Saint of the month: Bhakth Nandanar

[Guest guest]

The Tamizh month of ‘Purattasi’ when the star ‘Rohini’

is on the ascent is said to be the day whence Nandanaar mingled with His

Beloved Lord Siva in Chidambaram. This year (2008), today (Sep 21) is this

auspicious day. On this day, we bring you the divine life history of the great

devotee Nandanaar!

A Holy place ('kshetra’)

is remembered not so much for the Deity there as for the devotee associated

with the place. When we visit any holy place, we are at once reminded of the

name and life-sketch of the devotees who were devoted to the deity there. Thus

the name of the holy Chidambaram (a temple-town in Tamil Nadu) brings to our

mind Nandanaar, one of the 63 ‘Nayanmars’ (the prominent devotees of Lord

Siva). The life history of Nandanaar, in ‘Periyapuranam’ (a piece of literature

that extols the lives of the 63 ‘Nayanmars’), depicts the deep devotion that

this humble devotee had for Lord Siva and the grace of Lord Siva in conferring

His love on His devotees, going beyond all worldly considerations like caste

and creed.

 

 

Nandanaar

 

Nandanaar was born in what was

then classified as a low caste, in a slum in Adhanur village on the banks of

River Kollidam (in Tamil Nadu). He worked as a farm hand of a landlord in the

village. Exemplary in character, born out of his devotion to his Lord, he

served his landlord sincerely. He served Lord Siva as much as he could. He made

drums out of cow hide and also musical instruments such as 'yaazh', 'iyazhai'

from the guts of animals and offered them to the temple for use in worship.

Deeply devoted to Lord Siva,

the Divine Name of his favorite Lord constantly played on his tongue. How deep

was Nandanaar’s yearning for his Lord! Today, we speak of ‘Nama Siddantha’. It

was Nandanaar who first propounded ‘Nama siddhanta’! He gathered the people in

his neighborhood and pleaded with them to sing the Name of the Lord

He pleaded, “Chant Namah

SivAya! Namah SivAya! Chant Umapathe! Chant SAmbasivAya!” The people of the

slum objected and refused to chant the Name of Lord Siva while they had their

own deities.

They said to him, “Nanda! Why

do you insist on our chanting tongue twisting Names?” But Nandanaar was not to

be bogged down by their disinterest and opposition. Amidst them lived a dumb

girl who everyone called ‘Oomacchhi’ (dumb girl in Tamil language).

Nandanaar advised the people,

“Say ‘Oomacchi vA’!” (oh, the dumb! come!). So, they all called

out to her, “Oomacchi vA! Oomacchi va!” and it sounded as ‘Uma

Ch(S)iva!’ Nandanaar thus succeeded in making the Lord’s Divine Name play on

the tongue of those who could not even utter it! In this way all the people

around began chanting the Name of the Lord.

Quite frequently he gathered

the people of his slum around him and engaged them in chanting the Divine Names

of the Lord. Ever since people joined Nandanaar in performing Nama Kirtan, none

went to attend to his work in the fields, on time. So those affected by this

tried to bring ‘sense’ into Nanda through a local leader of their slum. All of

them together approached Nandanaar.

They said to him, “Nanda! You

are forever singing the Nama. Will singing the Nama earn food?” (‘Namam pAdi

kondirundAl soru kidaikuma?’) Nanda replied, “Even the dog eats food. But

can it chant ‘Bhagavan Nama’ - the Name of the Lord? (‘nAyum kooda choru

thinnum Namam pAdumo?’)

Nandanaar nurtured the deep

desire to visit Lord Siva's Temple at Thiruppungur. Thiruppungur is about 4 kms

from Vaitheeswaran Koil (a famous temple town in Tamil Nadu). Here, Lord Siva

bears the name ‘Sivalokanathan’. One day, picking up courage, Nandanaar spoke

about his desire to his landlord and sought his permission to visit

Thiruppungur to have darshan of his beloved Lord. It was only that day the 40

acres of land had been ploughed and seeds sown. It would take at least another

six months for the harvest. To put him off, the landlord told Nandanaar, “Hey,

Nanda! Once they are ready for harvest you may leave for Thiruppungur!”

A disappointed and grief

stricken Nandanaar went to bed. In a divine dream he saw that the grains had

grown to full and the vast field of his employer was all set for harvest! He

immediately rushed to the fields and found it to be true and not just a dream.

He could not believe his eyes. In that hour of the night he ran up to his

landlord's house and called out to him, " Sir! Please come out. Come with

me to the fields. They are ready for harvest! " Hearing the loud call of

his farm hand, the landlord rushed out and hearing him repeat his request said

to him, " Oh, mad fellow! Have you lost your wits totally due to your

devotion to Lord Siva? "

But Nandanaar insisted on the

landlord accompanying him to the field. The landlord accompanied him and lo!

What did his eyes behold? The field was all set for harvest! He could not

believe what he saw.

 

The landlord realizing the greatness

of Nandanaar's Bhakti fell at his feet, seeking his pardon. The landlord also

helped him in his journey to Tiruppungur. Nandanaar gathered all the people

from his slum and went to have darshan of Lord Sivalokanatha in Tiruppungur.

There is a Ganesha here known

by the name ‘kullam vettiya Vinayakar’ (Ganesha who dug a pond). It is said

that this Ganesha dug a pond for Nandanaar and his people to bathe! In those

days people considered to be from low caste were not permitted to enter

temples. So, they had to have darshan of the Lord from outside the gate. To the

dismay of Nandanaar the huge ‘Nandi’ (the Divine Bull of Lord Siva) in this

temple obstructed his view of the Lord.

