Kari Nayanar | |
|---|---|
 thillaivazh andhanar ("thogai adiyar"), Kaari nayanar, Arivattaya nayanar, Vaayilaar | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Kari Tirukadavur |
| Honors | Nayanar saint, |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Philosophy | Shaivism,Bhakti |
Kari Nayanar is the 47thNayanar saint.[1] Traditional hagiographies likePeriya Puranam (13th century CE) andThiruthondar Thogai (10th century CE) detail his legendary life and services to the Hindu godShiva. Kari Nayanar was a vedic Brahmin devotee as well as a Tamil poet with an understanding of Sanskrit. The poet-saint compiled the vedic truths inKovai(Anthology), a Tamil composition titledKarikkovai. This book is now considered lost.[2][3] Therefore the saint got the name as Kari Nayanar.
Kari Nayanar was born in a VedicBrahmin family inThirukkadaiyur, a coastal town located - 15 km north ofKaraikal - on the east coast ofTamil Nadu, where there areAmritaghateswarar - Abirami Temple and the ancient Thirukkadaiyur Mayanam temple. The poet-saint was not only the great Shiva devotee but also a learned scholar. The saint, with the help of his Sanskrit learning and with fair knowledge about the Vedic truths, composedanthologies in praise of Shiva and onVedic truths. The knowledge of Vedic truths originally compiled inSanskrit language was disseminated in the easily understandable, rhythmic and music filledTamilanthology compositions, which melted the entireTamil regions. The poet-saint also composed anthologies in praise of themonarchs i.e.,Chera,Chozha andPandyan, the rulers of three majorTamilkingdoms. In appreciation of his anthologies, the poet-saint was rewarded with heaps of prize money and gifts. The saint utilized all his earnings for the cause ofSaiva services. The poet-saint built many Shiva temples. He also servedShiva devotees. After rendering the prolonged selfless services, the devotion, faith and intense prayers of the poet-saint made him to attain the abode of Shiva.[4][5]
Tamil monthMasi – Puradam Poorvashada, Purvashada, star is widely celebrated as Guru Puja Day of Kari Nayanar.