The Life
Naminandi Adigal was a Brahmin of Emapperur who came to Thiruvarur to serve at the Araneri shrine of Shiva, lighting the temple lamps. When he sought ghee for the lamps, the Jains of the quarter mockingly refused, taunting that he should light them with water. Undaunted, in pure faith he drew water from the temple tank and poured it into the lamps — and by Shiva's grace they blazed brightly through the night, humbling the scoffers. Later, after a great festival in which people of every caste had bathed and worshipped, he hesitated to approach the shrine, feeling ritually impure; Shiva appeared in his dream and revealed that all the residents of Thiruvarur were his own ganas (attendants) and could never defile a devotee. Thus instructed, he served without discrimination and attained the Lord's feet.