INTRODUCTION
Thiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar (7th century AD) was a Nayanar saint, and worshipped as one among the 63 nayanars in the shiva temples. He lived during the period of Sambandar and maintained friendly relations with him. Both of them traveled to many shiva temples and worshiped Lord Shiva.
LIFE
Thiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar was born in Erukattanpuliyur in the Chola kingdom. He belonged to the Tamil Panar community and was well versed in music and composed several songs on Lord Shiva with his instrument Yazh (a lute) and sung in praise of him in his temples. He was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, and lived his life as per the principles of Shaivism. He got the name “Yazh-panar” since he used his instrument yazh. Due to lower caste, generally he was allowed to worship the god from outside the shrine. Once, as per the instructions of Lord Shiva, the Madurai temple priests allowed Thiru Nilakanta Yazhpanar to sung divine songs inside the shrine of Lord Shiva and he was also given a golden seat in the temple.
Yazhpanar went to Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple with his yazh, he sung many devotional songs on Lord Shiva.
Yazhpanar went on a pilgrimage to many shiva temples. He met Sambandar at the Sattainathar Temple. Sambandar accompanied him in his travels and Sambandar composed many songs on Lord Shiva and Yazhpanar played music for the songs on his yazh. Sambanar and Yazhpanar went to Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram and several other shrines of Lord Shiva in Tamilnadu
Yazhpanar and Sambandar on their journey to met other Nayanars like Tiruneelanakka Nayanar, Siruthondar, Muruga Nayanar, KungiliyaKalaya Nayanar, and Appar. After some time, ThiruNilakanta Yazhpanar attended the wedding of Sambandar in Achalapuram. After the wedding ceremony, the entire marriage party went to the Shiva temple in Thirumana Nallur. Due to the grace of Lord Shiva,Sambandar, his wife, all the wedding guests and ThiruNilakanta Yazhpanar were merged with Lord Shiva.
Sundarar praisesTiruNilakantaYazhpanar in the famous text “TiruthondaThogai”, and describes him as a divine composer of music, and compared him with Thumburu and Narada, the divine musicians.
IMPORTANCE
Though he was born in a lower caste family, he was very much attached with Lord Shiva and composed thousands of devotional songs on Lord Shiva during his period. He would forget his food and sleep while composing divine songs on Lord Shiva. His bhakti is really appreciable by everyone and he entirely surrendered at the feet of the KAILASA NATHAR. He will always be remembered for his divine music and for his divine songs on Lord Shiva. It is believed, that even now in KAILASH, he is serving the god and the goddess by playing his instrument and singing songs on Lord Shiva.
Let us worship the great nayanar saint and be blessed.
“OM SREE ThIRU NILAKANTA YAZHPANA NAYANARE NAMAHA”
“OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”
“OM SAKTHI PARASAKTHI”
WRITTEN BY R. HARISHANKAR
