Murthi Nayanar is one of the 63
nayanars explained in the
Periya Puranam. He was a Vaisya by caste and born in Madurai of
Pandya kingdom. Murthi Nayanar was a great devotee of
Lord Shiva and he used to paste Shiva Lingam with sandalwood.
Once Karnataka King defeated Pandya King in the battle and invaded the Pandya Kingdom. As a follower of
Jainism he began to exterminate Shaivism and to spread Jainism. The shaivits were persecuted by the King. Later it become difficult to obtain sandalwood from Madurai. Nayanar disappointed very much and prayed the Lord for a Shivite King. As it is difficult to obtain sandalwood he went to temple and started rubbing his elbow in the place of sandalwood. The hand was bleeding and the Lord pleased with his intense devotion. Lord told Nayanar to stop rubbing hand and his elbow regained its original shape. The God asked him to take reins of Kingdom and rule the country justly and wisely for a long time.
As the wish of God the King died. According ancient custom, Ministers sent the palace elephant to choose new King. The elephant selected Murthi Nayanar and he became the King.
[Source (7) 01-June-2005]
