The holy town of Irukku Velur (now known as Belur, about 6kms from Vazhappadi in the Salem district) is home to the Great Physician who not only severs the bonds of births but also cures diseases of the physical body. The huge temple with tall towers beckons seekers from all over to come and find tranquillity at the Holy feet of Lord Shiva with His consort Aramvalartanayaki.

Kanampulla Nayanar was born in this great place. He was the owner of limitless wealth, and renowned for his peerless principles. He had a great yearning for the Lord who had burnt the god of Desire like a piece of straw. He understood that the feet of Ishwara were the real wealth. He found the best use of his vast wealth was illuminating the temple of the Luminous Lord whose three eyes are the sources of light for the worlds. Decorating Shiva temples with nice lamps and singing the endless fame of the Limitless Lord, he used to worship God. With the desire of saluting the Lord of the Elements, Who dances in the Golden Hall at Tillai, he went to Chidambaram. The fountain of devotion in his heart danced to the rhythm of the dance of the Lord as he prostrated to the Great Lord. He then started living in Tirupulishwaram and continued his service of illuminating the temple of the Lord there.

Despite many hurdles, Nayanar continued his service. He sold his household articles one by one and lit the lamps at the temple daily with ghee. Then came a situation when there was nothing left in the house to sell! He was determined not to beg. That once prominent rich man, still wealthy in his love for the Lord who conquered death, left with no money in hand, toiled hard in the fields now cutting and selling straws (kanampul). Using the money thus earned, that unblemished devotee bought pure ghee and lit the lamps in the temple. One day he could not sell the straws despite all his efforts. He had nothing else in his hand! Still not ready to quit the sacred service, he went ahead burning the straws to illuminate the temple. Just as stacks of impurities get burnt rapidly with devotion to Lord Shankara, all the straws he had brought got over soon and he required more to illuminate the temple. That true devotee of God, unwilling to stop his service even then, put his own hair in place of the straw and lit it - burning the cause of the two types of deeds!! The Lord, appreciating the flawless love of Kanampullar blessed him with a place at His Lotus Feet. Let the rock-like determination and devotion with which Kanampulla Nayanar didn’t hesitate to burn his own hair for lighting the lamp, stay in the mind.

Guru Pooja: Karthikai / Krithikai or Vrishchika / Krithika

Har Har Mahadev

• Birth place of kaNampulla nAyanAr
• The puranam of Kanampulla Nayanar in English Poetry
• கணம்புல்ல நாயனார் புராணம் - செய்யுள்
• கணம்புல்ல நாயனார் புராணம் உரைநடை
• कणम्पुल्ल नायनार दिव्य चरित्र 

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