YENATHINATHAR NAYANAR
INTRODUCTION
Yenathinathar was a Nayanar saint and a great shiva bhakta and considered as one among the 63 Nayanars.
LIFE
Yenathinathar was born in Kumbakonam of Tamil Nadu. He was a brave and a good swordsman and served as an army general in the Chola kingdom. He was a rich person and provided food to the poor and to the devotees of Lord Shiva.
Atisuran also a swordsman became jealous of Yenathinathar brilliance in handling weapons and was defeated by Yenathinathar in competition. He took revenge on Yenathinathar and made a plan to kill him.
One day morning, Atisuran invited Yenathinathar to a place for competition. Atisuran applied sacred ash all over his body and appeared in front of Yenathinathar. Yenathinathar does not want to fight with him, since he applied the sacred ash in his body, and decided to die. He was attacked by Atisuran and fell down on the ground. Lord Shiva appeared before him and granted him SALVATION.
Sundarar praises Yenathinathar in the Tiruthonda Thogai and mentions his sincere shiva bhakti.
Yenathinathar is worshipped in the Tamil month of Purattasi, and also worshipped as a nayanmar along with other nayanmars in the shiva temples.
IMPORTANCE
He was an ardent devotee of Lord shiva and took his daily food only after offering naivedyam (Holy Prasad) to Lord Shiva in the temples. He also provided food, clothing and shelter to the poor and to the devotees of Lord Shiva. He had spent his major portion of income towards doing service to Lord Shiva in the temples and also to his devotees. He also performed regular pujas and abhishekhams to Lord Shiva in the temples.
Let us worship the great nayanar saint and be blessed.
“OM SREE YENATHINATHA NAYANARE NAMAHA”
“OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”
“OM SAKTHI PARASAKTHI”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR