Kannappa Nayanar

Kannappa Nayanar is a staunch Shiva devotee. His life story in Periya Puranam explains how an adversent hunter changed his life in the devotional feeling of Lord Shiva. Kannappa Nayanar was born in the village called Uduppur, the kingdom of Pothappinadu. Nayanar actually known as Thinnanar was born the hunter king named Nagan. Nagan had no children for a long period of time. He had been an atheist and later he came to know that by praying god he will get a child. He prayed Lord Muruga and he got his son Thinnanar. As Nagan became old, he handed over his leadership position to his son. Thinnanar with his correlates went for their first hunt. On the way they got stuck with a pig which escaped from their hands. Thinnanar with his two of his men Nanan and Kadan went behind the pig. It went behind a tree near Lord Shiva in the Kalahasti hill. They killed it and Thinnanar wanted Nagan to cook the pig as they came too far from their men. Nanan told there was a river ponmukali on the other side of the forest. So Nanan and Thinnanar started to fetch water. On the way they saw the hill of Lord Shiva and Nanan wanted to pray. On climbing the hill Thinnanar's heart filled with love and affection for the Lord. He felt very sorry to see his Lord alone in the wild hill. He wanted to do puja, wanted to feed him with flesh and wanted to water to shower. So he went back to Kadan and brought the good portion of the cooked pig's flesh after tasting them, took water in his mouth and flowers in his hair. He offered this to his Lord. And he accompanied Lord in the night so that his Lord can sleep without the fear of wild animals. Again in the morning he used to go in search of food for his Lord. Seeing his drastic change his friends planned to inform this to his father Nagan. Every day morning Shivakochariyar another Shiva devotee used to visit this hill for the healing herb. When he saw the unholy materials in front of the Lord he felt very bad and he cleaned them, did the puja as usual and went. By evening Thinnanar did he style of worship. This continued for many days. One day Shivakochariyar wanted to check this and so he waited in the hill itself. Seeing Thinnanar's dedicated prayer Shivakochariyar prayed God to find a solution. Lord appeared in his dreams and said his devotional offerings are much beyond the reach of other devas. In order to prove this, Lord made one of his eyes to bleed, Thinnanar felt unusual that day and he went to the Lord. Seeing the bleeding he tried to heal it but of no use so he plucked one of his eyes with a sharp arrow and placed it. The bleeding stopped and the next eye started bleeding. He started to pluck his second eye also, but after plucking as he could not keep his eye in postion he kept his leg on the eye. Seeing his devotion, Lord appeared and offered him blessings.