Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar
Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar is one of the 63 Nayanmarkal of Shaivism.
Biography
Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar was born in an agricultural family (Velan Kulam) at Ilayangudi of Sivagangai district. Mara Nayanar’s lived solely for the Aram of providing food for the Shiva devotees.
Test of Shiva
Lord Shiva wanted to prove the ability of Mara Nayanar to feed Shiva devotees with meals in his utter poverty too. Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar lost his wealth and started becoming poor. Despite of his poverty, Mara Nayanar continues to feed the Shiva devotees with food, by selling his land and by taking loans.
On a heavy rainy day, Mara Nayanar and his wife were starving without food. Despite of the poor condition, they were expecting the arrival of any Shiva devotees for a prolonged period. None of the Shiva devotees visited and the couple locked the front door. Lord Shiva, disguised in the form of Shiva devotee knocked at the door in the middle of the night. Maranar (Mara Nayanar) opened the door, greeted the Shiva devotee and arranged room for the devotee to stay.
There was no way out to ask for loan and Mara Nayanar became sad as he was unable to provide food to the Shiva devotee. Mara Nayanar’s wife reminded Mara Nayanar that the paddy seeds sown in their farm during the daytime should be floating in the rainwater. Mara Nayanar collected the paddy seeds and picked green leaves happily. There was no wood to fire the stove. Mara Nayanar used the wood of the wrecked roof. Both Maranar and his wife prepared the meals and fed the devotee.
Lord Shiva, disguised in the form of devotee, emerged like a blazing flame. Lord Shiva appeared with Uma Devi in an ox and blessed the startled couple.
Poems
- A poetry of Thiruthondar Thiruvandhadhi, narrating this story
Iyala vidaichendra madhavark innamu dhavidaitha
Vayalar mulaiviththu vari manayala kalvaruththu
Cheyalar payirvizhu theengari yakkumavan chezhuneer
Kayalareelaiyan kudiyudai maraneng karapakame
- A poetry in Thiruthondar Puranam, narrating this story
Manniyave lanthonmai ilasai maarar
Varumaiyal unavumika maranthu vaiki
Unnarural lirulilmayail undi vendi
Umbarpran anaivayal uzhuthu viththunj
Chennelmulai amuthumanai alakal akki
Chirupayirn kariyamuthu thiruntha cheyithu
Pannalarum unavarunthar kezhuntha chothi
Paralokam muzhuthanda Panmay yare
Guru Pooja
Guru Pooja for Ilayangudi Mara Nayanar is being celebrated in all the Shiva temples on the lunar day Makam of the tamil month Avani, every year.
Reference
- Nayanmar Varalaru- Tamizh Valarchi Thurai- Thiru. V. Kalyanasundaranar- 2016
- Saivam Valartha- Arubaththu Moovar- Vijaya Publications, C. S. Devanathan- Fourth Edition- 2016
- 63 Nayanmarkal- Ilayangudi Maranaynar, Dinamalar
