Kulachirai Nayanar was born to raise the name and fame of the village of Manamerkudi situated in the Pandya kingdom. It was an agrarian society which raised crops in its fields to treat the worst of all illness known to mankind - hunger.

His intelligence along with his natural intolerance to dishonesty, false praise and unholy activities impressed the Pandya king Nedumaran and the king made him the prime minister of his court. Though the king was valorous, under his rule, Shaivam and its followers had troubles from the Jains as the king was a follower of Jainism. In spite of that Kulachirai Nayanar practised Shaivam without any hesitation. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Sundareshwara in Madurai. Being the prime minister, it was his duty to guide the king on the right path. He was constantly worried about the atrocities of the Jains in the Pandya kingdom and was looking forward to a solution.

He always welcomed, prostrated and spoke honey-like words full of humility to anybody who loved the Lord. Irrespective of their social background (tradition), irrespective of their status and irrespective of the fact whether they followed their tradition or not, if they had in their thoughts Parameshwara, then Kulachirai Nayanar would offer any service to those devotees to their satisfaction, mostly exceeding their expectations. Whether the devotees came alone or in a group, he fell at their feet and made them feel as if they were in an oasis. Whether the devotee was praised by the world as a genius or mocked as an ignorant or praised for generosity or mocked for conceit, if he smeared his body with the sacred ash and his mind repeated the Holy five letters, then Kulachirai Nayanar worshiped them offering the delicacy of his love. The devotees were treated to a feast at his house and he was treated by the feeling of love for Lord Shiva in his heart. Thus he served the Lord every day and spent every minute thinking of the Lord.

Kulachirai Nayanar served alongside the other marvellous devotee, the queen of king Nedumaran, Mangaiyarkkarasiyar, who was the boon given to the Pandya kingdom by the Chozha kingdom. The two had the most concern for the king and took many steps to restore the glory of Shaivam in the Pandya kingdom. Their austerities brought the Ganges of the devotees - Tirugnana Sambandhar, and he made that land fertile with Shaivam. Kulachirai Nayanar played a major role in purifying and guiding the mind of the king on the correct path of Shaivam, raising him from an ordinary king to the great Ninrachir Nedumara Nayanar thereby removing the darkness of Jainism by showing the light of Shaivam in Pandya kingdom. He and his service were praised by Tirugnana Sambandhar in the "Mangaiyarkarasi" Tirupadhikam which he sang as soon as he entered the Pandya kingdom. Let the faith in the path of Shaivam that Kulachirai Nayanar had, by which he stayed true to his tradition of praying to the Lord and serving His devotees, even when his companion and king, was against Shaivam and, which eventually helped him light the lamp of Shaivam again in the kingdom, stay in the mind.

Guru Pooja: Avani / Anusham or Simha / Anuradha

Har Har Mahadev

• Birth place of Kulachirai Nayanar
• Kulacchirai Nayanar Puranam in English Poetry
• குலச்சிறை நாயனார் புராணம் - செய்யுள்
• குலச்சிறை நாயனார் புராணம் உரைநடை
• कुलचिरै नायनार दिव्य चरित्र 

See Also: 
1. Mangaiyarkkarasiyar
2. Thirugnanasambandha Nayanar
3. Ninraseernedumara Nayanar

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