ILAYANKUDI MARAN NAYANAR
இளையான்றன் குடிமாறன் அடியார்க்கும் அடியேன் ….7.039.1
The fourth Nayanmar of Saiva hagiology is Ilayankudi Maran Nayanar. Saint Sundarar hailed Ilayankudi Maran in his Thiruthondar thogai next to Iyarpagai Nayanar and stated that he was the servitor of the servitors of Ilayankudi Maran.
இயலா விடைச்சென்ற மாதவற் கின்னமு தாவிதைத்த வயலார் முளைவித்து வாரி மனைஅலக் கால்வறுத்துச் செயலார் பயிர்விழுத் தீங்கறி ஆக்கும் அவன்செழுநீர்க் கயலார் இளையான் குடியுடை மாறன்எங் கற்பகமே. …11.034.5
Nambiyandar Nambi in his Thiruthondar Thiruvanthathi glorifies Ilayankudi Maran Nayanar as the one who belongs to plough clan, He on a rainy day gathered sown seeds, made fire out of rafters taken from the roof, his spouse cooked delicious meal and served it to the servitor sage, whereupon the Lord with His Consort took him to His abode.
Sekizhar in the Thillaivazh Anthanar Sarukkam of Periyapuranam, sung twenty-seven stanzas on Ilayangudi Maran Nayanar. Ilayankudi Maran Nayanar or Ilayankudi Nayanar are the other names to refer him. Since Nadu is not clearly mentioned by Sekkizhar, Some identify the place at Thondainadu, some in Cholanadu, some in Pandyanadu. Siva temple at Ilayankudi in all these nadu divisions are associated with Maranar. In Chola Nadu, Ilayankudi is near Thirunallaru and in Pandya Nadu in Sivaganga district. Since Maran is Pandya term it is widely accepted that Maran belonged to Ilayankudi of Sivaganga district. In both the places ‘mulaivariya muthaliththa natrangal‘ is referred. However, Ilayankudi at Pandya Nadu is widely accepted, Rajendra Choleeswaram temple at Ilayankudi is associated with Maranar.
Sekkizhar eulogized Maranar that He was born to illuminate this world as a result of the asceticism of the ancient clan of sudras. He was a farmer and accumulated great wealth by agriculture, however, spent the wealth in serving the devotees of Lord Siva. Whenever devotees of Lord Siva visited him or even come in front of him, whoever it may be, whatever clan they belong, he revere them, speak with them kindly, receive them into his house, wash their feet, duly seated, treat them to fourfold victuals rich in sextuple taste. The sole reason that impelled him to revere them was they were the servitors of the Lord.
உண்டி நாலுவிதத்திலுல் ஆறு சுவைத் திறத்தினில் ஒப்புஇலா அண்டர் நாயகர் தொண்டர் இச்சையில் அமுது செய்ய அளித்து உளார் …..12.443
It is said that the Nayanar because of his virtuous feasting offered to the devotees of Siva, his wealth increased and he was like the Lord of Alakapuri, that is, Kubera, the companion of eight shouldered Lord.
However, the Lord want to show to the world even steeped in misery he would behave the same in serving the servitors of God. The Lord played his Divine Game, the wealth of the Nayanar is made to diminish, ultimately resulted in poverty. Even though the wealth shrink his heart does not shrink. As usual, he continued to serve the servitors of God with food by mortgaging or selling his properties or borrowing money from others. Day by day his wealth diminished and resulted in poverty. To show his virtuous to the world and to bless Maranar, the God in disguise stepped down as a sage and reached Maranar’s house.
It was a rainy night Maranar was in soaring hunger, The God in disguise entered Maranar house, even in soaring hunger he welcomed his guest, dried His body, offered Him a seat. Then he spoke to his wife that even though we have no food for ourselves, we must feed the devotee of the God and asked her ways to remove his hunger. His wife replied that there is no place to go for help, no one to help us in this late night, we the sinners, what shall we do? stated in remorse.
She then stated that if he can gather the seeds sown in the paddy field, it will be possible for her to provide food and can get rid of the misery. Maranar delighted by hearing this as like he got back all his wealth, and prepared himself to visit the fields. It was a deadly night, the rain was fierce, blinding, even an audacious person fear over the darkness of the night. He happily proceeded to the field with basket inverted on his head.
