Product Code Database
The Nayanars (or Nayanmars; , and later 'teachers of Shiva') were a group of 63 Tamils Hindu saints living during the 6th to 8th centuries CE who were devoted to the Hindu god Shiva. Along with the Alvars, their contemporaries who were devoted to Vishnu, they influenced the Bhakti movement in early medieval South India. The names of the Nayanars were first compiled by Sundarar. The list was expanded by Nambiyandar Nambi during his compilation of material by the poets for the Tirumurai collection, and would include Sundarar himself and Sundarar's parents.
The Nalvar () are the three foremost Nayanars Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar along with Manikkavasagar.
In the 10th century, king Raja Raja Chola I collected the volumes of Tevaram after hearing excerpts of the hymns in his court. His priest Nambiyandar Nambi began compiling the hymns into a series of volumes called the Tirumurai. He arranged the hymns of three saint poets Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar as the first seven books which he called the Tevaram. He compiled Manikkavacakar's Tirukovayar and Tiruvasakam as the eighth book, the 28 hymns of nine other saints as the ninth book, the Tirumandiram of Tirumular and 40 hymns by 12 other poets as the tenth book. In the eleventh book, he created the Tirutontanar Tiruvanthathi (also known as Tirutoṇṭar Antādi, lit. Necklace of Verses on the Lord's Servants), which consisted of 89 verses, with a verse devoted to each of the saints. With the addition of Sundarar and his parents to the sequence, this became the canonical list of the 63 saints. In the 12th century, Sekkizhar added a twelfth volume to the Tirumurai called Periya Puranam in which he expands further on the stories of each of 63 Nayanars.
The Nayanars were from various backgrounds, including Nadar, Vanniyar, Vellalas, Idayars, Kurumbars, , oilmongers, , Vannar, and . Along with the twelve Vaishnava Alvars, they are regarded as the important Hindu saints from South India.
Many Kannada works, such has Nambiyannana Ragale and Tiru Nilakanta Devara Ragale, are written on Nayanars by Kannada poet Harihara. Sundara Murthy nayanar is known as Nambiyanna in Kannada literature.
| + List of 63 Nayanars |
| Born in Tamil calendar month, Svati nakshatra |
| His name "Iyarpagai" means "Contrary to Nature" |
| A Brave swordsman/general in Chola Military |
| Believed to be a reincarnation of Arjuna |
| His efforts convinced the Pallava king, Mahendra- Varman I to take up Shaivism. |
| He became the Prime Minister of the Pandyan King Koon Pandiyan. |
| Nagarathar Woman saint who lived in the 6th century; one of the three female Nayanars |
| A child prodigy Saiva Saint who lived only 16 years |
| Army general of the Pallava king Narasimavarman I |
| Tentatively identified with Chera ruler Rama Rajasekhara Born in Aadhi month, Swathi nakshathiram |
| Chola King |
| Born in Aadhi month, Kettai nakshathiram |
| Pandya King |
| Queen and consort of Koon Pandiyan; one of the three female Nayanars |
| Tentatively identified with Pallava king Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) |
| , weaver who donates clothes to Lord Shiva's devotees |
| Sundarar's father |
| Sundarar's mother; one of the three female Nayanars |
In Tiruchuli, the Tamil poet-philosopher Valluvar is worshipped as the 64th Nayanar. Valluvar was also added as the 64 saint in the annual Mylapore procession of the 63 Nayanars since c. 1905.
|
|
