The town of Pennakadam is near Virudhachalam. It is here that the Lord had blessed Tirunavukkarasu with the symbols of the Rishabha and Shula over his shoulders marking him as His servitor. In that town, where the Lord is pleased by the services of the devotees, Kalikkamba Nayanar was born in a family of traders. He grew up with love for the Lord who burnt Kamadeva. He was determined to serve God at the Tiruttunkanai Madam (Beautiful Gaja Prishta) temple in the town and was free from worldly desires which endeared him to the Lord.

Kalikkambar served the servitors of the Lord, who Himself seeks alms, with a feast of fruits, fresh vegetables, fine rice with flowing ghee and flawless service. He continued this quintessential service to the devotees wholeheartedly throughout his life. On any given day, he welcomed the devotees with a smiling face, sweet words and humble gestures. Before serving them a feast, Kalikkambar, with his impurities already washed away, used to wash the feet of the devotees. His wife cooked food complete in all the six tastes, prepared the seats and took care of all the arrangements before she joined her husband. She would then pour water on the feet of the devotees while Nayanar washed them.

One day a devotee, who had worked previously as a domestic-help in their household, came along with other devotees of the Lord. Nayanar held his feet with his hands to wash them with love. His wife, though, hesitated a little bit as that person was earlier a “servant”. Kalikkambar got angry with his wife for not serving a devotee because of his previous status. He cut off her hand and took the water pot himself to wash the devotee’s feet. Kalikkambar set a glorious example for service to devotees that rejected the past of one who had received the grace of the Lord. He served this devotee along with the other devotees and gave him whatever he wanted. Kalikkambar continued his service without allowing anything to come in the way of his dedication and at the end found a place at the holy feet of Shiva. Let the respect Kalikkambar gave to the form of devotees due to which he punished even his wife for not serving a devotee, stay in the mind.

Guru Pooja: Tai / Revathi or Makara / Revati

Har Har Mahadev

• Birth place of kalikkamba nAyanAr
• The puranam of Kalikkampa Nayanar in English Poetry
• கலிக்கம்ப நாயனார் புராணம் - செய்யுள்
• கலிக்கம்ப நாயனார் புராணம் உரைநடை
• कलिक्कम्ब नायनार दिव्य चरित्र 

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