Murkha Nayanar

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Murkha Nayanar
Personal
Born
Tiruverkadu
ReligionHinduism
Organization
PhilosophyShaivism, Bhakti
HonorsNayanar saint,

Murkha Nayanar, also known as Moorka Nayanar, Murka Nayanar, Moorkha Nayanar, Murgga Nayanar, Moorkka Nayanar and Murkhar, is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the thirty-second in the list of 63 Nayanars.[1]

Life

Vedapureeswarar Temple, Thiruverkadu
where there is a shrine of Murkha Nayanar

The life of Murkha Nayanar is described in the

Sekkizhar (12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars.[1][2]

Murkha was born in

Pallava kingdom. Tiruverkadu is currently a western suburb of the Indian city of Chennai. He was a Vellalar, a caste of agricultural land owners. He is described as great devotee of the god Shiva, the patron god of Shaivism. Murkha Nayanar cultivated devotion for Shiva from his childhood. He used to serve Shiva, by serving Shaivas, the devotees of Shiva. He used to prepare rice with ghee and various sweet and savoury delicacies and feed the devotees. The saint spent all his wealth in feeding the devotees. He sold all his possessions, including his properties and his slaves.[3][4]

To gain wealth and feed the devotees, Murkha turned to gambling and mastered "the art". Since people of Tiruverkadu did not want to gamble, he travelled to various towns, gambling and spending the money in serving Shiva and his devotees. He finally reached Tirukkudanthai (present-day

Kailash - Shiva's abode, after his death.[3][4]

Remembrance

The images of the Nayanars are found in many Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu.

Murkha Nayanar is depicted with folded hands (see

Karthikai (November–December).[3] One of the most prominent Nayanars, Sundarar (7th century) refers to him as Murkkan (Murkha Nayanar) in a hymn to Nayanar saints. In another hymn to Shiva, he praises Shiva who accepts of the "skillful gambler" (karra cutan), a reference to Murkha Nayanar.[5]

A shrine is dedicated to Murkha Nayanar in the outer corridor of the

Lunar mansion) of Krittika.[6]

Murkha Nayanar is worshipped in the

Karthikai, when the moon enters the Mula nakshatra (lunar mansion). He receives collective worship as part of the 63 Nayanars. Their icons and brief accounts of his deeds are found in many Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu. Their images are taken out in procession in festivals.[1]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6
    .
  2. ^ T N Ramachandran. "The Puranam of Moorkka Nayanar". Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-81-215-0044-9
    .
  4. ^
    Swami Sivananda
    (1999). Sixty-three Nayanar Saints (4 ed.). Sivanandanagar: The Divine Life Society.
  5. ISBN 978-81-208-0784-6
    .
  6. ^ "Sri Vedapureeswarar temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
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