INTRODUCTION
Tiruneelanakka Nayanar was a Shaivite saint and a sincere worshiper of Lord Shiva and classified as one among the 63 Nayanars. He lived during 7th century AD and had friendly relations with the great Nayanar ThirugnanaSambandar.
LIFE
Tiruneelanakka Nayanar was born in Seeyathamangai, Nagapattinam district, Tamilnadu. He was the chief priest of the Ayavantheeswarar temple situated nearby his place, performed various pujas and abhishekhams to the siva lingam. Tiruneelanakka belonged to the priest family, and chants mantras on Lord Shiva. He also provided food to the devotees of Lord Shiva by giving them a warm welcome to his house.
As usual when one day morning, Tiruneelanakka was performing the puja to the shiva lingam, a spider fell on the lingam. His wife attempted to remove the spider from the lingam by spitting on the lingam. She had done this act, only out of her true bhakti on Lord Shiva. But Tiruneelanakka got angry with his wife saying that she had caused impurity to the lingam by spitting on it and then he performed various rituals to cleanse the lingam ,asked for apology to the god and he left his wife in the temple.
In the night Lord Shiva appeared in Tiruneelanakka’s dream, said that he did not got insulted by his wife’s action, and asked him to pardon his wife and live with her. Tiruneelanakka worshipped Ayavantheeswarar, took his wife to his home and lived happily with her.
One day, on knowing that Sambandar was passing through his place, Tiruneelanakka was very much delighted and welcomed Sambandar to his home in a grand manner. He provided rich food to Sambandar and asked him to stay for a few days in his home.
Sambandar stayed with him for few days, worshiped Ayavantheeswarar ,sang beautiful songs on him. After some time, due to the invitation by Sambandar,TiruneelanakkaNayanar also attended his wedding in Achalpuram.
Sundarar praises the sincere devotion of Tiruneelanakka Nayanar on Lord Shiva in the devotional text Tiruthonda Thogai. Tiruneelanakka Nayanar is worshiped by the devotees in Ayavantheeswarar temple, since he served there as a chief priest during his major part of life time. After his death, he merged with Lord Shiva.
Tiruneelanakka Nayanar is worshiped in the Tamil month of Vaikasi, and he is also worshiped as one among the 63 Nayanars .
By consuming the temple Prasad offered by him, lot of devotees got cured from their physical and mental diseases. He was praised for his great spiritual power.
Let us worship the divine nayanar saint and be blessed.
“OM SREE TIRUNEELANAKKA NAYANARE NAMAHA”
“OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”
“OM SAKTHI PARASAKTHI”
WRITTEN BY R.HARISHANKAR