The great carnatic music

composer,Gopalakrishna Bharati has sung the kirtan: ‘chatre vilagiyirum

pillAi! sannidhi maraikudu’ (Oh! ‘Nandi;! Please move aside, for, you are

blocking the Sanctum Sanctorum!).

It is not Nandanaar who

requested ‘Nandi’ to move aside but it was Lord Siva who made the request as He

desired to see His devotee!' This is the reason that the ‘Nandi’ here sits

aside, even today (and not in straight line with Lord Siva in the sactum

sactorum). And, one can also find the two 'dwArapAlAs' (sentinels at the Lord's

Sanctum Sanctorum) in a bending position, as if trying to see this great

devotee that their Lord desired to see!

This is the Holy place where

‘Nandi’ moved aside so that Nandanaar and his people could have the Lord’s

darshan. It is said that Nandanaar earned this name as he made Nandi move!

Nandanaar's joy knew no bounds on receiving darshan of his Beloved Lord.

Elated, he wished to offer his services to the Lord in some way. He, therefore,

dug a pond before returning to his village with his people.

Nandanaar now deeply yearned to

visit Chidambaram (the Holy Place of Lord Siva known as 'Bhoo loka KailAs' -

Kailash on earth). Chidambaram was not too far from the village where he lived.

Somehow this remained only a dream for a long time. People knew of his deep

yearning to visit Chidambaram and would, therefore, ask him, " Hey, Nanda!

when do you propose to leave for Chidambaram? "

Nandanaar would say,

" Tomorrow! " This was his reply every time anybody enquired this of

him. Thus he earned the name ‘ThirunALaipovAr!” - one who would leave for

Chidambaram on the morrow ('nALai povAr' means 'go on the morrow').

He kept saying, “I am leaving

for 'Thillai' (Chidambaram) tomorrow!” Poor Nanda was criticized by everyone

and he earned the name ‘ThirunAllaipovAr’!

Nandanaar possessed deep 'BhAva

Bhakti'.

 

While Nandanaar worked on the

field some pilgrims would come up to him and enquire of him, “Thillai

ambalathukku pogumo ivazhi " - does this road lead to the temple at

Chidambaram? "

Feeling thrilled to hear the

very name 'Thillai' (Chidambaram) he woud yearn to hear it again. So, instead

offering a reply, he would plead with them, " Innum oru dharam

solungallaiya! " - please utter that Name ('Thillai') once again! " oh,

what did you say? Please say it again!”

Thinking that he had not heard

him, the pilgrims would repeat their question, " Does this road lead to

'Thillai' (Chidambaram)? " The very name 'Thillai' would throw him into

ecstasy! The very sound ‘Thillai’ was melodious to his ears due to his deep

desire to have darshan of Lord Nataraja (Siva). He would, therefore, tell them,

" Oh, please repeat your question once more! " It would go on like this

and those who had stopped to enquire would leave, mistaking him to be a crazy

fellow!

At last one fine day his dream

came true. He set out for Chidambaram by foot. The deep desire to have darshan

of the Lord inside the Sanctum Sanctorum of Chidambaram temple took hold of

him. But when Nandanaar reached Chidambaram, remembering his birth in what was

then considered a low caste, he hesitated to step into the holy town. Tired

after the long walk he slumped down outside the holy town. But would the

gracious, compassionate Lord, a devotee of the devotees, turn a blind eye to

the plight of His devotee? Is He not verily the indweller of all? Would He then

not hear the murmur of the devotee's loved filled heart?

Lord Siva deeply moved by His

beloved devotee appeared in the dream of the temple priests and informed them

of his great devotee outside and instructed them to build a fire through which

His devotee would enter and come out unscathed. This was only to illustrate the

glory of His devotee to the world. The priests rushed out in all eagerness to

meet this great devotee who the Lord Himself desired to receive. They informed

him of the Lord's order. The priests then built a fire which Nandanaar entered

and came out unscathed. With due respect and honor, the priests guided him

through the town to the temple. Nandanaar had darshan of the 'gopuram' (Tower)

of the temple and entered the temple. Nandanaar rushed to the Sanctum Sanctorum

in all eagerness to meet his Lord and mingled with Him and attained beatitude.

Gopalakrishna

Bharati's opera 'Nandanaar charitram' is highly acclaimed. One of his kirtans

is 'VarugalAmo, ayya? -- may I, oh, Lord! come to Thee? – Nandanaar seeking the

Lord's permission, in all earnestness and humility, to come to His Divine

Presence.

raga: maanji

tala: chaapu

 

Pallavi

varugalAmo

ayya! undan arugil ninru kondAdavum pAdavum, nAn? (varugalAmo)

(May I, oh, Lord! come to Thy

proximity to adore and worship Thee?)

 

Anupallavi

parama krupAnidhi allavo! inda parayan upachAram sollavo!

undan paramAnanda tAndavam pArkkave nAn-ange! (varugalAmo)

([Oh,

Lord!] Aren't Thee ocean of mercy! the lowly one that I am, shall I sing in

praise of Thee? Can I, [Oh, Lord!] come over to witness Thy Blissful dance?)

 

Charanam

bhoomiyil

pulaiyanAi pirandene; nAn punniyam seyyAmal irundene!

sAmi un sannidhi vandene; bhavasAgaram tannaiyum izhandene!

karai kadandhene sharanam adaindene!

tillai varadA! paritApamum, pApamum theerave! (varugalAmo)

(Oh,

born as a lowly one on this earth, I have failed to perform merit earning

deeds! Oh, Lord! Here I come to Thy Divine Presence! rising up from the ocean

of samsArA! I shall swim across to its shores! surrendering unto Thee! Hey!

bestower of boons! who dwells in 'Thillai' (Chidambaram)!

for cooling the feverish yearning to see Thee and erase out my sins, (May I,

oh, Lord! come to...)