Nayanars
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The Nayanars or Nayanmars were Shaivite devotional poets of Tamil Nadu, active between the fifth and the tenth centuries CE. The Tamil Shaiva hagiography Periya Puranam, a volume of the Tirumurai, written during the thirteenth century CE, narrates the history of each of sixty-three Nayanars, though the number was probably selected for its symbolism. The Jain hagiography Mahapurana, a ninth century Sanskrit work by Jinasena, which lists 63 Jain saints, probably formed the basis of Periya Puranam as well as the number of Nayanars.[1]
Cuntarar's eighth century work Tiruttondar tokai lists 60 Shaiva saints[2] but gives none of the legends associated with them. In the tenth century Nambiyandar Nambi composed the Tirrutontar Antati, adding Cuntarar himself and his parents to the list, thus creating the canonical list of sixty-three, with brief sketches of their legends.
Nayanars were from varied backgrounds, ranging from kings and soldiers to untouchables. The foremost Nayanars are Appar, Cuntarar and Campantar. Together with the twelve Vaishnava Alvars, the Nayanars are sometimes accounted South India's 75 Apostles of Bhakti because of their importance in the rise of the Hindu Bhakti movement.
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[edit] The sixty-three Nayanmars
- Anaya
- Adipaththa
- Aiyadigal Kaadavarkon, Pallava King Aiyadigal Perumaanaar
- Amaraneedi Nayanar
- Appudhi Adigal
- Arivattaya
- Chandeshvara Nayanar
- DhandiyadigaL
- Enatinatha
- Eripaththa
- Eyarkon Kalikkaama
- Gananatha
- Idankazhi
- Ilayankudi maranar
- Isaignaniyaar - Female Nayanar
- Iyarpagaiar
- Kaari
- Kalikkamba
- Kaliya
- Kanampulla
- Kannappa Nayanar
- Karaikkal Ammeiyar, Female Nayanar
- Kazharchinga
- Kazharir-rarivaar, Chera King, also Cheraman Perumal
- Kochengat Cholan, A Chola King
- Kootruva
- Kotpuli
- Kulachchirai
- Kungiliyak Kalaya
- Manakkanychaara Nayanar
- Mangayarkkarachiyar, Female Nayanar
- Meiporul Nayanar
- Murkha
- Murti
- Munayaduvaar
- Muruga
- Nami Nandi Adigal
- Narasingha Munayaraya
- Nesa Nayanar
- Ninra Seer Nedumaara
- Perumizhalaik Kurumba
- Pusalar
- Pugal Chola, A Chola King
- Pugazh Thunai Nayanar
- Saakkiya
- Sadaiya Nayanar
- Saththi
- Seruthtunai
- Sirappuli
- Siruttonda
- Somaachi
- Sundarar
- Sambandar
- Tirukkuripput Tonda
- Tirumular
- Thirunalai Povar Nayanar, popularly known as Nandanar
- Tirunavukkarasar, popularly known as Appar
- Thiruneelakandar
- Tirunilakanda Yaazpaana
- Tirunilanakka
- Uruttira Pasupati
- Vaayilaar
- Viralminda nayanar
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ N.Subramaniam (1975). Social and Cultural History of Tamilnad (to AD 1336). Ennes Publication Udumalpet 642 128.
- ^ Dr R. Nagasamy. Siva Bhakthi. Chapter 2.
