00:00Sundaramurthi Nayanaar is one of the most famous of all the Nayanaar saints.
00:06In his previous birth, he was an attendant to Lord Shiva named Alala Sundaran.
00:13His duty was to gather flowers from the gardens of Mount Kailash,
00:18which was the heavenly abode of Lord Shiva.
00:22Life in Kailasa and the curse
00:24Alala Sundaran plucks flowers in Shiva's garden, distracted by two celestial women.
00:32In the heavenly abode of Kailasa, Alala Sundaran served Lord Shiva with devotion,
00:38but one moment of distraction sealed his fate.
00:42Birth on Earth
00:43Sundarar is born to devout parents in Thirunavalur, a peaceful South Indian village.
00:50Born to noble Nayanaar saints, the divine soul entered the mortal world as Nambi Yarurar.
00:59Royal Adoption
01:00King sees young Nambi playing, stops his chariot and approaches boy's parents.
01:06Drawn by the glow of the child, king adopts Nambi, raising him in comfort and knowledge at the kingdom.
01:14Interrupted Wedding
01:16In the mid of the grand wedding ceremony, a mad-looking ascetic interrupts, claiming ownership of Nambi.
01:23When he was just about to be married, destiny intervened.
01:29A mysterious stranger stopped the wedding with a strange claim.
01:33Revelation at Thiru Vennai Nallur
01:36Deed is confirmed in court, crowd follows old man to temple, temple sanctum glowing.
01:43The old man vanishes inside the temple.
01:47The truth unfolded in a temple court.
01:50The madman was none other than Lord Shiva in disguise, embracing devotion.
01:56Nambi becomes Sundarar, dedicates life to Saivism by praying, singing and serving devotees.
02:02Transformed and awakened, he took the name Sundarar, dedicating every breath to Lord Shiva.
02:10Divine Encounters on Pilgrimage
02:13Lord Shiva appears as an old man during Sundarar's pilgrimage.
02:18At night during sleep in a shelter, old man puts his leg on Sundarar's head.
02:23Even on the road, Shiva tested his humility, appearing as an old man in the dark of the night.
02:31Marriage to Paravayar
02:32Sundarar meets and marries Paravayar with Shiva's blessing.
02:37With Shiva's grace, he found a divine companion, Paravayar, to walk the path of devotion together.
02:44Thirudhondat Togai and service
02:47Sundarar composes hymns praising Shiva's devotees in the midst of many fellow devotees.
02:54His verses sang the greatness of Shiva's devotees, forming the legendary Thirudhondat Togai.
03:01Miracle of the gold tiles
03:03Tiles turn to gold at temple when Sundarar awakens, tile shimmering as gold.
03:09For the one who asked nothing but to serve, the earth itself turned to gold.
03:16Marriage to Changiliyar and the consequence
03:18Sundarar marries Changiliyar and loses eyesight for breaking promise.
03:25Blind Sundarar walks with Shiva's blessings.
03:28For a broken promise, even the devout suffer.
03:31Yet mercy flows from Shiva's heart.
03:34Marital Reconciliation
03:36Paravayar refuses to forgive.
03:39Shiva intercedes, disguised as an old man visits her, reveals himself.
03:45Their bond was more than devotion.
03:47It was friendship.
03:49For Sundarar, even Shiva intervened as a messenger of peace.
03:54Iyarkona Kalikamanayanar incident
03:56Iyarkona kills himself rather than be cured by Sundarar.
04:01Distressed that he had been the cause of the death of a great devotee,
04:05Sundarar proceeded to kill himself.
04:07Just then, Iyarkona rose as if from a slumber and stopped Sundarar from being killed.
04:14He realized then the depth of Nambi's devotion and begged his forgiveness for his hasty conclusion.
04:21They both became great friends.
04:25Mistaken anger turned into divine realization.
04:28Even death bowed to Sundarar's devotion.
04:31Friendship with Cheraman Perumal
04:34A saint and a king bound by bhakti journeying together to sacred shrines.
04:41Crocodile Miracle
04:42With the prayer of Sundarar, Lord Shiva blesses the return of child after being eaten years ago by a crocodile.
04:51Child rejoins parents, family reunites and they dedicated their life by serving and praising Lord Shiva.
04:58When hearts are pure, even time and nature bow to divine will.
05:04Ascent to Kailasa, Saint Sundarar finally reached Kodungallur and met his kingly friend Cheraman Perumal.
05:12The king gave him a majestic elephant to travel around the city.
05:16He spent his days in the temple of Thiruvani Chikulam.
05:20He fervently prayed to Lord Shiva to deliver him from his mortal life.
05:25While thus engrossed in his prayers, he mounted the elephant to return to the palace.
05:31Lord Shiva's designated time for Sundarar to leave the mortal world had come.
05:35By divine power, the elephant rose up and flew upwards.
05:41Through intuition, Sundarar's friend Cheraman Perumal rode a horse to the temple to meet his friend.
05:48Just when he reached the temple entrance, he witnessed the divine sight of Sundarar flying in the sky on the elephant.
05:56Thinking only of being with his friend, he pushed his horse and by the power of his devotion,
06:01his horse also flew and he followed his friend.
06:05They both reached Kailasam, the heavenly abode of Lord Shiva.
06:10Thus Sundarar attained the holy feet of his beloved Lord Shiva and resumed his life as Alala Sundarar.
06:17The Kodungallur temple, also known as Thiruvani Chikulam Shiva temple,
06:23is closely associated with the story of Sundarar and Cheraman Perumal,
06:27two of the 63 Nayanars, devotees of Shiva.
06:31Legend says they both attend salvation by ascending to Kailasam from this temple.
06:37The temple, built in the Kera architectural style,
06:41is believed to have been the capital of Cheraman Perumal,
06:44who was a close friend of Sundarar.
06:46To be continued...
06:48...
Comments