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2021-05-24T09:47:25Z

removed parent categories of Category:Nayanars

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
|name= Sirappuli Nayanar
|image= Sirappuli Nayanar.JPG
|caption =
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
|birth_date= unknown
|birth_place= [[Akkur, Nagapattinam|Thiruvakkur]]
|birth_name=
|death_date=
|death_place=
|philosophy= [[Shaivism]], [[Bhakti]]
|honors= [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] saint
|footnotes=
}}

'''Sirappuli Nayanar''', also known as '''Sirappuli''' (also spelled as '''Cirappuli''', '''Chirappuli'''), '''Sirapuli Nayanar''', '''Sirappuliyar''' ('''Chirappuliyar'''), was a [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] saint, venerated in the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] sect of [[Shaivism]]. He is generally counted as the thirty-fifth 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> Sirappuli Nayanar is described to have served the devotees of the god [[Shiva]] and worshipped the god with various ritual practices.

==Life==
The life of Sirappuli Nayanar is described in the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ''[[Periya Puranam]]'' by [[Sekkizhar]] (12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars.<ref name="Dalal2011"/> The ''Puranam of Sirappuli Nayanar'', as his chapter is called in the ''Periya Puranam'' is composed of 6 stanzas.<ref name="periya">{{cite web | url=http://www.shaivam.org/english/sen_th12_sirappuli.htm | title=The Puranam of Sirappuli Nayanar
| publisher=T N Ramachandran |accessdate=16 December 2014}}</ref>

Sirappuli Nayanar was born in [[Akkur, Nagapattinam|Thiruvakkur]] (Akkur/Aakkoor), [[Nagapattinam district]] in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. In the times of Sirappuli Nayanar, Thiruvakkur was part of the [[Chola]] kingdom. He was a staunch devotee of [[Shiva]], the patron god of Shaivism. Thiruvakkur was famed for its generous [[Brahmin]]s, members of the priestly [[caste]]. Sirappuli was one of them. Sirappuli's family was traditionally associated with memorizing and chanting the [[Vedas]], one of Hinduism's most sacred scriptures. The Nayanar saint used to donate generously. He is praised as a "munificent giver" and called a "nimbus which rained wealth". He welcomed the devotees of Shiva to his home and prostrated before them. Sirappuli Nayanar spoke sweet words to his guests. He used to feed them and presented them with gifts. Sirappuli regularly recited the [[Om Namah Shivaya|Panchakshara]] [[mantra]]. dedicated to Shiva. He performed many ''[[yajna]]''s (ritual sacrifices) - including [[homa (ritual)|fire sacrifices]] - in honour of Shiva. The saint is also described to smear ''[[vibhuti]]'' (sacred ash) on his body. He spent his days serving Shiva and his devotees, and finally attained his divine abode [[Kailash]] after death.<ref name="periya"/><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><ref name="VenkataramaiahLinguistics1996">{{cite book|author1=K. M. Venkataramaiah|author2=International School of Dravidian Linguistics|title=A handbook of Tamil Nadu|year=1996|publisher=International School of Dravidian Linguistics|isbn=978-81-85692-20-3|page=299}}</ref>

The 13th-century [[Telugu language|Telugu]] ''[[Basava Purana]]'' of [[Palkuriki Somanatha]] retells the legend of Sirappuli (called Cirupuli in the account) in brief and with some variation.<ref>{{cite book|title=Siva's Warriors: The Basava Purana of Palkuriki Somanatha|date=14 July 2014|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-6090-6|page=169}}</ref>

According to the Hindu spiritual leader [[Sivananda Saraswati]], the legend of Sirappuli Nayanar conveys the greatness of the Panchakshara mantra of Shiva and the glory of ''[[Japa]]'', the practice of repeating the name of God or his mantra. The saint is sometimes described to chant the mantra eternally without stopping. Though calling Japa the simplest form of worship, Sivananda exalts it the "highest [[Yoga]]" and preaches that one should always recall the name of God, as the great saint did.<ref name="swami"/> Sirappuli Nayanar is compared to another Nayanar, [[Somasi Mara Nayanar]], who also embarked on the similar path of [[bhakti]] (devotion), employing Hindu rituals like yajnas as well as the Panchakshara mantra to please Shiva.<ref>{{cite book|title=Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the South Indian History Congress|year=1995|publisher=The Congress|page=253}}</ref>

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

One of the most prominent Nayanars, [[Sundarar]] (8th century) venerates Sirappuli Nayanar in the ''Tiruthonda Thogai'', a hymn to Nayanar saints and praising him as generous and famed.<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|page= 332}}</ref>

Sirappuli Nayanar is associated with the [[Aakkoor Thanthondreeswarar Temple|Sri Thanthondreeswarar temple]], the Shiva temple in his home town Thiruvakkur. A shrine is dedicated to him, in the temple. A legend tells that the Nayanar had vowed to feed a thousand devotees every day. Once, Shiva himself came as the thousandth devotee in the feast to complete the thousand. Thus, the icon of the temple is called Ayirathil Oruvar ("one in a thousand"). Some versions of the legend replace Sirappuli with the Chola king and Nayanar [[Kocengannan]], who is credited as the builder of the temple.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/New_en.php?id=208 | title=Sri Thanthondreeswarar temple | publisher=[[Dinamalar]] | accessdate=16 December 2014}}</ref>

The tale of Sirappuli Nayanar is carved in the [[Airavatesvara Temple]], the 12th-century Shiva temple in [[Darasuram]] built by the Chola king [[Rajaraja Chola II]]. Sirappuli is depicted as a Brahmin, identified by his ''[[yagnopavita]]'' (sacred thread), giving away gifts to two individuals. An inscription below the scene identifies it as ''Sirappuliandar''.<ref name="Araṅkacāmi1990">{{cite book|author=Mor̲appākkam Appācāmi Turai Araṅkacāmi|title=The Religion and Philosophy of Tēvāram: With Special Reference to Nampi Ārūrar (Sundarar)|year=1990|publisher=University of Madras|pages=1008–9}}</ref>

Sirappuli Nayanar is worshipped in the [[Tamil month]] of [[Kartik (month)|Karthikai]], when the moon enters the [[Pūrva Ashādhā]] [[nakshatra]] (lunar mansion). He is depicted with folded hands (see [[Anjali mudra]]). 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]]

Sirappuli Nayanar - Revision history

imported>Marcocapelle: removed parent categories of Category:Nayanars