கருகு மைஇரு ளின்கணம் கட்டுவிட்டு உருகு கின்றது போன்றது உலகுஎலாம். …..12.454
எண்ணும் இவ்வுலகத்தவர் யாவரும் துண் எனும்படி தோன்றமுன் தோய்திடில் வண்ணம் நீடிய மைக்குழம்பு ஆம்என்று நண்ணல் செய்யா நடுஇருள் யாமத்து. …..12.455
In the dark night he went to the paddy field through the pathway as familiar to him earlier by feeling the ground with his feet. As he reached the field, he gathered the geminated seeds lay floating in the water, filled the basket fully, swiftly reached home with basket on his head.
காலினால் தடவிச் சென்று கைகளால் சாலிவெண்முளை நீர்வழிச் சார்ந்தன கோலிவாரி இடாநிறையக் கொண்டு மேல்எடுத்துச் சுமந்து ஒல்லை மீண்டார். …..12.457
His wife eagerly awaiting for him received the basket happily as they have grains to cook food for the guest. She purified the muddy seeds and prepared to cook. She then realized there is no fuel to cook food, and informed Maranar. He then pulled down the rafters from the ceiling of his house, she lit the stove and fried the wet rice, then pounded and cooked the rice. Then she politely asked her husband what shall we do for the curry? he went to the backyard and gathered the greens that had grown a little in the pits.
Received the greens, cleaned and washed and put them in vessels and prepared variety of dishes out of it. Assailed with her memories of older times where she cooked delicacies with vegetables and consoled herself atleast got greens to serve the devotee. She then informed the Nayanar the dishes are ready, at once serve the peerless with food. The Nayanar gently woke him from his sleep by requesting to excuse for delay in serving the food. The God in disguise of Saint woke up and blazed as flame, the Nayanar and his wife stood wonder-stuck.
எழுந்தருள் பெரியோய் ஈண்டு அமுது செய்தருள்க என்று தொழும்பனார் உரைத்த போதில் சோதியாய் எழுந்து தோன்றச் செழுந்திரு மனைவியாரும் தொண்டரும் திகைத்து நின்றார். …..12.463
The Lord unknown to Brahma and Vishnu, blazed as flame, the Nayanar and his wife stood awe-stuck. The Lord with Goddess mounted on the sacred Bull appeared before them and said that you have served all through your life with your wife by serving my devotees even in miserable times, now its time for you both to abide in my world, as like Kubera with great wealth and dispose your service, thus blessed the God.
The theme is depicted as miniature in the gala of vedika complex. The panel can be divided into three scenes from right to left. The first scene depicts a man and woman, the man is carrying a basket in his head and his hands are holding the object in the head. The women standing next to him is also in the action of hands raised and seems conversing with the man and in the action of looking at the basket held by him and also to place it down. The man in draped in short attire extending upto thigh, the women is draped in long attire upto calf however well creased. Her locks are gathered as Dammila and the elongated ear is adorned with patrakundala. Kankanas and thazhseri are the other ornaments adorned. This scene represents the Maran Nayanar bringing the sowed seeds back home. The woman next him is his wife Punithavathiyar, her action shows she is trying to lift down the basket carried by Maranar. The name Punithavathiyar is not given in Periyapuranam.
In the second scene a man and women is seen. The man is in seated posture while the women is standing in front, in between them is a three legged stool on which a tray filled like a mound is seen. The man looks like a young chap probably the God in disguise of Saivite seated on a stool with legs folded, his body turned straight to the viewers and his right hand is in abhaya left hand rested on his lap. Draped in short attire with locks gathered and tufted in the apex, His elongated ears remain plain. A beaded mala is worn around neck. The female in attire and ornaments as seen in the first scene is slightly in stooped posture with an object in her right hand. Her left hand is placed on her hip. In the gesture of serving the saint. On the three legged stool the food is filled on the tray. Above the God two bulgy dots are shown, probably, fire flame for lighting.
In the third scene the Kailaya scene is shown Lord Siva and Goddess Parvati mounted on the Nandi is shown. The God in jatamakuta and short attire is decked with patrakundala, charapali, udarabandha, kankanas and keyura. Yajnopavita is worn in upavita fashion. His front right hand is in abhaya while his back hands in kartari mudra carry mazhu and deer. Goddess seated behind the God is in karantamakuta, draped in long attire, breast band is absent, hands are not clear. Both the God and Goddess are in slight grin that adds graciousness. The bull is decorated with garland of bells around its neck.
In this panel the sculptor has chosen core events of Ilayankudi Maran Nayanar life and narrated in three scenes to convey his story.