Kotpuli | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal | |
| Born | Kotpuli Pillai 8th century CE |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Philosophy | Shaivism, Bhakti |
| Honors | Nayanar saint |
Kotpuli, also known as Kotpuliyar and Kotpuli Nayanar, was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifty-seventh in the list of 63 Nayanars. [1]
The life of Kotpuli Nayanar is described in the Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar (12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars. [1] [2] He is described as a contemporary of one of the most prominent Nayanars, Sundarar (8th century). His name "Kotpuli" means "Ferocious tiger". [3]
Kotpuli Nayanar was born in Nattiyattankuti, in the Chola kingdom (Chola Nadu). His home-town is currently known as Tirunattiyattangudi (Nattiyattankudi), Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He was a Vellalar, a caste of agricultural land owners. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva, the patron god of Shaivism. He was the commander-in-chief of the Chola army. Over the years, he had become wealthy and used his wealth to donate "hills" of rice in Shiva temples, which were used to prepare Naivedya (food offerings) to the god. He pursued his services for many years. Once when he was called on military duty, he stored piles of rice in his house, which he instructed should be used for the Naivedya, while he was away. He conveyed his orders to all his kinsmen individually. [3] [4]
A famine struck Nattiyattankuti. Kotpuli's family consumed the rice to save themselves. Kotpuli won the war and returned with many gifts from the Chola king. He learnt of the actions of his relatives and decided to punish them. He invited all his kin to his house for a celebration of his victory. Kotpuli ordered the doors of his mansions be closed so his relatives can not escape and made a servant stand guard. Kotpuli killed his parents, brothers and wives for their transgression. The servant requested the master to spare the life of an infant, who had not eaten the rice and was the last heir of Kotpuli's family. Kotpuli killed the infant too, reasoning he had drunk the breast milk of a woman, who had consumed the rice. The true reason for their murders was that in their past lives his relatives had conspired and killed the head of their family in order to inherit the latter's vast wealth, and thus their karma dictated they be killed in a similar way. Although, upon witnessing this, Mother Goddess Parvati ascended to Earth and brought each of them back to life by healing their wounds as they had been fervent Shaiva devotees of hers and Lord Shiva. Pleased by his intense devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before Kotpuli and blessed him. He informed Kotpuli that he along with his formerly-massacred relatives would be allowed to attain Shivatvam (having soul merged with and being one with Lord Shiva), and in turn moksha (liberation), and took Kotpuli to his abode Kailash. [3] [4] The message of the tale is that the devotion to God should supersede everything else. [5]
Kotpuli is said to given two of daughters Cinkati and Vannapakai to Sundarar, who reared them as their foster father. [6]
Sundarar venerates Kotpuli Nayanar in the Tiruthonda Thogai, a hymn to Nayanar saints. He is described as "lordly" and carrying a spear. [6]
Kotpuli is especially associated with the Shiva temple in Nattiyattankudi and is also worshipped in the temple. [7] In his hymn to Shiva worshipped at Nattiyattankudi, Sundarar dedicates the last verse to Kotpuli. Kotpuli - the father of Cinkati - is described to serve the temple. He is described as kotiran, "one who is like pincers or jaws" and defeated enemy kings in war. [6]
Kotpuli is worshipped in the Tamil month of Aadi, when the moon enters the Jyeshtha nakshatra (lunar mansion). He is depicted wearing a crown, with folded hands (see Anjali mudra) and holding a sword in the crook of his arm. He 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]
Manakanchara Nayanar, also known as Manakkanychaara Nayanar, Manakkancharar, Manakanjara Nayanar, Mankkanjara Nayanar and Manakkanjarar, was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the twelfth in the list of 63 Nayanars. Like other Nayanars, he was a fervent devotee of the god Shiva. Manakanchara Nayanar is dated to the 8th century and was a contemporary of Eyarkon Kalikkama Nayanar, a Nayanar saint and his son-in-law as well as Sundarar. He is described to have cut his daughter's hair and given it to Shiva disguised as a Shaiva ascetic, on her wedding day.
Yenathinathar, also known as Yenatinata, Yenathi Nayanar, Yenadhinatha, Yenadinath, Yenadinatha Nayanar and Yenadhinatha Nayanar, was a Nayanar saint hailing from Eezha clan, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the ninth in the list of 63 Nayanars.
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.
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.
Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar, also known as Kungiliya Kalaya, Kalayar, Kunguliya and Kalaya Nayanar, is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the eleventh 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.
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 most prominent Nayanar saints. She is herself regarded as a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism, along with her husband Sadaiya Nayanar. She is generally counted as the last in the list of 63 Nayanars.
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 twenty-ninth 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 the Hindu sect of Shaivism. 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.
Nesa Nayanar, also known as Sivanesa Nayanar, Neca Nayanar, Nesanar, Nesar and Nesan (Necan), was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifty-ninth in the list of 63 Nayanars. Nesa Nayanar is described to be a weaver, who was always engrossed in remembering his patron god Shiva and gifting clothes he knit to devotees of the deity.
Pugazh Thunai Nayanar, also known as Pugazhthunai Nayanar, Pugalthunai Nayanar, Pukazhtthunai Nayanar, Pukazhtthunaiyar and Pukalttunai, was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifty-sixth 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.
Munaiyaduvar, also known as Manai Aduvar Nayanar, Munaiyaduvar Nayanar, Munayaduvar, Munayaduvaar, Munaiyaduvaar and Munaiyatuvar, was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the 52nd in the list of 63 Nayanars. Munaiyaduvar is described as a mercenary soldier, who would fight for the weak and vanished and use the fees received in service of his patron deity Shiva and the god's devotees.
Iyarpagai Nayanar, also known as Iyarpagaiar, Iyarpahai Nayanar, Iyarpagaiya Nayanar and Iyarppakai Nayanar is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the third in the list of 63 Nayanars.