The king of words, Tirunavukkarasar, keeping the holy feet of the Lord of Tiruvarur in his heart, wanted to worship Him at Pumpukalur. At the same time, the young prodigy Tirugnana Sambandhar was residing at the monastery of Muruga Nayanar after worshiping many abodes of the Lord. He along with the devotees came to receive Appar. With the huge number of devotees following each of them, their meeting was like the meeting of two oceans. When asked about the festivities in Tiruvarur, Appar described the magnificent Tiruvadhirai festival in the form of a devaram - "muththu vidhanam". Drawn to worship God at Tiruvarur, Tirugnana Sambandhar expressed his desire to Appar and assured that he would stay with him on return. Appar continued his stay at Pumpukalur serving and praising the Lord sweeter than honey with melting a heart there. He then worshiped at Tiruchenkattankudi, Tirunallaru, Ayavanthi and Tirumarukal before returning to Tirupukalur. Meanwhile, Tirugnana Sambandhar returned after his worship at Tiruvarur. Two more great devotees Siruthondar Nayanar and Tiruneelanakkar joined them. What can be said about an assemblage of such great devotees? When these great people gathered at the monastery of Muruga Nayanar, it was only natural they spoke only about the Greatest, the Great Lord on the magnificent white mountain Kailash.

Later Appar left Pumpukalar along with Tirugnana Sambandhar to sing at the other abodes of God. They saluted the Supreme at Tiru-ambar and proceeded to Tirukkadavur – a Vira Sthanam abode, the place where the Lord kicked the Death to death for a devotee. At the Kungiliyakalaya Nayanar monastery, they accepted the food along with other devotees. They worshiped Tirukadavur Mayanam and Tiruvakkar before reaching Tiruvizhimizhalai. With emotions of extreme love springing up, they prostrated to the Foremost Lord of Tiruvizhimizhalai and sang beautiful devaram decads. During that time due to some planetary disturbances, the monsoon failed bringing drought to the river Kaveri which resulted in food shortage and a famine. The followers of the two saints who travelled with them and all devotees around were suffering. The Lord with the deer and the axe appeared in the dreams of the two saints and told them that while they were beyond suffering, for the benefit of the devotees who salute them, the Lord would provide a solution to alleviate their problems. From the next day each of them got a golden coin on the eastern and western dais of the temple by the grace of God. Those selfless devotees used the golden coin to feed the entire community of devotees of Lord Hara. Those true devotees instead of elevating themselves made all efforts to alleviate the pain of others by the grace of God. As Shiva is Love, how can His dedicated devotees who are immersed in Him overlook the pains of others? Thus, the sage and the child prodigy helped tide over the terrible famine with the blessing of the ever Merciful. When the planetary occurrences settled, and the rain brought an end to the famine, the two devotees thought of worshiping the other abodes of the Blue-throated Lord.

Praying to the Lord at Tiruvanychiyam, they arrived at Tirumaraikkadu (Vedaranyam). Circumambulating the temple, the king of words and son of God arrived in front of the altar of the God. There was the historic huge door through which once upon a time the great Vedas had gone through and worshiped the Heart of Vedas, but it was sealed by the Vedas after worship. The two saints noticed that all the devotees used a side door to enter the temple and worship. The saint of Sirgazhi requested Appar to sing a devaram to open the door so that they can enter the temple through the door facing the altar. On his words Tirunavukkarasar sang a padhikam (decad) starting "panniner mozhiyal". Perhaps, the Lord was so engrossed in his wonderful praise that the door did not open even after the tenth stanza! He then sang "irakkam onrillir" (Have you no mercy?) upon which the Lord immediately opened that giant door. Amidst the roar of the devotees seeing this marvel, they entered the temple and worshiped the Warrior with the Earth as His chariot, with wholesome devotion. After coming out, Appar asked Tirugnana Sambandhar to sing a decad in order to close the door. As soon as he started to sing, the door closed itself. Hailing the grace of God, he completed the padhikam (decad). From then on, that famous door was used by the local people every day. Later, back in the monastery, wondering about the simplicity of Tirugnana Sambandhar’s hymn upon which the door closed immediately, the humble Appar was afraid that he did not understand the grace of the Lord. With these thoughts he slept in a corner.

In the dream of that sincere servitor, the Supreme appeared and said, "Will be there in Vaymur, come along". The surprised sage immediately left Tirumaraikkadu with the Source of the Universe to guide him. The Lord revealed a beautiful temple and then disappeared. Appar followed Him but could not catch up with Him. By this time, hearing about this, Sambandhar also came there. Appar, distraught that the Lord had vanished, was worried that it was owing to his opening a door which the Lord had not wished open. Then the Lord, who is unbeknown to even Brahma and Vishnu, appeared in His graceful form. Sambandhar beheld Him and pointed to Appar requesting he sing a devaram. They then proceeded to Tiruvaymur to pray to the Lord. Praising the Lord of Tiruvaymur to their satisfaction, to the world's satisfaction and to the satisfaction of the Lord, keeping His holy feet in their mind, they returned Tirumaraikkadu, praised by the Vedas. Some messengers from the Pandyan minister Kulachiai Nayanar, sent in presence of the queen Mangaiyarkkarasi, came in search of Sambandhar. The child prodigy enquired about the well-being of those two marvellous devotees. The messengers informed that while they were happy praising the feet of Sambandhar who came to establish the greatness of Shaivam, the bad deeds of the Jains were beyond the limits of tolerance in their kingdom. Determined to enlighten the king and the people about Shaivam, Sambandhar got ready to go to the Pandya kingdom. The sage, full of affection, did not want to allow the child to go since he was aware about the tortures of those merciless people. But the saint of Sirgazhi was determined to exhibit the supremacy of Shaivam. Appar wanted to take on the Jains himself instead of young Sambandhar, but Sambandhar was resolute that he himself would face them. With Appar unable to hold him back, Sambandhar proceeded to the Pandya kingdom.

Thirunavukkarasu Nayanar - Part V (The Vision – Beholding the Unseen Marvel)

சேக்கிழார் எடுத்துத் தந்த திருநாவுக்கரசர் திருப்பதிகங்கள்
திருநாவுக்கரசர் திருநாமங்கள்