INTRODUCTION
Munaiyaduvar was a Nayanar saint and a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Munaiyaduvar is described as a soldier, who would fight for the weak and non-courageous kings and use the wealth received from them in service of Lord Shiva and his devotees. Munaiyaduvar also used his earnings for renovating the ancient temples and conducted regular pujas at the shiva temples.
LIFE
Munaiyaduvar was born in Needur in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. He belongs to vellalar caste. He was a great soldier and was skilled in handling all kinds of weapons during the battle. After living a peaceful and a glorious life by doing the service of Lord Shiva,after his death he attained Kailash, Lord Shiva’s Holy abode.
Swami Sivananda praises the Nayanar towards his righteousness in advocating his duties and he also praises his great shiva bhakti. Sundarar praises Munaiyaduvar in the sacred text “TiruthondaThogai” and informs us that he is a great shiva devotee and served properly to Lord Shiva and to his devotees.
Munaiyaduvar is worshipped in the Tamil month of Panguni in the shiva temples. He also is worshipped as one among the nayanars in the shiva temples.
Munaiyaduvar is specially worshiped in the Somanathaswami temple at Needur. Lord Shiva had given his appearance to him in this temple. A shrine is dedicated to him in the temple.
Let us worship the great nayanar saint and be blessed.
“OM SREE MUNAIYADUVAR NAYANARE NAMAHA”
“OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”
“OM SAKTHI PARASAKTHI”
WRITTEN BY R. HARISHANKAR
