Nami Nandi Adigal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | Emapperur, Over a period this name was changed as Thiruneipair |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Philosophy | Shaivism, Bhakti |
| Honors | Nayanar saint, |
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. [1]
The life of Nami Nandi Adigal is described in the Tamil Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar (12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars. [1] [2]
Nami Nandi Adigal was born in the town of Emapperur, near Thiruvarur, which was then part of the Chola kingdom. Emapperur is now located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He was a devotee of the god Shiva, the patron god of Shaivism. He was a Brahmin, member of the priestly caste. Daily, He used to journey to the shrine of Araneri, dedicated to Shiva, in Thiruvarur. [3] [4] This temple is identified as the Sri Achaleswarar (Vandarkuzhali) temple, which is located in the Thyagaraja Temple complex. [5]
Once, when Nami Nandi Adigal reached the Araneri shrine, it was close to evening. He wished to light lamps in the Shiva temple. He went to nearby house and asked for ghee for the lamps. This house happened to be of a Jain. The residents mocked Nami Nandi Adigal saying that why did he want to light lamps for Shiva, who carries fire in his hand. They informed him that they did not have ghee and taunted him that if he was desperate, there was enough water in the temple ponds to light all the lamps. In sorrow, Nami Nandi Adigal returned to the temple and implored God to help him. A heavenly voice instructed him to bring water from the temple tank and pour it in the lamps. He lit the lamps, which burnt brightly till dawn. He returned home in the evening to worship Shiva in his home shrine. The saint would journey from Emapperur to the Araneri shrine everyday, worship in the temple and return to his home-town after lighting the lamps with water in the evening. The Jains saw the miracle in disbelief. While some left Thiruvarur, others embraced Shaivism. The Chola king heard about Nami Nandi Adigal's devotion and appointed him as the head priest of the temple. He also aimed the temple in its celebrations of festivals. [3] [4] [5] The tale of the lamp miracle is also recalled in the 13th-century Telugu Basava Purana of Palkuriki Somanatha with some variation. [6]
Another incident in the life of Nami Nandi Adigal is recorded in the Periya Puranam. In celebration of the festival of Panguni Uttaram, an effigy of Shiva was paraded to the neighbouring village of Tirumanali. People of all castes participated in the procession. Nami Nandi Adigal returned home and did not worship in his home shrine as he had become ritually impure by intermingling with the people of other castes. He ordered his wife to fetch him some water for a ritual bath and waited outside the house. The fatigued priest succumbed to sleep. Shiva appeared in his dream and chastised his behaviour. He reminded Nami Nandi Adigal that all born in Thiruvarur were Shiva- gana s (attendants of Shiva) and their touch could not have defiled his ritual purity. Nami Nandi Adigal woke up from sleep. He regretted his actions and performed the domestic rites, after informing his wife of the vision by Shiva. He went to Thiruvarur the next day as per his daily schedule. As he entered Thiruvarur, he saw all the people in the guise of Shiva. Petrified by the sight, he prostrated before them. As he stood up, the people then appeared to him in their normal forms. Nami Nandi Adigal lived his life serving Shiva and his devotees. He attained Kailash, Shiva's abode, after death. [3] [7]
The Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram (c. 1150) has a relief dedicating the tale of Nami Nandi Adigal, lighting the lamps with water. [8] One of the most prominent Nayanars, Appar Tirunavukkarasar (7th century) also recalls the lamp miracle of Nami Nandi Adigal, called Nambi Nami in the verse. He further praises Nami Nandi Adigal as "pure gold". [3] [9]
Nami Nandi Adigal receives collective worship as part of the 63 Nayanars. Their icons and brief accounts of his deeds are found in many Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu. Their images are taken out in procession in festivals. [1] Nami Nandi Adigal is depicted with folded hands (see Anjali mudra).
Dandi Adigal Nayanar or Dandiyadigal Nayanar is the 31st Nayanar saint. Traditional hagiographies like Periya Puranam and Thiruthondar Thogai describe him as a great devotee of the Hindu god Shiva.
Apputhi Adigal, also spelt as Apputhi Adikal, Atputhi Adigal, Apputi Adigal, Appoodi Adikal, Appoothi Adikal and Appudhi Adigal and known as Appuddi Nayanar, was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the twenty-fifth in the list of 63 Nayanars. He is described as a contemporary of Appar or Thirunavukkarasar, one of the most prominent Nayanars.
