1. Tirunilakanta Nayanar, known as Tirunilakanta, Nilakantan and Tirunilakantar was a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism.
15 Facts About Tirunilakanta Nayanar
1. 2.
Tirunilakanta Nayanar is generally counted as the second in the list of 63 Nayanars.
3.
The life of Tirunilakanta Nayanar is described in the Tamil Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar, which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars.
4.
Tirunilakanta Nayanar belonged to Chidambaram, famous for its Thillai Nataraja Temple dedicated to the god Shiva, patron of Shaivism.
5.
Tirunilakanta Nayanar was born in the Kuyavar caste of potters.
6.
Tirunilakanta Nayanar was a devout devotee of Shiva and distributed clay bowls to devotees of Shiva, free of cost.
7.
The Tirunilakanta Nayanar pledged not to touch any woman from that day, even in his thoughts.
8.
The yogi left; Tirunilakanta Nayanar kept the bowl in a safe location.
9.
Tirunilakanta Nayanar looked for the bowl in the place he kept it and then searched the whole house in vain.
10.
The worried Tirunilakanta Nayanar prostrated before the mendicant and told him that he had lost the bowl and offered to replace it with a new clay bowl.
11.
But, Tirunilakanta Nayanar refused to do so, due to his vow, the incensed left and appealed to the Brahmin priests of the temple for justice.
12.
Tirunilakanta Nayanar is worshipped in the Tamil month of Thai, when the moon enters the Vishakha nakshatra.
13.
Tirunilakanta Nayanar is depicted with folded hands.
14.
Tirunilakanta Nayanar receives collective worship as part of the 63 Nayanars.
15.
The day is marked by a temple festival when the tale of the Tirunilakanta Nayanar's test are ritually enacted in the temple tank.