During the days of his peaceful and prosperous rule of the Chera empire, one day, the king performed his usual worship of the Lord. The Lord, who used to bless his sincere devotee Kazharitrarivar with the sound of His anklet daily, held back the sound that day. The Nayanar’s heart skipped a beat. The disappointed devotee, who had performed a flawless puja, completed the ritual and took out his sword. He held it to his chest thinking he had erred in worship. The Lord, who always stands in the front to protect His devotees, immediately sounded His enchanting anklets. The devotee threw the sword away, fell on the ground prostrating and asked the Lord the reason for the delay. The Lord told him that He was engrossed in the song of His devotee Vantondar, praising His holy dance. Nayanar admired the Grace of the Lord for His devotees and developed an intense desire to salute the Dancing Lord at Tillai and meet that great devotee Vantondar.

With his desire egging him on, the king set off to Tillai and Arur. Taking leave of his army and courtiers at the frontier, he went with a small retinue to the Chozha kingdom. The devotees of the Lord Kapalishwara welcomed the king all along the way while he saluted at all the temples of that Giver of boons. He bathed in the fresh flowing waters of river Kaviri and reached Tillai. The loving devotee bowed down in front of the seven storeyed tower of the temple and saluted the Great Hall. He entered the Small Hall of the Lord who dances creating this cosmos. With his heart and senses directed towards the Lord, he praised the Great God who drank the poison for the worlds and also blessed it with the nectar of His dance. The king, who was more generous than even the rain god, bathed the Lord in the spring of his words with the hymn “Ponvannathu Andadi”. The Lord showing his appreciation tinkled His anklets. The king stayed in that holy place for quite some time. 

Next the Nayanar, yearning to meet the servitor of the servitors of the Lord – Sundara Murthi Nayanar, left for Tiruvarur. He reached Tiruvarur, surrounded by the cool green paddy fields, after saluting at many temples on the way including Sirkazhi, the birth place of saint Tirugnana Sambandhar. At the same time, Sundarar had returned to Tiruvarur after receiving gems and precious gifts from God at Nagai Karonam. Sundarar, on knowing the arrival of Cheraman, went forward to welcome him. The two devotees met and saluted each other. With the respect brimming in their hearts, true friendship bloomed between them as their souls embraced each other. Sundarar took Cheraman to the abode of the Supreme. Paying their respects at the Devashraya Hall both of them entered the holy altar, bowing down to the Lord. With the eyes overflowing with tears of devotion, Cheraman Perumal sang the “Tirumummanikkovai” as Sundarar savoured the song of love. At Sundarar’s house Cheraman was given a warm welcome by Paravaiyar. The devotee of Arur made ready a grand feast for Kazharitrarivar Nayanar. The king hesitated, but Sundarar pleaded with him to accept his service. Praising His holy Feet that gave this friendship, the two kings of verse had a nice feast culminating it by besmearing their forehead with holy ash. They stayed together for many days saluting the Lord of Tiruvarur.

Sundarar was eager to worship the ancient temple at Madurai. The Chera king, unwilling to get separated from him and also yearning to bow down to the Supreme at Madurai, Who had sent the letter addressed to him through Pana Bhadrar, decided to accompany Sundarar. The two marvellous devotees saluted the Lord at Kizhvelur, Nagai Karonam and other shrines. They reached Tirumaraikkadu and praised Appar and Sambandhar at the temple door they had opened and closed respectively with their holy hymns. Sundarar sang his “Tirupattu” and the Chera devotee sang an “Andadi” about the Lord worshipped in the Vedas. Bowing down to the Lord at Agatiyanpalli and Kodi Kuzhagar they reached the Pandya kingdom.

