to follow the
Brahmin guest as his wife. Nayanar came out with his wife and asked the Brahmin
to accept the gift. The Brahmin, however, feared the wrath of the wife’s
relatives and asked Nayanar to accompany them till they were safely out of the
town and out of danger. Nayanar agreed to do so and armed himself to protect
the Brahmin. They then proceeded to go.
In the meantime the
relatives of Nayanar’s wife came to know of the whole story and were furious.
They followed the Nayanar and party and threatened the Brahmin with death, unless
he abandoned his impious desire. The Brahmin pretended to be scared. Nayanar’s
wife, however, assured him that Nayanar was capable of defeating them all.
Nayanar was ready to fight them. The relatives endeavored to convince Nayanar
of the unrighteousness of the whole thing, and, when they found that they could
not, they preferred to die at his hands, than submit to the shame. Nayanar at
once pounced upon them and chopped off their heads. All of them died and
Nayanar, happy at the thought, that through the grace of Lord Siva, he had
succeeded in keeping his vow of worshipping His devotee, proceeded further with
the Brahmin and the wife. When they reached the temple of Thiruchaikadu, the
Brahmin asked Nayanar to leave them and return. Nayanar prostrated to the
Brahmin and turned his steps homeward.
As he had hardly
proceeded a few yards on his homeward journey, the Brahmin again called Nayanar
aloud. Thinking that there might have been another attack on the party, Nayanar
hastened to where the Brahmin was but, to his amazement, found that he had
disappeared and that his wife was standing alone there. He searched here and
there for the Brahmin, and was worried when he could not be found. and behold,
Lord Siva and Mother Parvathy appeared in the sky and blessed Nayanar and his
wife “Oh noble souls, I am immensely pleased with your devotion to My Bhaktas.
Both of you will very soon reach My Abode.”
With these words, the
Lord disappeared. The Nayanar and his wife reached His Abode and rejoiced
there. Nayanar’s relatives who died at his hands also attained the lotus feet
of the Lord.
Thus had the Lord
proved the nature of supreme devotion, which does not question? And, the Lord
also revealed the truth that such unquestioning devotion does not result in the
violation of the Dharma. All glory to the Lord and His devotees.
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