In the town of Nattiyatthankudi was born Kotpuli Nayanar in a traditional agricultural family. His success in experiencing Supreme Bliss, made him an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and his valour made him a commander in the Chozha army. The wealth he received from the king for fighting wars was donated towards making food in the temples of the Lord, who won over the three cities by His smile. This service continued for years with love and surrender for the Lord adorned with snakes.

One time, Kotpuliyar was requested by the king to go into battle. With sincere devotion he made a stockpile of rice grains for the service of the Lord that would serve till the time he returned. Before leaving he called all his relatives and conveyed to them gently that the rice grain stock was meant only for the service of the Lord. He warned them that if anybody attempted to use it any other way, they would invite his wrath. He proceeded to fulfil his duty on the battlefield.

While Nayanar was away at the battlefield, there was a drought in his town. Unable to get food, the relatives decided to take the grains from the stock set aside for the Lord, instead of starving and thought they would replace the grains later. They used up the grains from the stock meant for the Lord set aside by the devotee. When the Nayanar returned from the battlefield, he was enraged at the act of his relatives. He wanted to punish them all for their deed.

Kotpuliyar invited all his relatives for a feast at his palace and announced that they would be given gifts and clothes. When all of them assembled at his place, unconcerned about his kinship with them, thinking only about their act which was against discipline and his order, he killed all of them with his weapon. The Three eyed Lord appeared with Parvati on the Holy Bull, admiring his objectivity and sincerity. The Lord informed him that all his relatives had been given a place in heaven and took the great devotee to His blissful abode. Let the sincerity of Kotpuli Nayanar stay in the mind.

Guru Pooja: Adi / Kettai or Karka / Jyeshtha

Har Har Mahadev

• Birth place of kOtpuli nAyanAr
• The puranam of Kotpuli Nayanar in English Poetry
• கோட்புலி நாயனார் புராணம் - செய்யுள்
• கோட்புலி நாயனார் புராணம் உரைநடை
• कोट्पुलि नायनार दिव्य चरित्र 

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