AANAAYA NAYANAR

Aanaaya Nayanar was a cowherd devotee. Aanaayan belonged to Cholamandalam’s Thirumagalam area in Tiruchy. He was born in a Vaishnava family of Konar (the cow-herding Ayar / Idaiyar community). He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Aanaayan showed his devotion by playing Panchakshara Mantra in his flute.

One day, when Aanaayan took his cows for grazing, he saw a Konrai tree and he felt that the konrai tree looked like Lord Shiva. He stood mesmerized for a second. He started praying to the tree as if he was praying to Lord Shiva and he started playing the Om Na Ma Si Va Ya in this flute.

Everything in bhoolokam and devalokam listened to his divine flute tune. The animals and birds came towards Aanaayan to listen to his flute tune. The ocean waves moved without making any noise. The wind blew very softly without disturbing the flute sound. Every element of the universe listened to his flute tune.

Aanaayan’s flute tune also reached the ears of Lord Shiva, who was at the Kailash Parvat. Lord Shiva was very pleased by the heart-felt Na Ma Si Va Ya flute tune. So, Lord Shiva asked Aanaayan to be always with him – the Mahadeva – and play his flute. That’s how Aanaayan became a Nayanar. Thus, Aanaayan became the dear devotee of Lord Shiva. This is the story of Aanaayan Nayanar.

At many places, Aanaayan Nayanar is described like Lord Krishna playing the flute, in the Venugopala form.

Lord Shiva does not see the caste or the status of his devotees. Lord Shiva is attracted towards the innocent, unconditional affection, selfless and whole-hearted devotion. We pray to Aanaayan Nayanar – the Shiva devotee from the cowherd community – in Shiva Temples as one of the 63 Nayanmars.