Once lived a devotee Nandanar who moved the huge stone statue of Nandi(bull vehicle of lord Shiva) with his sincere devotion. He was not born in a reputed family nor an upper caste family( caste system exists till date).
He was born in a shudra caste house hold who crafts wooden instruments covered with animal skin called parai. The people who make such instrument belong to a caste called paraiayar in Tamil Nadu, southern state of India.
The story does not emphasize on the caste system, or how badly upper caste people used to treat lower caste people in those times.
It’s about devotion of an ardent devotee, who became one with the lord through his devotion, also who became one of the Nayanars among 63 Nayanars.
Before we further read this great story let’s once chant the panchakshari mantra once
!!Om Nama Shivaya!!
Story of Nandanar
Once a upon a time in Adhanur village, Tamil Nadu, lived a Nandan who use to do hard labour by working in the fields of a land lord. He was an ardent devotee of lord Shiva. Used to sing songs of lord Shiva and spend his time.
Nandanar dedicated his heart and soul to the lord by dancing and singing in front of temples. One day he decided to visit the Shivalokanathar temple in the Thirupungur. Since he belonged to sudhra caste, he was not allowed near the Garbha gruha(Innermost Temple sanctuary).
He had to stand outside to have a glimpse of the universal lord. But there was a problem. A magnificent Nandi was placed in front of lord Shiva linga. He was frustrated as he was not able to see the lord. Then he prayed to lord and also requested Nandi to provide him an opportunity to have a glimpse of lord’s divine linga.
To everyone’s surprise, Nandi statue moved to the side so that he can have a very good darshan of lord Shiva. To date one can witness the statue of Nandi in that temple slightly moved to the side . That is the greatness of Nandanar’s devotion towards lord Shiva.
Oneness with lord Shiva
Nandan had a great desire to visit Chidambaram temple at least once in his life time. Due to his work, he was not able to visit the temple town. Unfortunately, everyone in the village came to know about his desire.
They started teasing him by calling thirunaalaippovar. One day he decided to go to Chidambaram and ask his owner regarding the same. The owner said he will allow only if Nandan ploughs the field within a day’s time.
Thirunaalaippovar was disappointed as it takes few days to plough the field. However, he started ploughing the field by praying to God. End of the day he got tired and slept. When he woke up in the morning, to his surprise he saw the entire field ploughed.
Even the land lord was stunned. Eventually he understood the greatness of Nandanar and respectfully asked Nandan to go to Chidambaram and have a good darshan.
Since he is a sudhra, he was not allowed inside the temple. But he roamed around the temple town many times and stayed outside the town. While napping he had a dream in which lord Shiva ordered him to enter the temple the next day.
Lord also appeared in the temple priest’s dream and told him to do one very big fire yagna(Sacrifice). As per the dream, the next day, priest started performing the yagna while chanting vedic mantras in front of the temple. At the same time Nandanar enters the sacred fires while onlookers were watching.
He came out of it like a pure gold with radiating aura. The temple priest was surprised to see this act of Nandanar. Priest regained his senses by seeing the divine being and took him inside the main temple sanctum while everyone were watching. Nandanar finally becomes one with the supreme lord Shiva.
Conclusion
Pure devotion to the lord is enough to attain Moksha(salvation). It doesn’t matter where you were born or to whom you born. May lord Shiva bless us all with his divine grace.
!! Om Tatpurushaya Vidmahe
Mahadevaya Dhimahi
Tanno Rudrah Prachodayat !!
https://www.induswomanwriting.com/the-spiritual-capital-of-india.html
