Nandanar
Encyclopedia
Nandanar was a Nayanar
saint born in South India
who became a great devotee of Lord Shiva
.
Nandanar was born in a village called Adhanur
(ஆதனூர்)in a poor family. He was born at the cruel time where untouchability was being practised, as he belonged to Paraiyar
community, which was considered as an untouchable Avarna
. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
devoted his book 'THE UNTOUCHABLES WHO WERE THEY AND WHY THEY BECAME UNTOUCHABLES?' to saint Nandanar.
A Tamil movie
by the name Nandanar
depicting the story of saint Nandanar was directed by Ellis Dungan.
who owned around 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) of land (40 வேலி நிலம்). He had the love of the Brahmin who believed that Nandanar had a midas touch and that he is very loyal and sincere in his duty. But nothing was explicitly shown by the landlord towards the poor Nandan who served him devotedly.
Though Nandanar's deity was Karuppanasami, the protector lord of villages, he was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He visits the Thirupangur Shiva Temple where the Nandi (bull) hides the Lord from His vision. Untouchability
and caste-curse being very dominant at that time, the poor Nandanar could not enter the temple to have darshan. But without losing hope, Nandanar prays and the Nandi moves aside, letting Him have the darshan of the Lord. He sings the glory of the Great God (Mahadeva) and returns, only to lose his job since the Brahmin was told that Nandan went to the temple ignoring the work that was pending.
While on His way back, He hears that the Lord who dwells also in Chidambaram
must be seen at least once in a lifetime. Thus, the desire to visit Chidambaram grew in Nandanar to a great extent that he started pestering the Brahmin to grant him permission to visit Chidambaram at least once. Nandanar is named Thiru Naalai Povar (திரு நாளைப் போவார்) since he tells everyone that he will be going to Chidambaram tomorrow (naalai).
The Brahmin refuses to grant him permission and also ridicules Him of His desire to see the Lord of Chidambaram in spite of being born in a so called low-caste. But upon Nandanar's constant requests, he agrees but in one condition. It is that Nandanar can visit Chidambaram after all the 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) of land is cultivated and harvested.
Nandanar knew that it is a task next to impossibility. He cried to Lord Shiva in despair and Lord Shiva orders his Ganas to do all the work in a single night. The Brahmin gets astonished with the devotion of Nandanar, falls down in His feet and requests him to pardon him for his ignorance. Nandanar happily sets forth to Chidambaram and there too, he faces the same problem of being a low-caste born. He sits there in the entrance of the city, filled with anguish to see the Lord.
Lord Shiva appears in the dream of the 3000 saints of Thillai (தில்லைவாழ் அந்தணர் மூவாயிரம்) and instructs them to receive Nandanar with due respect.
It should be mentioned that according to Pulavar Keeran, the original text by Sekkizhar swamigal does not contain any references to a Brahmin landlord. This intentionally villainous character was introduced by Gopalakrishna Bharathi in Nandanaar Charithram to illustrate that Bhakthi is better than Ritual/Rigor/Knowledge. Between bhakthi towards the Lord, represented by Nandanar, and Knowledge of the Vedas, represented by the Brahmin, the Lord always favors the one with Bhakti. It is politically correct to cast the Brahmin as the villain, but such a character never existed in the original text.
Nayanar
Nayanar can refer to:*Nayanars, Shaivite saints from Tamil Nadu, India.*Nayanar , an honorific title used by certain clans of Nair caste from the north Malabar region of Kerala, India.*Nayanar, title used by Isai Vellalar of Tamil Nadu...
saint born in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
who became a great devotee of Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
.
Nandanar was born in a village called Adhanur
Adhanur
Adhanur is a village in the Papanasam taluk of Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India.- Demographics :As per the 2001 census, Achampatti had a total population of 2587 with 1327 males and 1260 females. The sex ratio was 950. The literacy rate was 64.53....
