In the land of Kerala, famous for its giant elephants with long sharp tusks, was situated the ancient Chera kingdom. The capital of the kingdom was the city of Kodungolur hallowed by the Shiva temple of Tiruvanychaikkalam. Above the roar of the sea that sprinkles the beautiful terrain with water, sounds from various musical instruments rent the air. The monasteries across the city spread the fragrance of the path of Shaivam throughout the land. In that ancient capital of the Cheras, by the austerity of the royal family and this world, Perumakodaiyar was born. He grew up nurturing love for Shaivam. His only goal was to be immersed in the thoughts of the dancing feet of Nataraja. He did not bother to lay claim to his rightful throne but spent his days only in the service of the Lord of Tiruvanychaikkalam. Rising up like the sun at dawn, with the Supreme in his mind, he would have a dip in the water and then bathe in holy Ash. He would then bring fresh flowers to make lovely garlands for the Lord and water, clean as his heart, for anointing the Lord. He would then clean the temple, wash the floors, perform all the services required and then sing the fame of his Lord. Completely immersing himself in these tasks, he served the Lord whose holy feet are bedecked by the flowers offered by the love of His servitors.

One day the virtuous king of the land, Chenkor Poraiyan, abdicated the throne to lead an austere life. The loyal ministers decided that the best successor would be Perumakodaiyar . When they went to him, requesting him to accept the crown, he was reluctant as it would be a hindrance in the service of the Lord. Nonetheless, he went to his Lord sitting in His earthly abode to know His order. The Lord blessed him to be the emperor of the kingdom along with the boons of devotion, the power to know the minds of others (hence he is called Kazharitrarivar), great valour, generosity, an army to command and other attributes required for a king. On the day when the stars and planets were auspiciously aligned, the servitor of the Lord was crowned the emperor of the Chera kingdom. The impartial king Kazharitrarivar saluting Lord Shiva at Tiruvanychaikkalam came on the royal elephant around the town with the white chamara over his head. A washerman suddenly came in front of the procession. His body was covered with white lime. The form of ash smeared devotees at once came to the king’s mind on seeing him. Nayanar immediately got down from the elephant to salute the washerman with folded hands. The washerman was shocked and in shivering tones said, "I, your slave, am a washerman." The great wonderful king who stood at the peak of devotion replied, "I, the slave Chera, is your slave." Since he reminded the king of the holy form of devotees, Nayanar asked the washerman to walk forward without any regret. The ministers and the people praised the emperor for his devotion. He reached the palace amidst the rain of flowers. Along with the other two emperors – Chozha and Pandya, the splendid Chera emperor ruled the land under the luminance of the Holy Ash.

Cheraman Perumal worshipped the Dancing Lord by anointing Him, offering flowers, fragrant sandal paste, waving incense and lamp along with ritual food offerings. Lord accepting his worship used to make sound with His golden anklet daily. Obtaining His grace, the Chera king ruled the kingdom nobly and justly, performing many rites hailing the Lord with the Bull flag. In the capital of the Pandya kingdom, Madurai, there was a musician by name Bhadranar. The Charming Lord wanted to shower gold and gems on the devotee Bhadranar driving away his poverty. He, whose fame cannot be described even by the goddess of speech, who is sung by devotees to be blessed with both material wealth and final beatitude, wrote a poem addressing the Chera king and gave it to the musician asking him to collect wealth from the Chera king. (This poem is the first one in the eleventh Tirumurai –”Alavayudaiyar Tirumukhapasuram”). Bhadranar hailing the Sangam Poet, who blessed him with that poem, went to Cheraman Perumal. On hearing the news, Nayanar with his hands clasped over his head, tears of joy flowing copiously and his body shivering in excitement came running all the way from his palace to fall and hold the feet of Bhadranar. The musician gave the letter of God to the emperor. The blessed king who received the poem addressed to him by the Lord Himself lost all consciousness of the world, danced in ecstasy and was unable to speak.

Then the king respectfully read the poem. He ordered his ministers to stack all the precious material available in the treasury. The ministers brought and piled gems, gold and other valuables. He requested Bhadranar to accept those along with elephants, horses and his royal throne itself!! But the other devotee, who was interested only in singing about Lord Somasundareshwara to the tune of the seven notes of music, accepted only the things he required and pleaded with him to take back the kingdom and the royal riches. Taking the wealth he needed, the musician proceeded towards Madurai on an elephant with giant tusks bidding good bye to the emperor. (This incident is narrated in the Tiruvilaiyadal Puranam also). The Chera emperor continued his golden rule. The other two emperors of the Tamil lands Chozha and Pandya maintained good relationship with him and the land was peaceful.

Next>> 
Kazarirrarivar Nayanar - Part II (Friendship with the Lord's friend)

Guru Pooja: Adi / Svati or Karka / Svati

Har Har Mahadev

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

See Also:  
1. Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam - Thirumukang koduththa padalam

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