In the tradition of priests worshiping Lord Shiva came the devotee Pukazhttunaiyar from the town Seruviliputtur. Devotion had etched the feet of the Lord of Immeasurable fame in the lotus of his heart. His worship of love to Lord Shiva involved rituals as per the scriptures. His worship was an offering of his knowledge, a penance by itself and an expression of supreme devotion towards the Supreme, who held Ganga in His matted locks. One time there was a big famine in that area. While many left the area in search of better places, our Nayanar rejected even such a thought saying, "I will not leave my Lord, come what may". Though the land became dry, his heart was drenched as ever with love for the Lord. It is rightly said that even if the five elements of the Universe turn erratic, true devotees who live with Lord Shiva enshrined in their heart, do not get disturbed.

Even in that famine, Nayanar brought the best of available flowers and anointed the Lord with the cold water. What else does the Great Lord, who goes around seeking alms, require other than this expression of extreme love under any circumstance?! God, who is eternally anointed by the cosmic river Ganga, delightfully sat in Nayanar’s heart and in that shrine. Pukazhttunaiyar’s mind was always willing to serve, but how long could his physical body last under trying circumstances? Fatigue overtook his body because of the days of starvation. One day when he brought water for anointing, unable to control himself, he fell unconscious after anointing the Lord. He swooned into a deep state of sleep at the altar itself. The Lord appeared in his dream and told him that he would be given one coin daily till the land became prosperous again. Lean and weak, Pukazhttunaiyar, awoke to see a coin kept on the altar of the temple. His face blossomed, thanking the mercy of Mahadeva.

Nayanar then on received a coin at the altar daily. With his starvation and fatigue taken care of, he served the Lord. Bathing Devadeva daily with his love, he reached the cool feet of the Lord of Parvati. Let the nurturing love and dedication in serving the Eternal Lord of Pukazhttunai Nayanar stay in the mind.

Guru Pooja: Avani / Ayilyam or Simha / Ashlesha

Har Har Mahadev

• Birth place of pukazhththuNai nAyanAr
• The puranam of Pukazhtthunai Nayanar in English Poetry
• புகழ்த்துணை நாயனார் புராணம் - செய்யுள்
• புகழ்த்துணை நாயனார் புராணம் உரைநடை
• पुगल्त्तुनै नायनार दिव्य चरित्र 

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