The Galaxy of Devotees

The history of Hinduism is divided into periods of development. It is said the first period was the Historical Vedic Religion dated from about 1750 BCE. The consequent period, between 800 BCE and 200 BCE, is "a turning point of the Vedic religion. The Epic and Early Puranic period, from c. 200 BCE to 500 CE, saw the classical "Golden Age" of Hinduism, In this period the six branches of philosophy developed namely Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, and Vedanta. Saivism and Vaishnavism developed during this same period through the Bhakthi movement. Bhakti movement was influenced by Pauranic Hinduism and Adi Shankara's Advaita Vedanta marks a shift from real to Ideal Thought.

The Bhakti movement saw a rapid growth of the beginning from Tamil Nadu with the Nayanars (4th to 10th centuries CE) and the Alvars (3rd to 9th centuries CE) who spread bhakthi in poetic qualities of devotion throughout India by the 12th to 18th centuries CE. In this respect south India has produced many such the great souls who have helped to maintain the eternal truth or Sanadhana dharma. Particularly the Nayanars. They belong to the class of nobleness. Who are established unshakably the truth of devotion. They did not do any grandeur puja of spending immense of money, very simple singing praise on the Lord and kind attitude and capable service towards Lord Siva devotees and tight principle. They did not pray god neither for their favor nor for realization they asked god only the place in the galaxy of devotees.

This story is from Siva puranam;-

Enathinathar was born in Eyinanur, in Chola kingdom. Eyinanur is located on the banks of river Arisol, south-east of Kumbakonam. He was from Chanar (Nadar) caste. A brilliant swordsman and a general in the Chola military, he was also the tutor to the Chola princes in swordsmanship. He was a ardent devotee of Lord Siva . He became rich outstanding to his superior skill and spent his wealth on serving the Lord Siva devotees.

There were an another fighter and tutor named Adhisuran lived in the same place. He was very jealous with Enathinathar and his popularity. One day Adhisuran boasted his superior military skills and came with his best students and relatives challenged Enanthinathar; the bet was the winner would continue to run his training school. Otherwise close the school. Enathinathar accepted the challenge. So he charged his students on the opponents on his leadership But Adhisurans troops was loosing and at lost Enadhinathar won the challenge and Adhisuran cowardly escaped from the battle ground. In an another occasion Adhisuran invited Enathinathar to a duel in a private place. Enathinathar accepted and reached the spot with his sword and shield. Coward Adhisuran wore the Tripundram mark (Viboothi) on his forehead, but hid his forehead with his shield as he arrived at the plotted spot. Enathinathar pounced like a lion on the fox like Adhisuran, the fraud challenger removed his shield and revealed the Tripundaram on his forehead. Ekanathar saw tripundaram on his forehead and he stunned and thought that “O Siva Siva Adhisuran had converted to Saivism and became a devotee of Siva. I should not fight with him, Instead of kill a Saiva, best to die”. However, he did not lay down his weapons as he did not want Adisuran the "Saiva" to incur the sin of killing an unarmed man. Enathinathar stood-still in a fighting posture. As he thought Adisuran pierced his stomach deeply with his sword and Enathinathar fell on the ground, Lord Siva pleased with Enathinater extreme "self-sacrificing" devotion and appeared in front of him and took him to Kailasa, Siva's abode.

Message:

All these sixty three saints were ascetics but not of the usual order. What these saints vacated was not kith and kin or their villages or houses or their occupations. They gave up anger, theft,violence, pride, hurting others, attachment,and desires, they are ascetics but externally they look normal like others but they practiced the truth, nonviolence, deep devotion, fixed their mind with almighty of Lord Siva, all the time with tripundaram on their forehead, unshakable life time principle. They have seen Lord in them self not only them with all and every thing. The activities of these devotees deffer, but one thing is common there intense love for the Lord. They followed different ways of praying the god and led different kinds of life styles. But their aim was the unique. If one say Brahmacharyam the prime example is Sundeser, grahastsram Thiruneelakandar, Vanaprastham Ayadigal , sanyasam Thirumoolar. Some of them are highly learned, some of them are kings, some have not learned any scriptures,or an ancestors lineage yet all are excelled in their own way fixed mind devotion on Lord Siva. The service may unimaginative like throwing a stone on the Sivalingam every day but lord accepted as fragrant flower. All they did whole hearty with intense love on god and determination, principle of their own way. They are the prime examples to us to learn what is devotion and how to the supreme alone can liberate the human being from the coils of sin. By the purity of their love, faith,and firm will to attain the object on their devotion like gopies of brindhavanam did to Lord Sri Krishna. How we understand the stories of these saints depends on the mind set of the reader. Yet If one follow with devotion these stories will help to elevate our own degree.

“Ullam perunkoyil oon udambu aalayam vallar perumanukku vai gopuravasal” thellattendharkku jeevan sivalingam kallappulan ayndhum kala manivilake”(Thirumoolar)

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