Iyarpagaiar

Iyarpagai Nayanar, also known as Iyarpagaiar, Iyarpahai Nayanar, Iyarpagaiya Nayanar and Iyarppakai Nayanar is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the third in the list of 63 Nayanars.

Life The life of Iyarpagai Nayanar is described in the Tamil Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar (12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars. His name "Iyarpagai" means "Contrary to Nature", as the Nayanar's excessively philanthropic ways were against the worldly ways of Nature.

Iyarpagai Nayanar was born in Kaveripoompattinam (also known as Puhar or Poompuhar), a port city located at the mouth of the river Cauvery where it meets the Bay of Bengal. Puhar, the ancient capital of the Chola kingdom is located in Mayiladuthurai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Iyarpagai Nayanar belonged to the Vaishya (merchant) caste. A staunch Shaiva (devotee of the god Shiva), he served Shiva and his devotees. A wealthy merchant, he built of a reputation that he never refused to anything a devotee of Shiva would ask for.

Remembrance The images of the Nayanars are found in many Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu.

One of the most prominent Nayanars, Sundarar (8th century) venerates Iyarpagai Nayanar in the Tiruthonda Thogai, a hymn to Nayanar saints, praising as the one who was munificent. The Tamil poet Gopalakrishna Bharati (1810–1896) has composed a musical play Iyarpagai Nayanar Charitram, which has 21 songs and some verses based on the life of the Nayanar.

Iyarpagai Nayanar is worshipped in the Tamil month of Margazhi, when the moon enters the Uttara Phalgunī nakshatra (lunar mansion). He is depicted with a crown and folded hands (see Anjali mudra). He receives collective worship as part of the 63 Nayanars. Their icons and brief accounts of his deeds are found in many Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu. Their images are taken out in procession in festivals.

The Chayavaneswarar Temple dedicated to Shiva in Sayavanam, where Shiva is described to have appeared before Iyarpagai Nayanar, has a special affiliation with the Nayanar. After bathing in Kaveri's mouth at Puhar, devotees worship at this temple. A shrine dedicated to Iyarpagai Nayanar and his wife, exists in the temple. A special five-day temple festival is celebrated around the great Iyarpagai Nayanar's holy day of salvation in Margazhi. In the Tamil months of Chithirai and Vaikasi (April to June, which correspond to the summer months), it is a tradition to offer water and buttermilk to visiting devotees in the name of the Nayanar, in the temple.