Kotpuli
Kotpuli | |
---|---|
Personal | |
Born | Kotpuli Pillai 8th century CE |
Religion | Hinduism |
Organization | |
Philosophy | Shaivism, Bhakti |
Honors | Nayanar saint |
Kotpuli, also known as Kotpuliyar and Kotpuli Nayanar, was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifty-seventh in the list of 63 Nayanars.[1]
Life
The life of Kotpuli Nayanar is described in the
Kotpuli Nayanar was born in Nattiyattankuti, in the
A famine struck Nattiyattankuti. Kotpuli's family consumed the rice to save themselves. Kotpuli won the war and returned with many gifts from the Chola king. He learnt of the actions of his relatives and decided to punish them. He invited all his kin to his house for a celebration of his victory. Kotpuli ordered the doors of his mansions be closed so his relatives can not escape and made a servant stand guard. Kotpuli killed his parents, brothers and wives for their transgression. The servant requested the master to spare the life of an infant, who had not eaten the rice and was the last heir of Kotpuli's family. Kotpuli killed the infant too, reasoning he had drunk the breast milk of a woman, who had consumed the rice. The true reason for their murders was that in their past lives his relatives had conspired and killed the head of their family in order to inherit the latter's vast wealth, and thus their
Kotpuli is said to given two of daughters Cinkati and Vannapakai to Sundarar, who reared them as their foster father.[6]
Remembrance
Sundarar venerates Kotpuli Nayanar in the Tiruthonda Thogai, a hymn to Nayanar saints. He is described as "lordly" and carrying a spear.[6]
Kotpuli is especially associated with the Shiva temple in Nattiyattankudi and is also worshipped in the temple.[7] In his hymn to Shiva worshipped at Nattiyattankudi, Sundarar dedicates the last verse to Kotpuli. Kotpuli - the father of Cinkati - is described to serve the temple. He is described as kotiran, "one who is like pincers or jaws" and defeated enemy kings in war.[6]
Kotpuli is worshipped in the
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
- ^ "The Puranam of Kotpuli Nayanar". T N Ramachandran. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-88706-982-6.
- ^ Swami Sivananda(1999). Sixty-three Nayanar Saints (4 ed.). Sivanandanagar: The Divine Life Society.
- ISBN 978-0-8239-3180-4.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-208-0784-6.
- ISBN 978-81-206-0151-2.