Vayilar

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Vayilar
Personal
Born
Mylapore
ReligionHinduism
Organization
PhilosophyShaivism, Bhakti
HonorsNayanar saint

Vayilar (literally "The Voiceless One"),[1] also known as Vayilan, Vayila Nayanar, Vayilar Nayanar and Vayilar of Mayilai, was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifty-first in the list of 63 Nayanars.[2] He is said to worshipped the god Shiva, his patron, by his Mind and built a grand temple for him in his mind.

Hagiographical account

A brief account of Vayilar's life is described in the

Pallava era.[4]

Vayilar was born and lived his life in Mylapore (Mayilai), presently a neighbourhood in the city of Chennai, India. He was a Vellalar, a caste of agricultural land owners. He was a Shaiva, a devotee of the god Shiva. Considering his name, he is described to be dumb.[1] He did not visit the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, a famous Shiva temple of Mylapore. Vayilar did not believe in idol worship and rituals, instead he performed Manasic ("mental") worship.[1][5]

Vayilar wanted to create a grand temple for Shiva, but did not have the money to do so. Thus, Vayilar built a temple to Shiva in his mind with his imagination. The temple of the mind is described to have five walls of different metals, the outermost was iron and the innermost was gold. It has many towers of gold and spacious halls with silver walls, gold pillars and studded with precious jewels like diamonds and rubies.

Ananda (bliss) and worshipped the Lord with the elixir of supreme Love'. Vayilar is described to be engaged in the worship of Shiva of his mind temple day and night. He did not care for food or rest, rain or shine, night or day and continue to serve God. Over course of time, the temple and the Lingam disappeared and his soul became one with God.[1][6][5]

Remembrance

External image
image icon Vayilar worshipped in Kapaleeshwarar Temple

One of the most prominent Nayanars, Sundarar (8th century) mentions Vayilar in hymn to various Nayanar saints.[7]

A shrine is dedicated to Vayilar in the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in his home town of Mylapore.[8]

Vayilar is worshipped in the

Markazi, when the moon enters the Revati 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.[2]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-81-215-0044-9
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6
    .
  3. ^ Saiva Siddhanta. Saiva Siddhanta Mahasamajam. 1970. pp. 85–6.
  4. ISBN 978-81-206-0151-2
    .
  5. ^
    Swami Sivananda
    (1999). Sixty-three Nayanar Saints (4 ed.). Sivanandanagar: The Divine Life Society.
  6. ISBN 978-81-208-0912-3
    .
  7. ISBN 978-1-4008-6006-7
    .
  8. ^ "Sri Kapaleeswarar temple". Dinamalar. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
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