Great Devotees of Lord Siva 8

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Om Namah Sivaya Cheraman Perumal Nayanar Cheraman Perumal Nayanar

Cheraman Perumal Nayanar was born in South India. He was born in the royal

family. The name Cheraman was the common name for all Cheras (King family).

Perumal was the title adopted by him after his coronation. His original name

was Perum-Ma-Kothayar.

He was endowed with good Samskaras. He had great devotion to the Lord even as a

child. As he grew, his devotion also grew. He had a remarkable degree of

dispassion and discrimination. He did not like to rule the country: and so,

when he came of age, he renounced the world and went to Tiru Anchaikalam and

engaged himself in the worship of the Lord there. The country was ruled by

Sengol Porayan. He, too, soon realised the evanescence of worldly life and

renounced the world! He had no issues and the throne was vacant. They went to

Tiru Anchaikalam and requested Perum-Ma-Kothayar to ascend the throne. Though

he was reluctant, lest it should interfere with his daily worship, he bowed to

the divine will. He went to the temple and offered a prayer. The Lord permitted

him to accept the rulership. By the Lord’s grace he ascended the throne and

ruled the country justly and wisely. He could understand all languages, even

the language of the birds. The Lord had

bestowed upon him all the Aiswaryas, great strength, royal vehicles, etc.

After the coronation, he went to the temple and after worshipping the Lord he

was returning to the palace. On the way, he saw a washerman whose body had been

smeared with white sand and mud. The very sight enraptured Cheraman who saw in

him the image of Lord Siva with the sacred ash smeared all over the body. He

was raised to God-consciousness. He descended from the elephant and fell at the

feet of the washerman, in spite of the latter’s protest. All were wonderstruck

to witness the supreme devotion of Cheraman. By his many acts of devotion

and piety, he earned the grace of Lord Siva. The Lord sent to him a renowned

musician and devotee, Banapatirar, with a palm leaf on

which was the Lord’s own song in praise of Cheraman! It read: ‘Oh king who

honours great poets with rich presents, who rules his subjects with love! Glory

to you! I am very highly pleased with your devotion and charitable nature. The

bearer of this message is Banapatirar who is a great devotee like you. He is a

great musician and always sings My glories on his favourite instrument, Yazh.

He has come to see you. Welcome him with due respect and honour him with plenty

of riches.’ Cheraman welcomed the musician with great love and devotion. When he

read the song of the Lord, he was overjoyed and rolled on the ground. He said to

Banapatirar: ‘Oh noble soul, kindly take possession of all these and accept my

kingdom also.’ Banapatirar was astounded to witness the king’s devotion and

said: ‘Oh king, I am highly pleased with your Darshan. I shall accept only what

is absolutely necessary for me, for that

has been the command of the Lord.’ He took what he needed and left Kodunkolur on

an elephant. Cheraman escorted him up to the border.

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EditMode="false">Lord Nataraja Cheraman was greatly devoted to Lord Nataraja.

He had surrendered his body, mind and soul to Him. He would daily worship the

Lord: and, by His grace, at the time of his prayer, he would hear the musical

sound produced by the Lord’s anklets during His dance. One day, however, at the

time of the prayer, he did not hear the usual divine sound. Cheraman was greatly

afflicted at heart. He thought that he must have been guilty of a great crime

and decided to end his life, with his sword. At once he heard the divine sound

and a voice in the sky explained:

‘Oh noble soul, My friend Nambi Arurar has come to Tillai and he was singing

sweet Tamil songs. I was completely absorbed in that and hence the delay in

blessing you with the musical sound of My anklet.’ The Lord wanted to create a

friendship between Sundarar and Cheraman and so spoke highly of Sundarar (a

Great Saivite Acharya) to Cheraman. Cheraman, desirous of worshipping Lord

Nataraja and also of meeting Sundarar, at once started for Tillai. The very

sight of the Lord in Tillai entranced him. He sang ‘Pon Vannathu Anthadi’ on

Lord Nataraja. In appreciation, the Lord blessed him with the musical sound of

His anklets. Cheraman was swimming in divine bliss. Before Cheraman reached

Tillai, Sundarar had already left the place. Cheraman proceeded to Tiruvarur

where he met Sundarar.

They embraced each other and fell at each other’s feet. They became fast

friends. At Tiruvarur Cheraman composed the famous ‘Tiru Mummanikovai’ on Lord

Thiagaraja (Siva). Then they went to Vedaranyam. There Cheraman sang his ‘Tiru

Anthati’ on the Lord. After visiting many shrines on the way they came to

Madura. The Pandyan king welcomed them. The Chola prince who was staying with

the Pandyan king also welcomed them. In their company the great saints visited

many shrines. Taking leave of the kings, Cheraman and Sundarar returned to

Tiruvarur. From there, at the request of Cheraman, Sundarar accompanied him to

Kodunkolur. There Cheraman took Sundarar on an elephant and went round the city

in procession. When Sundarar returned to Tiruvarur, he had instructed

Cheraman to rule the country justly and wisely. Cheraman

obeyed the saint’s commands. On the next occasion when Sundarar visited

Kodunkolur one day Sundarar suddenly left the place and went to the sacred

shrine at Tiru Anchaikalam where he sought the Lord’s grace and attained

Liberation (he was only 18 years old). By intuition, Cheraman learnt of

Sundarar’s release and he also attained the Lotus Feet of the Lord. In Kailasa,

Cheraman became the chief of Lord Siva’s Ganas (servants). Sivaya Namah

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