63 Nayanmars - Life of Thiru Kannappa Nayanar !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!



Charvarum Thavankal Seithu Munivarum Amarar Thmum
Karvarai Advi Chenrdhum Kanutharkariyar Thammai
Arvamun Peruka Ark Anpinir Kandu Kondey
Nerpera Nokki Nindrar Neelirul Neenga Nindrar

There was a hunter Nagan and his family lived in a village called ‘Uduppur’. This village belongs to the Kingdom of Pothappinadu, a lush green land with its rich natural beauty.  Nagan, chief hunter and his wife Thathai had no offspring for very long time.  Nagan was a skilled archer and his wife was also equally skilled in the art of archery.  They together with their folks hunt animals and it was the only livelihood for them.  Nagan and his wife Thathai was fervent devotee of Lord Muruga.  They sincerely prayed to Lord Muruga for an offspring to uphold their clan.  With the blessings of Lord Muruga, Thathai conceived and gave birth to a child.  The child was too dark and heavy by birth and they affectionately named him - Thinnan.

Thiru Kalahasthi Puranam describes that Thinnan/Kannappa Nayanar was the proficient Archer and son of Kunti –Arjuna in his previous birth.  Arjuna underwent severe penance praying to Lord Shiva for attaining Pasupatastra, a lethal weapon of Lord Shiva.   Lord was pleased at the devotion of Arjuna and appeared before him as a hunter.  Arjuna was failed to recognize the presence of Lord.  In order to attain liberation Arjuna had to take birth as a hunter in this life.

As years passes by Thinnan grown as a valiant young man. One auspicious day, his parents decided to begin lessons on archery for their son - Thinnan, the entire clan gathered and celebrated the event as a special occasion.  Thinnan learned the art of Archery from his father, soon he proved himself as a proficient Archer to his clan. In the meantime, Nagan was feeling exhausted due to his old age to carry out the routine jobs of a Chief Hunter.  He instructed his son to take up the position of a Chief Hunter.  The hunter clans were happy to accept young and brave Thinnan as the new chief of their clan.  Thinnan enthusiastically followed his father’s instruction.

Once, Thinnan went for hunting with his folks.  While chasing a pig Thinnan and his two men, Nanan and Kadan who where always followed him like his shadow lost their way.  They continued chasing the pig and arrived at a foot hill of Thiru Kalahasthi.  Though Thinnan was a hunter for living, he was a good natured and was very passionate towards the young ones, ill and female animals. The three of them were too tired of hunger and thirst.   Thinnan killed the pig they have chased for long time and assigned the job of cooking the meat with Kadan.  Thinnan left with Nanan to fetch some water from the river.   Thinnan was overwhelmed at the spectacular sight of the hill and a huge temple at the hilltop.   He decided to climb up the hill after hearing from Nanan about the the temple of Kudumithevar (Lord with a tuft).  Nanan followed Thinnan and Kadan stayed behind with cooking of meat.

Thinnan started to climb up the hill; soon he forgot his hunger and weariness.  He felt totally relived and slowly losing his body conscious.  Finally, they arrived at the sight of a huge Lingam.  Thinnan could not control his tears and rushed to Lingam.  He hugged and kissed the Lingam, as if a lost child found its mother.  He continued to stay like the same position and felt relieved from a heavy weight from his shoulders.  He was determined to stay there itself and wanted to safe guard the Lord.  He felt the Lord may feel abandoned without him.  His thoughts were dominated by the affections towards Lord.  Nanan taught Thinnan about the method of worship of Lord, seeing the unparalleled enthusiasm of Thinnan to serve Lord.    Thinnan much loved to serve the Lord by all means; he wanted to offer food feeling that Lord might be feeling hungry, flowers to decorate Him etc... He walked down the hill to fetch a mouthful of water for Lord and showered them on the Lingam.  He decorated the Lingam with the flowers which he had already on his head.  He served the Lord with the best part of the meat after tasting it.    After finishing his performance of Abisheka, Alangaram and Naivedyam to Lord, Thinnan positioned himself at the entrance to safe guard the Lord from any dangers.  Thinnan continued this practice; his parents were worried about the sudden changes in Thinnan and wanted to take him back to their village.  But Thinnan flatly refused to follow them.

While Thinnan was out in search of Naivedhyam for Lord, the temple priest arrived to carry out the daily rituals to Lord and he was mortified at the sight of the sanctum sanctorum.  It was full of filth; the pieces of meat were all over on the deity with a foul smell.  The temple priest immediately got himself into purification work of the entire shrine.  He performed Abhishekam of the Lord with pure water, decorated the Lingam with the fresh flowers, he offered sweets and fruits as Naivedhyam.  He finished that day’s ritual and left to home.

Thinnan got back from hunting and found the fresh flowers and Naivedhyam etc; He removed the entire decorations instantly and started to worship Lord in his own method.  This practice continued for another five days.  The temple priest was deeply distressed at the turn of events and sincerely prayed to Lord.  One day, Lord appeared in his dream and instructed him to secretly observe the worship of Thinnan – A hunter, a zealous devotee of Him.

At the divine instruction of Lord, the temple priest arrived at the shrine and stayed behind the Lingam and observed the worship of Thinnan.  As usual Thinnan hurried to the sanctum sanctorum with a bizarre feeling and pain.  He immediately noticed the blood oozing from the right eye of Lingam.  Thinnan threw the things which he had brought to worship and rushed to Lingam.  He cried out bitterly and tried to stop the bleeding with some herbs.  But it ended in vain.  Instantly, Thinnan plucked his right eye and aptly fixed it on the lingam.  The bleeding has stopped immediately, out of boundless joy and happiness he went on dancing in an ecstasy.  Suddenly, he noticed the left eye on the Lingam started to bleed.  He scurried to Lingam, this time he was even more thoughtful.  He placed his foot on the exact place where the left eye sited on the Lingam and began to pluck his left eye with the arrow.  At this moment, a mystifying voice heard ‘Kannappa stop plucking your eye’.  Lord Shiva caught his hand and brought a sudden halt to his action.  Lord blessed Thinnan with the divine name ‘Kannappa’ – Who gave eyes to Lord; Kannappa regained his vision and remained in godly status.  The temple priest who witnessed the whole phenomenon understood the true nature of devotion to Lord.

Perini Idhanmel Undo Piranthirukku Kannil Vantha
Urukandyanchith Thankan Idanthappa Udhavum Kaiyai
Eruyathu Tharvathan Kaiyyal Pidithukondu Yenvalathil
Marilai Nirka Endru Mannuper Arulpurindhar

In the Tamil month Thai – Mrugashirsham is  widely celebrated as Guru Puja day to commemorate the above incident.

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
 Jai Sriman Narayana !!

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