The Life
Arivattaya Nayanar, originally named Thayanar, was a prosperous farmer of Kanamangalam on the fertile banks of the Cauvery. Each day he offered Lord Shiva fine red rice, cooked greens and tender mango. As a divine test his wealth dwindled until he became a mere harvest labourer, yet he never ceased his offerings, earning paddy by his toil to keep serving the Lord. One day, faint with hunger and fatigue, he stumbled while carrying the food to the temple, and the offering spilled into a crack in the earth. Anguished at having nothing to give, he drew his scythe (arivaal) to cut his own throat. At once Shiva's hand rose from the ground to stay him, and the Lord appeared upon his bull to bless Thayanar and his wife. From the scythe he took his name, Arivattaya, and joined the Arupathimoovar.