INTRODUCTION
Sambandar also known as Thirugnana Sambandar was a great shaivite saint of Tamil Nadu who lived during 7th century AD.
He is one among the 63 Nayanmars. He also contributed some portions of verses in the holy text Tirumurai.
LIFE
Sambandar was born to a holy shaivite Brahmin family in Sirkazhi at Tamil Nadu. It is believed that while he was a child and was hungry at a shiva temple, Goddess Parvati appeared before him and given him milk. He told to his father, that he was being fed with milk by Mata Parvati and started singing beaitiful song Todudaya Seviyan, the first verse of the Tevaram, describing the greatness of Lord Shiva.
The song contains the details as follows:
1. The Holy God Shiva who wears a beautiful ring in his ears.
2. The Holy God who comes on the holy Bull, Lord Nandhideva.
3. The Holy God who wears the Marvellous Moon on his head.
4. The Holy God who applies the holy ash throughout in his body.
5. The Holy God who is my heart and I am always thinking about him.
After his upanayanam (Sacred Thread) ceremony, he has learned all the Vedas and other divine texts. Sambandar attained MUKTHI at his younger age itself. He cured the hunchback of The Pandyan King “Koon Pandiyan”, who had converted to Jainism, and made him again to embrace Shaivism.
IMPORTANCE
He was praised for his talents and bhakti on Lord Shiva. He contributed a lot towards the upliftment of the shaivites and spread the importance of shaivism sect across the state. He was well known for his divine works, and regarded as a sincere devotee of Lord Shiva. Though he lived a short life only for 16 years, he rendered a valuable service in the spiritual field. He had reduced the bad karmic deeds of the people by praying to Lord Shiva. Through his great spiritual power, he changed the bad ones into good ones. Through his good activities, many people were relieved from their sins and became ardent devotees of Lord Shiva. He will always be remembered for his sincere bhakti and kind approach with the people. He lived a holistic life and had done many good things for the entire universe. Sambandar cured the diseases and mental illness of several people by singing songs on Lord Shiva.
Let us worship the great nayanmar saint and be blessed.
“OM SREE THIRUGNANA SAMBANDARE NAMAHA”
“OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”
“OM SREE PARVATHI THAYE NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR
