Nakkeerar

Nakkeerar

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Nakkeerar Profile

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Nakkeerar Biography

Nakkeerar was a medieval Tamil poet from Madurai. Tirumurukarruppatai and Iraiyanar Akapporul are his most noted works. He is one of the prominent characters in the epic Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam. Though there is no clear evidence of his date of birth or period of life, it’s widely believed that he lived in 9th century. He must not to be confused with an earlier Nakkirar who lived in 250 AD. His hymn Tirumurukarruppatai praises Thiruparankundram, a famous shrine to Lord Murugan.

 

Nakkeerar was born in a family of chank-cutters. As per popular believes he lived during the Sangam period. According to historians and scholars, the hero of the epic PandiKovai was the Pandyan king Nedumaran who lived between 675 and 750 AD. This led to the conclusion that Nakkeerar lived in the 8th or 9th century. Nakkeerar is the author of an epic titled Sriharnipuram. He wrote this epic under the command of Kulachirai Nayanar, the Prime Minister of the Pandya king Gunapandiyan.

 

He is one of the prominent characters in the epic Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam and Thiruvilaiyadal episodes of Sundareswarer's confrontation with Nakkeerar has become a part of Tamil culture and tradition. This important episode of Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam is a significant part of Meenakshi Sundareswarer Temple festival traditions in Madurai. It’s believed that Nakkeerar challenged Lord Siva for one of his wrong judgments and in anger Lord Siva opened his third eye to kill him.

 

The popular myth goes like this. The incident revolves around old Pandiyan King and kingdom. Pandiyan king had a doubt if woman’s hair has perfume or not. He announced a prize of 1000 gold coins for anyone to resolve his doubt. A poor poet named Tharumi prayed to Lord Siva to get him this reward. In return Lord Siva gave him a piece of poem and asked him to read it to King. But in the court, when Nakkeerar challenged it, seeing the gift given to poor poet, Lord Siva reached there. Even when Siva opened his third eye in anger, Nakkeerar persisted in his statement. To escape from heat, he jumped into the water of the Golden Lotus Tank. Siva later forgave him and made him stay under 'Agasthiar', the Tamil Sage. It’s the popular myth.

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Updated: January 31, 2014

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