Yenathinathar, also known as Yenatinata, Yenathi Nayanar, Yenadhinatha, Yenadinath, Yenadinatha Nayanar and Yenadhinatha Nayanar, was a Nayanar saint hailing from Channar clan, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the ninth in the list of 63 Nayanars. In 1901, P.Sv. Perumal Nadar formed Srimath Yenathinadha Nayanar Thirumadalayam at Aruppukottai
Idangazhi (Idangali), also known as Idangazhi Nayanar, Idangaliyar (Idankaliyar) was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifty-fourth in the list of 63 Nayanars. He was an Irukku Velir chieftain, who is described to not only have pardoned a devotee of the god Shiva, who stole from the royal granaries, but also distributed rice to devotees of Shiva.
Kalikamba Nayanar, known as Kalikkamba, Kalikamba, Kalikambar, Kaliyamba, Kalikkambar, Kalikkampa(r), Kali Kambanar, Kalikkampa Nayanar and Kaliyamba Nayanar(u), is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the forty-third in the list of 63 Nayanars. His hagiography speaks about how he cut the hand of his wife, who did not help in serving a Shaiva, devotee of the god Shiva.
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.
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.
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.
Viralminda Nayanar, also known as Viranmindar (Viranmintar), Viranmintan and Viranminda Nayanar, is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the sixth in the list of 63 Nayanars. He was a contemporary of Sundarar. He along with Cheraman Perumal Nayanar are the two Nayanars from Kerala. Viralminda Nayanar is described in legends as the reason Sundarar composed a hymn to the Nayanar saints, which became the first compilation of the list.
Eyarkon Kalikkama Nayanar, also known as Eyarkon Kalikama Nayanar, Kalikkama Nayanar, Kalikamba Nayanar, Kalikkamar, Kalikamar, Kalikkambar, Yeyarkon Kalikkamar and Eyarkon Kalikkamar, is 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.
Pugal Chola, also known as Pukal Chola, Pukazhchozha Nayanar, Pugazh, Pukazhcchozhar, Pukal Cholan and Pugal Chola Nayanar, is described as a Chola ruler and was a Nayanar saint, venerated in Shaivism, one of the main sects of Hindu. He is generally counted as the eighth in the list of 63 Nayanars.
Sirappuli Nayanar, also known as Sirappuli, Sirapuli Nayanar, Sirappuliyar (Chirappuliyar), was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the thirty-fifth in the list of 63 Nayanars. Sirappuli Nayanar is described to have served the devotees of the god Shiva and worshipped the god with various ritual practices.
Seruthunai Nayanar, also known as Seruthunai, Seruthunaiyar and Seruttunai Nayanar, was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the 55th in the list of 63 Nayanars.
Amaraneedi Nayanar, also known as Amarneethi (Nayanar), Amarneeti (Nayanar), Amarniti (Nayanar), Amar-Nidhi (Nayanar) and Amarneethiyar, was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the seventh in the list of 63 Nayanars.
Kutruva Nayanar, also known as Kootruva , Kutruva, Kutruvar, Kootruvar, Kurruva Nayanar, Kurruvar, Kurruvan, Kutruvanar, Kurrrruvar, Kalappallan and Kalappalar, was a chieftain of Kalandai and a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the 39th in the list of 63 Nayanars. Kutruva is often described as a Jain, who became a devotee of Shiva, the patron god of Shaivism.
Kalarsinga Nayanar, also known as Kalarsinga, Kazharsinga, Kalarcinkan, Kalarsingan, Kalarsinganar, Kalarsingar, Kalarcingar and Kalar-chingar (Kalar-singar), was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifty-fifth in the list of 63 Nayanars. While his identity remains a matter of debate, many scholars identity Kalarsinga Nayanar as the Pallava king Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha), who reigned between 700 and 728 CE.
Meiporul Nayanar known as Meypporul Nayanar, Meipporul (Meypporul), Meiporular, Meypporular, Maiporul Nayanar and Miladudaiyar is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifth in the list of 63 Nayanars.
Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the sixty-first in the list of 63 Nayanars. While the first part of his name can be spelt as Tirunilakanta, Tirunilakantha, Tiru Neelakanta, Tiru Nilakanta, Nilakantan and Thiruneelakanda, Yazhpanar is spelt as variously as Yalppanar, Yalapannar, Yalpanar and Yazhpaanar. He is described as a companion of Sambandar, one of the most prominent Nayanars.