The town where Lord Muruga worshiped Lord Nilaknatha, Tiru-erukattam Puliyur, was the town of the great musician Tirunilakantha Yazhpana Nayanar. He brought sound of animals, chirps of birds, rhythm of rivers and songs of trees to his classical string instrument called yazh. He was called Yazhpanar (a yazh musician). He mastered the instrument praised as one of the best instruments in ancient Tamil literature. His music was an offering to that music loving Mrityunjaya. He travelled to many temples in the Chozha kingdom and anointed the very source of Sound, the Pranavam, with his sweet music. He then made his way to the Lord's own kingdom - Madurai.

Tuning his instrument and fine tuning his mind to the limitless fame of the Lord of Tirualavaya, Yazhpanar opened the floodgates of the dam of his music at the entrance of the temple that drenched the Lord of that abode. He played tunes well suited to the times with a proficiency unique in nature. The Lord, pleased by the euphonious worship of Yazhpanar, ordered all the devotees of the town in their dream to bring him in front of the altar. Welcomed by the devotees, the master of yazh, went to the presence of the Master of all music. Eager to serve the splendid Musician, he worshipped the Lord by ecstatically playing the blessed instrument. He sang about the Lord's divine deeds, of the dancing in bliss while the heavenly beings praised Him, of the destruction of the three cities, of the annihilation of ignorance in His presence, of the limitless column of light for Vishnu and Brahma and of the simplicity of the Lord blessing swiftly one who surrenders, on his sakotayazh.

Enjoying the dedication of the devotee, by the blessing of God, a divine voice asked the devotees present there to place a short bench such that the wonderful instrument did not get affected by the coolness of the earth. The devotees placed the bench on which the musician, who propitiated the Lord, sat along with his instrument to serve Lord Shiva with his superior music. Then praising the Lord wielding Meru as a bow, at many temples Yazhpanar reached Tiruvarur. He sang about Ishwara’s Grace, superior to even the love of a mother, which kicked even Death to bless one who had surrendered, at the entrance. He was given way through the northern gate into the temple for his enchanting music filled with devotion. He prostrated to the Tirumulattanar and served the Lord. He stayed in Arur for many days and then proceeded through many holy places to reach Sirkazhi. Impressed by the marvellous hymns of the child who called Parvati - Parameshvara to quench his thirst of knowledge, he stayed with that prodigy Tirugnana Sambandhar. Accompanied by his wife, he used to play the yazh to the words of Sambandhar, saluting to Sambandhar’s devotion expressed through his captivating music, in his heart, with complete dedication. They followed the saint wherever he went for the rest of their lives. They along with Sambandhar attained the feet of the Greatest Musician. Let Nilakantha Yazhpanar's service in playing mellifluous music for the praises of the Lord, who is of the very form of Sound, stay in the mind.

Guru Pooja: Vaikasi / Mulam or Vrishabha / Mula

Har Har Mahadev

• Birth place of thirunIlakaNda yAzpANa nAyanAr
• The puranam of Tiruneelakanta Yaazhppaana Nayanar in English Poetry
• திருநீலகண்ட யாழ்ப்பாண நாயனார் புராணம் - செய்யுள்
• திருநீலகண்ட யாழ்ப்பாண நாயனார் புராணம் உரைநடை
• तिरुनीलकण्ठ यालपाण नायनार दिव्य चरित्र 

See also:
1. Thiru Erukatham Puliyur
2. Thiruvilaiyadalpuranam - Pananukkup palakai itta padalam 
3. Thirunyana Sampandhar 
4. Mention of ThirunIlakanta Yazpanar in various Thevaram Thirumurais

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