imported>Scyrme: Scyrme moved page Tiruneelanakka Nayanar to Tirunilanakka Nayanar: More consistent with other Nayanar articles

2021-06-29T00:03:57Z

Scyrme moved page Tiruneelanakka Nayanar to Tirunilanakka Nayanar: More consistent with other Nayanar articles

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{{Short description|Hindu saint}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
|name= Tirunilanakka Nayanar
|image= Tiruneelanakka Nayanar.JPG
|caption =
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
|birth_date= 7th century CE
|birth_place= Sattamangai
|birth_name=
|death_date=
|death_place=
|philosophy= [[Shaivism]], [[Bhakti]]
|honors= [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] saint,
|footnotes=
}}

'''Tirunilanakka Nayanar''' (also spelt as '''Tiruneelanakka Nayanar''' and '''Thiru Neela Nakka Nayanar'''), also known '''Tiruneelanakka''', '''Nilanakkar''' and '''Nilanakkan''', was a [[Nayanars|Nayanar]] saint, venerated in the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] sect of [[Shaivism]]. He is generally counted as the twenty-eighth 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> He is described as a contemporary of [[Sambandar]] (first half of the 7th century CE), one of the most prominent Nayanars.

==Life==
The life of Tiruneelanakka 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"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.shaivam.org/english/sen_th12_neelanakkar.htm| title=The Puranam of Tiruneelanakkar Nayanar| publisher=T N Ramachandran |accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref>

Tiruneelanakka Nayanar was born in Sattamangai (Thirusathamangai/Satthamangkai), an important town in the [[Chola]] kingdom. The town is currently called Seeyathamangai, [[Nagapattinam district]] in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. The Ayavantheeswarar temple dedicated to the god [[Shiva]], patron of Shaivism, stands in this town. Tiruneelanakka was born in a family of [[Brahmin]]s (priest [[caste]]), whose duty was to recite the [[Vedic]] scriptures. An expert in the Vedas, he was a staunch devotee of Shiva and served his devotees, by washing their feet and welcoming them to his home. He used to worship in the temple as the [[Āgama (Hinduism)|Agamic]] texts.<ref name="swami"/>

Once on the day of [[Purnima|Poornima]] (the full moon day), Tiruneelanakka and his wife went to the Shiva shrine. While Tiruneelanakka was performing his daily ritual worship of the [[lingam]] (the aniconic form of Shiva worshipped as the central icon in temples), a spider fell from his web on the lingam. The wife blew away the spider, wherein some saliva could have fallen on the lingam. In some versions, she goes a step further and spits on the spot where the spider falls. This action was in accordance with the tradition of spitting on a part of a child where the spider fell so as the poison of the spider does not spread in the body. Tiruneelanakka considered her action blasphemous and asked the wife what she had done. She replied she just blew away the spider as per tradition. The infuriated Brahmin said that she had contaminated the lingam by her saliva, as per Agamic scriptures and she should have removed the spider by some other means. The Brahmin offered rituals to purify the lingam and apologized to the god. Further, he abandoned his wife in fury.<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>

While the wife spent her night in the temple, Tiruneelanakka went home and slept. Shiva appeared in Tiruneelanakka's dream. While a part of the body was normal, rest of it was swollen by the spider's poison. Shiva remarked that his normal area was where Tiruneelanakka's wife had blown/spat. Tiruneelanakka realized that devotion (love) was superior to rituals. In the dawn, he went dancing to the temple and worshipped Ayavantheeswarar. He returned with his wife. Tiruneelanakka continued to serve Shiva and his devotees with love.<ref name="swami"/>

[[File:Sambandar Musée Guimet 2697.jpg|thumb|upright|Sambandar (pictured) visited the house of Tiruneelanakka Nayanar.]]

Having heard of the child saint [[Sambandar]]'s glories, Tiruneelanakka visited to meet him in person. Tiruneelanakka heard that the Nayanar Sambandar accompanied by another Nayanar [[Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar]] and an entourage of devotees were coming to Sattamangai. Tiruneelanakka decorated Sattamangai for welcoming Sambandar and hosted him at his home. He honoured Sambandar with due respect. Tiruneelanakka made numerous arrangements for Sambandar to spend the night at his house.<ref name="Ghose1996"/><ref name="swami"/>

Sambandar also suggested that Yazhpanar and his wife - who were travelling minstrels and composed music to Sambandar's hymns - be given accommodation. The caste-conscious host was uneasy inviting the [[Shudra]] (low-caste) couple of Tiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar and his wife home. After insistence by Sambanar, the host gave them a place to sleep near the ''[[Homa (ritual)|homa kunda]]'', the fire altar used for sacrifices. The fire of homa kunda shone brightly in the night, giving testimony to the couple's devotion. Tiruneelanakka discerned that devotion is superior to caste barriers too.<ref name="Ghose1996">{{cite book|author=Rajeshwari Ghose|title=The Tyāgarāja Cult in Tamilnāḍu: A Study in Conflict and Accommodation|date=1 January 1996|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1391-5|page=412}}</ref><ref name="swami"/>

Sambandar accompanied Tiruneelanakka to the Ayavantheeswarar temple and composed a hymn in honour of the god and his host Tiruneelanakka Nayanar. Tiruneelanakka wanted to accompany Sambandar on his travels, but the child saint instructed Tiruneelanakka to stay in Sattamangai and serve Ayavantheeswarar and his devotees. Sambandar left and Tiruneelanakka complied.<ref name="swami"/>

After a while, Sambandar invited Tiruneelanakka Nayanar to his wedding in Thirumana Nallur (presently known as [[Achalpuram]]). Tiruneelanakka officiated as the presiding priest of the wedding ceremony. After the wedding, Sambandar, his bride and the wedding party went the [[Shivaloka Thyagar temple]] of Shiva, in Thirumana Nallur. Sambandar prayed to Shiva, seeking salvation. Shiva appeared as a blazing flame and granted his wish. Then Sambandar, his bride and all the wedding guests, including Tiruneelanakka Nayanar merged in the Light of Shiva.<ref name="swami"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=410 | title=Sri Shivaloka Thyagar temple | publisher=[[Dinamalar]] | accessdate=24 December 2014}}</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 Tiruneelanakka Nayanar in the ''Tiruthonda Thogai'', a hymn to Nayanar saints, calling him Nilanakkan of Sattamangai.<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= 336}}</ref> As mentioned in the earlier section, a hymn by Sambanar also honours him.

An image of Tiruneelanakka Nayanar is worshipped in Ayavantheeswarar temple, the Shiva temple in his native village.<ref name="Ayyar1982">{{cite book|author=P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar|title=South Indian Shrines: Illustrated|year=1982|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-0151-2|page=252}}</ref>

Tiruneelanakka Nayanar is worshipped in the [[Tamil month]] of [[Vaishakha|Vaikasi]], when the moon enters the [[Mula (nakshatra)|Mula]] [[nakshatra]] (lunar mansion). He is depicted with a crown and 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]]
[[Category:7th-century Indian people]]

Tirunilanakka Nayanar - Revision history

imported>Scyrme: Scyrme moved page Tiruneelanakka Nayanar to Tirunilanakka Nayanar: More consistent with other Nayanar articles