Nakkeerar to get penance from Lord Siva has sung a song praising him.

Nakkeerar to get penance from Lord Siva has sung a song praising him.


நக்கீரர் தான் பாடிய பாடல்களில் உள்ள பிழைகளைத் திருத்திக் கொண்டதோடு , தான் சிவனுக்கு செய்த அபசாரத்தை நினைத்து வருந்தி ஒரு பதிகத்தை பாடினார்.

Nakkeerar, a Tamil poet in 3rd century BC, during the Tamil sangam period. Nakkeerar composed more than hundred stanzas. I am now telling you about the “Thivya Prabhandam” which was sung by him praising Lord Siva at Madurai. This poetry is one among the forty stanzas in eleventh Thirumurai.


The Tiruvilaiyadal Puranam relates an incident involving Nakkeerar's confrontation with Lord Shiva. Once the Pandiyan king had a doubt as to whether the scent from a woman's hair was natural or artificial. He announced a price of 1000 gold coins for anyone who clears his doubt. A poor poet named Tharumi prayed to Lord Shiva to make him get the award. The Lord gave a poem to the poet and asked him to take it to the King. When this poem was read in the court, Poet Nakkeerar found fault with it and stopped the pandiyan king from giving the prize. Tharumi's grief grew and he again appealed to the Lord. He said he was not worried for not receiving the prize but he could not bear anyone finding fault with the Lord's poems.


Thereupon, Lord Shiva himself came to the court and challenged Nakkeerar. Suddenly the Lord opened the eye in his forehead (Netrikkan) which emitted fire and looked at Nakkeerar to show the poet who he was. Even then, Nakkeerar persisted in his statement. As he could not bear the scorching heat, emanating from the divine eye he jumped into the water of the Golden Lotus Tank. Then at the request of the other poets, the Lord took Nakkeerar out of the tank, forgave him and made him to study under 'Agasthiar', the Tamil Sage.


This poetry is one among the forty stanzas in eleventh Thirumurai. Nakkeerar for getting penance from Lord Siva in arguing with him sang this song praising him.


OM Namasivaayaaa..! OM Namasivaayaaa…!!