Sirappuli Nayanar

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Sirappuli Nayanar
Thiruvakkur
ReligionHinduism
Organization
PhilosophyShaivism, Bhakti
HonorsNayanar saint

Sirappuli Nayanar, also known as Sirappuli (also spelled as Cirappuli, Chirappuli), Sirapuli Nayanar, Sirappuliyar (Chirappuliyar), was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the thirty-fifth in the list of 63 Nayanars.[1] Sirappuli Nayanar is described to have served the devotees of the god Shiva and worshipped the god with various ritual practices.

Life

The life of Sirappuli Nayanar is described in the

Sekkizhar (12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars.[1] The Puranam of Sirappuli Nayanar, as his chapter is called in the Periya Puranam is composed of 6 stanzas.[2]

Sirappuli Nayanar was born in

Kailash after death.[2][3][4]

The 13th-century

Basava Purana of Palkuriki Somanatha retells the legend of Sirappuli (called Cirupuli in the account) in brief and with some variation.[5]

According to the Hindu spiritual leader Sivananda Saraswati, the legend of Sirappuli Nayanar conveys the greatness of the Panchakshara mantra of Shiva and the glory of Japa, the practice of repeating the name of God or his mantra. The saint is sometimes described to chant the mantra eternally without stopping. Though calling Japa the simplest form of worship, Sivananda exalts it the "highest Yoga" and preaches that one should always recall the name of God, as the great saint did.[3] Sirappuli Nayanar is compared to another Nayanar, Somasi Mara Nayanar, who also embarked on the similar path of bhakti (devotion), employing Hindu rituals like yajnas as well as the Panchakshara mantra to please Shiva.[6]

Remembrance

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

One of the most prominent Nayanars, Sundarar (8th century) venerates Sirappuli Nayanar in the Tiruthonda Thogai, a hymn to Nayanar saints and praising him as generous and famed.[7]

Sirappuli Nayanar is associated with the

Kocengannan, who is credited as the builder of the temple.[8]

The tale of Sirappuli Nayanar is carved in the

yagnopavita (sacred thread), giving away gifts to two individuals. An inscription below the scene identifies it as Sirappuliandar.[9]

Sirappuli Nayanar is worshipped in the

Anjali mudra). 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. ^ a b "The Puranam of Sirappuli Nayanar". T N Ramachandran. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  3. ^
    Swami Sivananda
    (1999). Sixty-three Nayanar Saints (4 ed.). Sivanandanagar: The Divine Life Society.
  4. ISBN 978-81-85692-20-3
    .
  5. ISBN 978-1-4008-6090-6
    .
  6. ^ Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the South Indian History Congress. The Congress. 1995. p. 253.
  7. ISBN 978-81-208-0784-6
    .
  8. ^ "Sri Thanthondreeswarar temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  9. ^ Mor̲appākkam Appācāmi Turai Araṅkacāmi (1990). The Religion and Philosophy of Tēvāram: With Special Reference to Nampi Ārūrar (Sundarar). University of Madras. pp. 1008–9.
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