(ஆதனூர்)in a poor family. He was born at the cruel time where untouchability was being practised, as he belonged to Paraiyar
Paraiyar
Paraiyar, Parayar, and Sambavar, anglicised by Europeans as Pariah are a social group found in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and in Sri Lanka . In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, though they have been enumerated under three different caste names, they have generally been referred to as...
community, which was considered as an untouchable Avarna
Avarna
Avarna in the Sanskrit language of India means one who does not have a varna. The term denotes those sections of people in the Hindu fold who do not belong to the four major castes or Varnas. The four major castes are Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra...
. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
B. R. Ambedkar
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar , popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, a revolutionary and one of the founding fathers of independent India. He was also the Chairman...
devoted his book 'THE UNTOUCHABLES WHO WERE THEY AND WHY THEY BECAME UNTOUCHABLES?' to saint Nandanar.
A Tamil movie
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
by the name Nandanar
Nandanar (1935 film)
Nandanar or Bhakta Nandanar is a 1935 Tamil film directed by Manik Lal Tandon. It marked the film debut of the carnatic singer and stage artist K. B. Sundarambal. She was paid a then unprecedented One lakh Rupees as salary for this film. This was also the first film for Ellis R....
depicting the story of saint Nandanar was directed by Ellis Dungan.
Legend
He worked as a Naatamaikar (நாட்டாமை) under a BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
who owned around 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) of land (40 வேலி நிலம்). He had the love of the Brahmin who believed that Nandanar had a midas touch and that he is very loyal and sincere in his duty. But nothing was explicitly shown by the landlord towards the poor Nandan who served him devotedly.
Though Nandanar's deity was Karuppanasami, the protector lord of villages, he was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He visits the Thirupangur Shiva Temple where the Nandi (bull) hides the Lord from His vision. Untouchability
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
and caste-curse being very dominant at that time, the poor Nandanar could not enter the temple to have darshan. But without losing hope, Nandanar prays and the Nandi moves aside, letting Him have the darshan of the Lord. He sings the glory of the Great God (Mahadeva) and returns, only to lose his job since the Brahmin was told that Nandan went to the temple ignoring the work that was pending.
While on His way back, He hears that the Lord who dwells also in Chidambaram
Chidambaram Temple
Thillai Natarajah Temple, Chidambaram is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the town of Chidambaram, East-Central Tamil Nadu, South India. The temple is known as the foremost of all temples to Saivites and has influenced worship, architecture, sculpture and performance art for over two...
must be seen at least once in a lifetime. Thus, the desire to visit Chidambaram grew in Nandanar to a great extent that he started pestering the Brahmin to grant him permission to visit Chidambaram at least once. Nandanar is named Thiru Naalai Povar (திரு நாளைப் போவார்) since he tells everyone that he will be going to Chidambaram tomorrow (naalai).
The Brahmin refuses to grant him permission and also ridicules Him of His desire to see the Lord of Chidambaram in spite of being born in a so called low-caste. But upon Nandanar's constant requests, he agrees but in one condition. It is that Nandanar can visit Chidambaram after all the 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) of land is cultivated and harvested.
Nandanar knew that it is a task next to impossibility. He cried to Lord Shiva in despair and Lord Shiva orders his Ganas to do all the work in a single night. The Brahmin gets astonished with the devotion of Nandanar, falls down in His feet and requests him to pardon him for his ignorance. Nandanar happily sets forth to Chidambaram and there too, he faces the same problem of being a low-caste born. He sits there in the entrance of the city, filled with anguish to see the Lord.
Lord Shiva appears in the dream of the 3000 saints of Thillai (தில்லைவாழ் அந்தணர் மூவாயிரம்) and instructs them to receive Nandanar with due respect.
It should be mentioned that according to Pulavar Keeran, the original text by Sekkizhar swamigal does not contain any references to a Brahmin landlord. This intentionally villainous character was introduced by Gopalakrishna Bharathi in Nandanaar Charithram to illustrate that Bhakthi is better than Ritual/Rigor/Knowledge. Between bhakthi towards the Lord, represented by Nandanar, and Knowledge of the Vedas, represented by the Brahmin, the Lord always favors the one with Bhakti. It is politically correct to cast the Brahmin as the villain, but such a character never existed in the original text.