Native placeThiruvottiyur (Chennai)
Associated templeThyagaraja (Adipureeswarar) Temple, Thiruvottiyur
Guru PujaAdi — Kettai (Jyeshtha)
In the sixty-threeNo. 44
The Life
Kaliya Nayanar was an oil-monger of Chakkarappadi street in Thiruvottiyur who devoted himself to lighting the lamps of Shiva's temple. As long as he had wealth he supplied oil abundantly for the sacred flames. But hard times reduced him to poverty until he could no longer even afford oil for a single lamp. Rather than let the Lord's lamp go dark, he resolved to feed it with his own body: taking a knife, he prepared to cut his own throat so that his blood might serve as oil for the wick. As he raised the blade, Shiva himself stayed his hand, appearing before him to accept his supreme love and to bless him. For his readiness to give his very life-blood for the Lord's lamp, Kaliya Nayanar attained Shiva's feet.
திருநீலகண்ட நாயனார்Thiruneelakanta Nayanar
the potter of Thillai who kept his vow of chastity
Chidambaram (Thillai)Read the life ›
தில்லைவாழ் அந்தணர்Thillai Vazh Andhanar
the three thousand Brahmins of Chidambaram
Thillai (Chidambaram)Read the life ›
இயற்பகை நாயனார்Iyarpagai Nayanar
the merchant who gave away his own wife at a devotee's word
Kaveripoompattinam (Puhar)Read the life ›