Kotpuli - Revision history

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	The life of Kotpuli Nayanar is described in the ''[[Periya Puranam]]'' by [[Sekkizhar]] (12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars.<ref name="Dalal2011"/><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.shaivam.org/english/sen_th12_kotpuli.htm \| title=The Puranam of Kotpuli Nayanar \| publisher=T N Ramachandran \|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> He is described as a contemporary of one of the most prominent Nayanars, [[Sundarar]] (8th century). His name "Kotpuli" means "Ferocious tiger".<ref name="Hiltebeitel1989"/>		The life of Kotpuli Nayanar is described in the ''[[Periya Puranam]]'' by [[Sekkizhar]] (12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars.<ref name="Dalal2011"/><ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.shaivam.org/english/sen_th12_kotpuli.htm \| title=The Puranam of Kotpuli Nayanar \| publisher=T N Ramachandran \|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> He is described as a contemporary of one of the most prominent Nayanars, [[Sundarar]] (8th century). His name "Kotpuli" means "Ferocious tiger".<ref name="Hiltebeitel1989"/>

	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.<ref name="Hiltebeitel1989"/><ref name="swami"/>		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 born in a [[Chozhia Vellalar]] family,<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Subramanian \|first=K. A. \|title=Periya Puranam \|year=2018 \|publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math \|url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Periya_Puranam/n9TVDwAAQBAJhl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Kotpuli+Nayanar&pg=PT558&rintsec=frontcover \|page=PT558}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Hiltebeitel1989"/><ref name="swami"/>

	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, [[Parvati\|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]].<ref name="Hiltebeitel1989">{{cite book\|first=Alf \|last=Hiltebeitel\|author-link=Alf Hiltebeitel\|title=Criminal Gods and Demon Devotees: Essays on the Guardians of Popular Hinduism\|date=1989\|publisher=SUNY Press\|isbn=978-0-88706-982-6\|pages=377–9}}</ref><ref name="swami">{{cite book \| author =Swami Sivananda \|author-link=Swami Sivananda \| title = Sixty-three Nayanar Saints \| edition = 4 \| publisher = The Divine Life Society \| year = 1999 \| location = Sivanandanagar }}</ref> The message of the tale is that the devotion to God should supersede everything else.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002">{{cite book\|author=James G. Lochtefeld\|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g6FsB3psOTIC&pg=PA509\|year=2002\|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group\|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4\|page=509}}</ref>		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, [[Parvati\|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]].<ref name="Hiltebeitel1989">{{cite book\|first=Alf \|last=Hiltebeitel\|author-link=Alf Hiltebeitel\|title=Criminal Gods and Demon Devotees: Essays on the Guardians of Popular Hinduism\|date=1989\|publisher=SUNY Press\|isbn=978-0-88706-982-6\|pages=377–9}}</ref><ref name="swami">{{cite book \| author =Swami Sivananda \|author-link=Swami Sivananda \| title = Sixty-three Nayanar Saints \| edition = 4 \| publisher = The Divine Life Society \| year = 1999 \| location = Sivanandanagar }}</ref> The message of the tale is that the devotion to God should supersede everything else.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002">{{cite book\|author=James G. Lochtefeld\|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g6FsB3psOTIC&pg=PA509\|year=2002\|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group\|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4\|page=509}}</ref>

>Marcocapelle: removed parent categories of Category:Nayanars

2021-05-24T09:40:07Z

removed parent categories of Category:Nayanars

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
|name= Kotpuli
|image= Kotpuli.JPG
|caption =
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
|birth_date= 8th century CE
|birth_place= [[Nattiyattankuti]]
|birth_name= Kotpuli Pillai
|death_date=
|death_place=
|philosophy= [[Shaivism]], [[Bhakti]]
|honors= [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] saint
|footnotes=
}}

'''Kotpuli''', also known as '''Kotpuliyar''' and '''Kotpuli Nayanar''', was a [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] saint, venerated in the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] sect of [[Shaivism]]. He is generally counted as the fifty-seventh in the list of 63 Nayanars.<ref name="Dalal2011">{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2011|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|page=281}}</ref>

==Life==
The life of Kotpuli Nayanar is described in the ''[[Periya Puranam]]'' by [[Sekkizhar]] (12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars.<ref name="Dalal2011"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.shaivam.org/english/sen_th12_kotpuli.htm | title=The Puranam of Kotpuli Nayanar | publisher=T N Ramachandran |access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> He is described as a contemporary of one of the most prominent Nayanars, [[Sundarar]] (8th century). His name "Kotpuli" means "Ferocious tiger".<ref name="Hiltebeitel1989"/>

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.<ref name="Hiltebeitel1989"/><ref name="swami"/>

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, [[Parvati|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]].<ref name="Hiltebeitel1989">{{cite book|first=Alf |last=Hiltebeitel|author-link=Alf Hiltebeitel|title=Criminal Gods and Demon Devotees: Essays on the Guardians of Popular Hinduism|date=1989|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-88706-982-6|pages=377–9}}</ref><ref name="swami">{{cite book | author =Swami Sivananda |author-link=Swami Sivananda | title = Sixty-three Nayanar Saints | edition = 4 | publisher = The Divine Life Society | year = 1999 | location = Sivanandanagar }}</ref> The message of the tale is that the devotion to God should supersede everything else.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g6FsB3psOTIC&pg=PA509|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|page=509}}</ref>

Kotpuli is said to given two of daughters Cinkati and Vannapakai to Sundarar, who reared them as their foster father.<ref name=Peterson/>

==Remembrance==
[[File:Sri Kokarneshvarar Temple in Tirukokarnam.JPG|thumb|The images of the Nayanars are found in many Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu.]]

Sundarar venerates Kotpuli Nayanar in the ''Tiruthonda Thogai'', a hymn to Nayanar saints. He is described as "lordly" and carrying a spear.<ref name=Peterson>{{cite book|title=Poems to Śiva: The Hymns of the Tamil Saints|year=1991|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0784-6|pages= 229, 231, 302, 332, 335}}</ref>

Kotpuli is especially associated with the Shiva temple in Nattiyattankudi and is also worshipped in the temple.<ref name="Ayyar1982">{{cite book|author=P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&pg=PA254|year=1982|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-0151-2|page=254}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Peterson/>

Kotpuli is worshipped in the [[Tamil month]] of [[Ashadha|Aadi]], when the moon enters the [[Jyeshtha (nakshatra)|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.<ref name="Dalal2011"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Nayanars}}

[[Category:Nayanars]]