IYARPAGAI NAYANAR
Iyarpagai is the sobriquet of the Nayanar because he did things contrary to nature. Let us see the life of Iyarpagai Nayanar as described in the Periyapuram and as depicted in the panel of Airavatheswara temple. Iyarpagai was born in a wealthy merchant family in the famous city of Pumpuhar and was the head of the merchant clan. Though rich merchant his desire was to be a slave of the Lord, who dances in the Ambalam. For Iyarpagai, anyone who come as a devotee of the Lord whoever it may be and whatever they want, he will not say ‘No’.
செக்கர் வெண்பிறைச் சடையவர் அடிமைத் திறத்தின் மிக்கவர் மறைச்சிலம்பு அடியார் மிக்கசீர் அடி யார்கள்யார் எனினும் வேண்டும் யாவையும் இல்லை என்னாதே
He rendered service to those who are unparallel in their true service to the God, to those who smear the holy ash in their body and their hearts filled with the endless grace of the Lord. Any service desired by the devotees of the Lord, the servitor deemed it as his duty to perform and he thought it as beatitude of his life.
The Lord, who wore the Vedas as his anklets, wished to demonstrate to the world the never-declining attitude of His Servitor. Decked with ash, He took the form of a Brahmin, and arrived at the house of Iyarpagai. Iyarpagai in ecstasy greeted Him and exalted His visit to his house happened only because of the penance of his ancestors and requested the purpose of His visit. The Muni stated, ‘He had come to seek a thing from him’ as he deem it his duty to grant whatever sought by the servitors of the Lord. Hearing this Iyarpagaiyar happily revealed that if there is anything owned by him that truly belongs to the servitors of Lord.
…யாதும் ஒன்றும்என் பக்கல் உண்டாகில் அன்னது எம்பிரான் அடியவர் உடைமை ஐயம் இல்லை…
The Lord in the guise of lecherous Brahmin revealed that he came to secure his loving wife. Hearing this, joy of Iyarpagai doubled and said that it was boon to him as the gift sought by the Muni was with him already. He moved in and addressed his beloved wife, the paragon of chastity and righteous living that he gifted her to the servitor of the Lord. The noble wife hearing this stood distressed, soon she recovered and agreed.
மன்னு காதல்என் மனைவியை வேண்டி வந்தது இங்குஎன அந்தணர் எதிரே சொன்ன போதிலும் முன்னையின் மகிழ்ந்து துயதொண்டனார் தொழுது உரைசெய்வார்.
Iyarpagai delighted in happiness of his service to Muni and asked anything left to do. The Lord in the guise of Brahmin muni, asked Iyarpagai to accompany him to pass the town unmolested by the relatives of Iyarpagai. Iyarpagai felt guilty as he hadn’t volunteered before asking, went inside the house dressed in silk attire came out with sword and shield. He caused the muni and his wife walk before him, he then followed close, ready to smite anyone who would offer any resistance.
The relatives of Iyarpagai and his wife armed with swords, spears, daggers gathered at the outskirts of the city, and shouted at Iyarpai as crazy and disgraceful. They shouted at the Brahmin as evil one, asked him to leave her and free of his sin. The God in guise of a Brahmin looked at her as if scared, she asked him not to fear, Iyarpagai will triumph. Iyarpagai also pacified Muni not to be feared. He looked at his kins as angered lion, shouted at them to flee away and save their life otherwise his sword will cut and quartered. His relatives shouted in frustration over Iyarpagai’s display of bravery, instead of being ashamed of his doings, stated ready to perish rather seeing his pride on shameful act. On hearing this he thundered at them that he will cut and scatter them into pieces.
The relatives instead of facing him rushed to obstruct the Brahmin who continues with his journey, encircling Him and checking His progress. Iyarpagai raged in anger, slashed those who reached him, blood coursed in streams, the field littered with corpses, and finally there was none left to oppose him. He addressed the Brahmin now to proceed fearlessly with his wife and when they reached near Saikkadu the Brahmin asked Iyarpagai to return. Iyarpagai prostrated at His feet, departed happily feeling blessed. The God delighted at the flawless affection of the Servitor and wanted to grace him with His form.
Suddenly Iyarpagai heard the cry of the Muni, ‘O Iyapagai come back, save me, O hero of the rarest deed save me’. Iyarpagai ran towards the direction of the voice, answering that ‘I have come, I have come your servitor, still there anyone to oppose, I will slay them’. The Lord, by the time vanished to reappear before him in His form of Grace.
Iyyarpagai saw not the muni, he beheld his Lord and His consort mounted on the Bull, and it looked as though an aura hill. He prostrated and hailed him as the one who dance in Thillai, grantor of endless bliss to him. When thus he hailed Him, the Lord says, ‘We feel happy, having witnessed on earth your act of devoted love for Us, O flawless one, come and abide with Us with your wife. The celestials showered flowers, the Vedas resounded, Munis of great wisdom sang their praise, thus the flawless devotees with beatitude blessed, to dwell and adore the Lord in the ever-blessed Sivaloka, the kins of Iyarpagai who perished in the skirmish also gained life and attained Sivaloka.
At Airavateswara temple narrative series the story of Iyarpagai is shown in two sections. In the first section five members are shown in standing posture, in that, one is female and four are male. The female is in anjali hasta and draped in silk attire upto her ankle, decked with ornaments like patrakundalas, kankanas, neck ornament. But breast band is absent. The female is flanked by two male, both are draped in short attire and ornaments, they are in broad smile and holding her affectionately. The female can be taken as the wife of Iyarpagai and the two male figures as her kith and kin. To their left is seen two males, the first male is in anjali hasta, draped in short attire and ornaments whereas the second male decked with short attire, idaikattu and ornaments is eulogizing in the right hand and the left hand is in kat̩aka. The male in anjali hasta can be taken as Iyarpagai Nayanar. For all their locks are gathered and styled as dhammilam.
The second section is depicted on the wall opposite to the above panel, in this panel the God and Goddess are shown mounted on Nandi. Lord Siva in jatamakuta, and Goddess in karantamakuta are also adorned with short attire and ornaments. The Bull is decked with rows of bells around neck and tail. The God and Goddess are in abhaya hasta on their right hand.
The above panel is the depiction of the final scene in the story of Iyarpagai Nayanar; Iyarpagai, his wife and relatives are blessed with the darshan of the Lord of Kailash and Consort for the true service of His Servitor.