Kannappa is a legendary figure in Telugu and South Indian folklore, widely celebrated for his devotion to the Hindu god Shiva. [1] His story is closely connected with the Srikalahasteeswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh. Kannappa, originally a hunter, became renowned for offering his eyes to a Siva Lingam as an act of ultimate devotion. Before he could sacrifice both eyes, Shiva appeared and stopped him. [2] [3] [4]
Kannappa was born as Thinna [1] [5] into a hunter family from the Chenchu [6] or Boya tribe in what is now Andhra Pradesh. His birthplace is often associated with Uduppura near Sri Kalahasti. [7] [8] Though raised in a hunting community, his story is noted for his intense devotion to Shiva, particularly in relation to the Srikalahasti Temple. [9] [10]
Kannappa's devotion to Shiva began when he discovered the Vayu Linga of the Srikalahasteeswara Temple while hunting in the forest. Unaware of traditional rituals, he offered Shiva whatever he could, including water from his mouth and meat from his hunts. These acts, while unconventional, were accepted by Shiva due to the hunter's sincerity and pure heart. [11] [12]
According to legend, Kannappa once noticed that the Siva Lingam was bleeding from one of its eyes. Without hesitation, he plucked out one of his own eyes and placed it on the lingam to stop the bleeding. When the other eye of the lingam began to bleed, Kannappa prepared to offer his remaining eye. To ensure he could correctly place his eye, he marked the spot with his foot. Moved by this ultimate act of devotion, Shiva appeared and stopped him, restoring his sight and granting him liberation. [13]
Apart from his native state Andhra Pradesh, Kannappa's devotion is also revered in Tamil Shaivite traditions, and his story is documented in the Periya Puranam, a 12th-century Tamil hagiography of the 63 Nayanars. [14] He is venerated as a symbol of devotion in Shaivism, and his life continues to inspire worshippers.
Kannappa's life has been depicted in several Indian films across different languages. Notable portrayals include:
| Year | Film | Language | Lead role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Kannappa Nayanar | Tamil | VN Sundaram | [15] |
| 1954 | Bedara Kannappa | Kannada | Dr. Rajkumar | |
| 1954 | Kalahasti Mahatyam | Telugu | Dr. Rajkumar | |
| 1955 | Shiv Bhakta | Hindi | Shahu Modak | |
| 1976 | Bhakta Kannappa | Telugu | Krishnam Raju | |
| 1988 | Shiva Mecchida Kannappa | Kannada | Shiva Rajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar (younger version) | |
| 2024 | Kannappa | Telugu | Vishnu Manchu | [16] |
Sambandar, also referred to as Tirujnana Sambandar, was a Shaiva poet-saint of Tamil Nadu who lived sometime in the 7th century CE. According to the Tamil Shaiva tradition, he composed an oeuvre of 16,000 hymns in complex meters, of which 383 (384) hymns with 4,181 stanzas have survived. These narrate an intense loving devotion (bhakti) to the Hindu god Shiva. Sambandar died when he was sixteen years of age. The surviving compositions of the poet-saint are preserved in the first three volumes of the Tirumurai, and provide a part of the philosophical foundation of Shaiva Siddhanta.
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Pusalar is an eighth-century Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifty-eighth in the list of 63 Nayanars. His hagiography speaks how he created a grand temple for Shiva in his mind and how his patron god Shiva preferred attending the consecration of his mind temple, instead of a grand temple created by a Pallava king.
Anaya Nayanar, also known as Anaya and Anayar, is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu Shaivite sect. Anaya is considered to be the 14th of the 63 Nayanars. His playing of the Panchakshara on his flute so pleased the god, Shiva, that he took Anaya away to the eternal world.
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Sakkiya Nayanar was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Shaiva sect of Hinduism. He is generally counted as the thirty-fourth in the list of 63 Nayanars. He was a Buddhist, who converted to Shaivism.
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Kaliya Nayanar, also known as Kalia Nayanar, Kalia, Kaliya, Kaliyanar and Kaliyar, is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the forty-fourth in the list of 63 Nayanars. The Nayanar saint is described to serve the god Shiva by lighting lamps in his Thyagaraja Temple. He is said to have been willing to cut his throat to fill the lamps with his blood, when he ran out of oil.
Satti Nayanar, also known as Satti (Sathi), Sathiyar, Shakti Nayanar, Shakti, Shaktiyar (Saktiyar), Sattiyandar and Thiru-Saththi Nayanar, is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the 45th in the list of 63 Nayanars. Satti Nayanar is described to cut off the tongue of whoever talked ill of his patron god Shiva or Shiva's devotees.
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Murthi Nayanar, also spelt as Murthy Nayanar, Moorthy Nayanar and Murti Nayanar and also known as Murtti, is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifteenth in the list of 63 Nayanars.
Murkha Nayanar, also known as Moorka Nayanar, Murka Nayanar, Moorkha Nayanar, Murgga Nayanar, Moorkka Nayanar and Murkhar, is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the thirty-second in the list of 63 Nayanars.
Nami Nandi Adigal, also spelt as Naminandi adigal, Naminandi adikal and Naminanti Atikal, and also known as Naminandi and Naminandhi, is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the 27th in the list of 63 Nayanars.
Somasi Mara Nayanar, also known as Somasi Maranar, Somasi Marar, Somasimarar and Somasira Nayanar, is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the thirty-third in the list of 63 Nayanars. He is also called Marar, Maran and Mara Nayanar, names he shares with Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar. The two Nayanars are generally differentiated by the prefixes "Somasi" and "Ilayankudi". He was a contemporary and devotee of Sundarar.
Isaignaniyar, also spelt as Isainaniyar, Isaignaniyaar, Isaignaniar and Isaijnaniyar and also known as Isai-jnani Ammaiyar, is the mother of Sundarar, one of the known Nayanar saints. She is regarded as a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism, along with her husband Sadaiya Nayanar. She is counted as the last in the list of 63 Nayanars.
Sadaiya Nayanar or Sadaiyar is a 7th century Nayanar saint in the Hindu sect of Shaivism, venerated for being father of the prominent saint Sundarar rather than for individual merit. He and his wife Isaignaniyar are generally counted as sixty-second and sixty-third on the list of the sixty-three Nayanar saints. Sundarar is the only Nayanar with both parents venerated.
Eyarkon Kalikkama Nayanar, also known as Kalikkamanar, Kalikamba Nayanar, was a King of Haihaya (Eyar), Commander-in-chief of the Chola army, a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the 29th in the list of 63 Nayanars.
Eripatha Nayanar, also known as Eripathar, Eripatar, Eribattar, Eripattan', Eripaththa Nayanar and Eripattha Nayanar, is Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the eighth in the list of 63 Nayanars.
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Tinna or Kaņņappa, a great devotee of this god, occupies a prominent place in the galaxy of Saiva devotees and his name is familiarly known all over south India.
There was, in Pottapinādu; a village named Vadumūru, inhabited by a number of Chenchus. Its chief was Natha-nàtha. He begot by his wife, Tande, a son, named Tinna. Tinna grew into a fine youth, skilled in archery and interested in hunting.
