CHIDAMBARAM

NANDANAR EPISODE

The devotion of Nanda is another brilliant example of Lord's boundless compassion for his adorers. Nanda was a paria by birth, but by bhakti he was the god's favorite son. He lived in a village near Tiruppangur In those days, the high caste Brahmins never allowed them into temple precincts. Yet he was worshipping the Lord of Tiruppangur, visiting daily. This practice he continued for long. He was satisfied in adoring the Lord standing at the entrance and particularly unseen by those arrogant, superstitious spiritual bankrupts - brahmin priests. This practice he continued for long, yet his heart yearned for full darsan of the Lord in his resplendent form. Having been pleased with his adoration, the Lord one day asked his sentinel to bid his mount Nandi, sitting straight opposite move a little aside for giving darsan to him. Nandi moved further and Nanda enjoyed the sight and fulfilled his life's ambition. And he was then advised to go to Chidambaram for emancipation. He reached it, adored Him and attained Sayujyam - merging his soul in the Lord at the end. His statue is placed in the temple.

And moreover the Tiruppangur temple is treasuring up this evidence here the Nandi is not sitting opposite the Lord as seen in Siva temples, but a few feet aside from the Lord. Further, the sentinel - Dwarapalaka is sculptured in the pose of bending: his head leftwards to listening to the bidding of the Lord. This pans was canonized, and he is one of the 64 Nayanmars - the adorers of Siva with a great difference. There are many more, rather hundreds of such striking real examples of adorers who were lifted, liberated and made to live in the form of images in Siva temples for correction by the erring. The Nayanmars, in fact, heightened the glory of the Lord by their personal privation. They are standing specimens of pure devotion. Hence forming the first line of the horde of adorers.

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