Adoring the Lord at Tiruputhur, they entered the capital city, Madurai. With great respect, the king of the Pandya kingdom came forward to welcome the Chera king and the splendid saint Sundarar. The king of the Chozha empire was already in Madurai to seek in marriage the daughter of the Pandya king. With the kings of all the three kingdoms of the Tamil lands accompanying, Sundarar went to the ancient temple at Madurai to pray to the Lord. The Chera king with gratitude at the letter sent by the Lord addressed to him, sang His praises in a verse. The Pandya king hosted the Chera king and the renowned devotee of Arur at his palace. Vantondar and the three kings, who with their respect for each other, fostered peace in the Tamizh land. Together they worshiped the Lord of this whole existence at Tirupuvanam, Tiruvappanur, Tiruvedakam and Tiruparankunram. While staying at Madurai they paid obeisance to the Lord of Alavay many times. Taking the leave of the other two kings, the Chera king and the friend of the Lord continued their pilgrimage south in the Pandya kingdom. They praised the Lord at many places including Kutralam, Tirunelveli, and Tiruvirameshwaram. From Tiruvirameshwaram itself, they praised the Lord of Kedishwaram in SriLanka. They further continued in their holy journey hailing the Lord, whose matted hair is adorned by the moon, at Tirusuzhiyal, Kanapper, Tirupunavayil and various shrines, finally returning to the Chozha kingdom. Prostrating to the Lord at Pambani Managar - Pathalishwaram and nearby temples, they arrived quickly to salute the Lord at Tiruvarur. The Chera king stayed there for many days savouring the hospitality of the Sundarar and Paraivaiyar.

The Chera king pleaded with his friend, Sundarar to visit the Chera kingdom. After getting the consent of his wife, Arurar along with the Chera king started their journey towards the west. They praised the Lord Kapalishwara at Tirukandiyur and saw on the northern bank the river Kaviri, Tiruvaiyaru. Cheraman Perumal wished to worship the Lord at Tiruvaiyaru. The river Kaviri was in spate so boats could not be used to cross it. Sundarar sang, focussing his mind on God and by the Lord’s grace there appeared a dry, sandy path in the middle of the Kaviri! They walked down that path thrilled and eager to thank the Lord of five streams at Tiruvaiyaru. They returned along the same path after worshipping the Lord. Once they reached the southern bank, the river resumed its flow! Praising the Lord at many temples, they passed through Kongu Nadu to reach the Chera kingdom. The citizens, blessed with such a marvellous king, came in large numbers with banners and flowers to welcome the friend of the Lord, and their beloved king. Wading through that flood of devotees, the friends reached Kodunkolur.

Before taking him to the royal palace, the king took his beloved friend to worship Lord Shiva, who danced in his heart, at Tiruvanychaikalam. Sundarar sang in praise of God at that holy temple a lovely devaram starting with “mudippadu gangai”. Coming out of the temple, the king helped Sundarar Peruman onto the royal elephant and sat behind him to fan him with the chamara, as they went around the town. People praised the humility and service of Cheraman Peruman, the devotion and the marvellous friendship. They reached the royal palace. The humble king made Sundarar sit on the royal throne and washed his feet with scented water. Sundarar, who took pride in saying he was the servitor of the servitors of the Lord of Arur, was shocked at the service of the Chera king and withdrew his feet in a hurry saying that it was not right. But, the king of the land fell at his feet pleading with him to accept his service. Unable to refuse, Sundarar Peruman regaled in the wonderful hospitality of the Nayanar and accepted the feast served by the king. Sundarar stayed with the king for a long time. Sundarar, out of his undying love for the Lord of Tiruvarur, was eager to return to Tiruvarur. The king, unable to bear the separation, was keen on following him, even saying that the kingdom was Sundarar’s. All he wanted was to stay at Arurar’s feet and offer salutations to the Lord of Tiruvarur. But Sundarar convinced him to stay back for keeping the kingdom on the path of peace and prosperity. The king sent him off with huge heaps of gems and wealth. Sundarar returned to Tiruvarur and the humble Chera king ruled the kingdom with justice.

Guru Pooja: Adi / Svati or Karka / Svati

Har Har Mahadev

• Birth place of kazaRiRRaRivaar nAyanAr
• The puranam of Kazharitru Arivaar Nayanar in English Poetry
• கழறிற்றறிவார் நாயனார் புராணம் - செய்யுள்
• கழறிற்றறிவார் நாயனார் புராணம் உரைநடை
• कलरिट्ररिवार (चेरमान पेरुमाल) नायनार दिव्य चरित्र

Note: The hymns Cheraman Perumal Nayanar composed on the Lord are part of the eleventh thirumuRai. (4)

See Also: 
1. Sundhara murthi Nayanar 
2. Thirunyana Sambandha Nayanar 
3. Appar peruman
4. Eleventh thirumurai