DHINAM ORU KATHAI - 16.

Meipporul Nayanaar is one of the 63 celebrated Nayanaars, the saivaite devotees

praised in Sekkizhaar Puranam. His devotion towards Lord Shiva was so mindbending that one might wonder how great the Indian culture and its heritage were
in those days. The devotee was a king who ruled Sedhi Nadu with Tirukkovilur as its
capital during historical times in Tamilnadu. Tirukkovilur is one of Ashta Veeratta
Sthalams of Lord Shiva who destroyed demon Andhakaasura. The king was such a
staunch devotee of Lord Shiva that he used to greatly respect not only Siva
devotees but even any person who wore the logo of Lord Shiva namely the sacred
ash, tiger-skin and Rudraksham and with rolled & tied hairs. Just even this logo he
considered to be the embodiment of Lord Shiva.
He had a political enemy by name Muthanathan, a neighbouring king who wanted to
capture his kingdom. Muthanathan fought many times but was defeated every time
because Meiporul Nayanar was a brilliant warrior too. Realising that he could not be
conquered by means of war Muthanathan wanted to use unrighteous method to
finish him. Muthanathan knew that Nayanar used to greatly respect Shiva devotees
and so planned to enter his palace in the guise of a Shiva devotee and kill him when
he remained alone. Muthanathan adorned himself as a shaivaite devotee wearing
the necessary things like sacred ash, tiger-skin and rudraksham etc hiding a dagger
in a bundle of palm leaves which he carried as if preaching shaivaite philosophy. He
passed through all the doors of the Palace without difficulty as the security guards
did not stop him thinking that he was a Shiva devotee. Crooked Muthanathan
managed to reach the private room of the king. A bodyguard of the king by name
Dhatthan was guarding the room from outside. Dhatthan being intelligent and loyal
had suspicion on this crooked enemy in guise. He didnt allow him inside but humbly
told him that he could not meet the king as he was taking rest . Muthanathan
ignored him and forcibly entered the room. Our beloved king Meipporul Nayanar
who was resting inside woke up at once and on seeing a devotee entering he was
very much pleased to welcome him inside. Muthanathan told the king that he came
there to teach a philosophy of Lord Shiva. King was very happy and eager to listen
to him and offered him a royal chair and he sat on the floor. Muthanathan did not
waste a single minute. He unrolled the bundle of palm leaves, drew out his dagger
and killed the king. Dhatthan who was keeping a suspicious eye on him rushed in
immediately and was about to behead the enemy with his sword. But Meipporul
Nayanar stopped Dhatthan from doing this act and ordered him not to harm the
devotee. Loyal Dhatthan had no other option but to obey him, cried out with great
sorrow. He ran to the king who was lying on a pool of blood. He took the king on his
lap and wept. Dhatthan asked the dying king for his next order as to what to do with
this culprit. King Nayanar told Dhatthan that he did not see Muthanathan as his
enemy because he was in the guise of a Shiva devotee. He added that he must
respect him for the Shiva logo adorned by him although he had taken away his life
for the logo of a Shiva devotee was the very embodiment of Lord Shiva himself

according to the king. The king was worried because hearing the news his people
and his soldiers would get raged and would kill Muthanathan and he never wanted
this mishap to happen. Hence even in the dying situation Meipporul Nayanar
ordered his man Dhatthan to take Muthanathan with him guarding him safely till he
reached his place. Loyal Dhatthan obeyed the king and did so as per his kings
order. Nayanars soul departed peacefully on hearing that Dhatthan had fulfilled his
order. Enticed by his great devotion Lord Shiva bestowed him the eternal bliss.