Meevy

Once there lived a man called Nandhanar. He came from the most backward caste. He was an untouchable.

In those days there was slavery. Nandhanar was a slave to a rich man. Nandhanar worked all day for his master.

Nandhanar was very much devoted to God Shiva. The holy day of Arudra was nearing. Nandhanar wanted to visit Chidambaram, where the God presides in the form of Nataraja.

Nandhanar requested his master to grant him a day’s leave so that he could witness the “Arudra Darisanam” of his beloved God Shiva.

His master was not in a mood to listen to Nandhanar. He asked Nandhanar to finish his duties and then leave. But the job was never ending. Nandhanar became very tired. He prayed to the almighty and fainted.

Shiva seeing his child’s wish came in disguise and finished all the jobs that Nandhanar has to do. After Nandhanar opened his eyes, he found all the work done. He was happy that he can go to the temple.

Nandhanar reached the Chidambaram Nataraja temple. The Chidambaram temple is a very big temple, famous for sculptors and traditional values. Since Nandhanar was an untouchable and he came from a low caste, he couldn’t enter the temple. In those days the untouchables were to see the God from outside the temple only. They were not allowed to enter inside the temple premises.

There was a large Nandhi which stood in front of the Nataraja statue and the Nandhi was completely hiding the statue. So Nandhanar couldn’t see Shiva.

Nandhanar said to himself that though he came to the temple entrance he couldn’t see the God. He prayed to Siva to show mercy on him.

Shiva on seeing his devotee’s anguish told Nandhi to move a bit so that Nandhanar could have a dharshan of Him. Immediately the Nandhi statue moved a bit. Nandhanar had the holy darshan and he went happily. Even today we can see the Nandhi statue in Chidambaram Nataraja temple in a displaced position.

On the same night Shiva appeared before the temple priests and asked them to bring Nandhanar inside the temple with poorna Kumbam (full respects like a king). So all the priests went to Nandhanar. They were very much surprised soon after they came to know the fact that Nandhanar belonged to lower caste. But since Shiva himself asked them to bring Nandhanar inside the temple, they blindly brought him with full respect inside the temple.

Nandhanar was happy to see his god in the closest possible position. He sang hymns on Lord Shiva. Then the soul of Nandhanar reached the foot of the God. People could see a small light getting out of Nandhanar’s body and it joined the Nataraja statue and disappeared.

This is the story of Nandhanar. This has happened in real. Nandhanar is considered one among the 63 Nayanmar saints who sang in praise of Lord Shiva.

Thus, there is no caste creed and religion among human beings in this world. Everyone is equal in front of God.