Viralminda Nayanar, known as Viranmindar, Viranmintan and Viranminda Nayanar, is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism.
30 Facts About Viralminda Nayanar
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Viralminda Nayanar is generally counted as the sixth in the list of 63 Nayanars.
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Viralminda Nayanar was a contemporary of Sundarar.
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Viralminda Nayanar is described in legends as the reason Sundarar composed a hymn to the Nayanar saints, which became the first compilation of the list.
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The life of Viralminda Nayanar is described in the Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar, which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars.
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Viralminda Nayanar was born in Sengunru in the hilly terrain of Malainadu, modern-day Indian state of Kerala.
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Viralminda Nayanar is regarded as a historical figure, contemporary of Sundarar and the Chera king Rajashekhara Varman, both are venerated as Nayanars.
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Viralminda Nayanar was a Vellalar, a caste of agricultural land owners.
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Viralminda Nayanar was a great devotee of Shiva, the patron god of Shaivism.
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Viralminda Nayanar believed that honouring the devotees of Shiva is a greater form of service to Shiva, than worshipping Shiva himself.
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Viralminda Nayanar travelled to various temples of Shiva and finally reached Thiruvarur, famous for its Thyagaraja Temple dedicated to Shiva.
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Viralminda Nayanar saw devotees of Shiva called atiyar seated in the Devasrayam, the thousand-pillared mandapa in the temple and prostrated to them and stayed in their company.
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Viralminda Nayanar decreed that others should pay their respects to the atiyar, before worshipping the lingam in the garbhagriha.
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Once, Sundarar, one of the most celebrated Nayanar saints, came to the shrine and went straight to the garbhagriha, without bowing to the atiyar.
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Viralminda Nayanar was made the leaders of the ganas, attendants of Shiva at Kailash.
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When Sundarar was just within the grasp of Viralminda Nayanar, Thyagaraja rescued Sundarar by hiding him in the temple wall.
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Viralminda Nayanar was angry with Sundarar as he used Thyagaraja to pacify the warth of his wife Paravai.
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Viralminda Nayanar was upset with Thyagaraja for his partiality with Sundarar, despite all his faults.
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Viralminda Nayanar was enraged with the god when he heard Thyagaraja gave Sundarar a divine vision.
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Viralminda Nayanar used to serve lunch to the devotees every day and would ask for their village before serving them.
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Viralminda Nayanar would kill any one who came from Thiruvarur with his axe.
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Viralminda Nayanar said he belonged to Thiruvarur; she immediately warned him about Viralminda's hatred of Thiruvarur and its people and requested him to lie about his village.
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The devotee refused to do so, but requested the wife to keep the axe on Viralminda Nayanar's left hand, instead of the usual right.
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When Viralminda Nayanar heard the devotee belonged to Thiruvarur, he reached for his axe, but did not find it in its usual place.
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The delay helped the devotee escape, but Viralminda Nayanar chased him with his axe.
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The devotee entered the limits of Thiruvarur and Viralminda Nayanar unconsciously broke his vow, following him.
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Viralminda Nayanar has shrines in the Thiruvarur and Vandampalai temples.
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Viralminda Nayanar is worshipped on Thiruvathira, the Purnima of the Tamil month of Chithirai.
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Viralminda Nayanar is depicted is depicted wearing a crown, with folded hands and holding an axe in the crook of his arm.
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Viralminda Nayanar receives collective worship as part of the 63 Nayanars.