Saints. They perform (Vedic) Sacrifices with the three fires Karukapattiyam, ahavaniyam and takshinakkini. They were so very fortunate that Lord Nataraja counted himself as one among them. They were equal to themselves and their greatness we are at a loss to describe.
3. THIRUNILAKANTA NAYANAR
Thirunilakantar was born of Potter's caste in Chidambaram. Owing to excessive devotion he used to worship Siva by chanting the name Thirunilakantam. Hence he came to be known by the name Thirunilakantar. He used to offer free of cost Thiruvodu (begging bowl) to anyone devoted to Siva. One day he went to the house of a harlot and his wife knowing his infidelity sulkily said, “On the name of Thirunilakantam, please keep away from us”. On hearing this, he took a vow to keep away not only from her but also from all women and left off carnal pleasure. Many years passed by and he became old. Yet the couple did not desist from their devotion and service to the Saints. Lord Siva, in order to make every one informed of the pious conduct of the Saint came in the form of a Siva yogin and kept his begging bowl in the safe custody of the Saint and went away. The Saint kept it in his locker. After some days the Siva yogin came and asked the Saint to return his bowl. Alas! the Saint was astonished to see that the begging bowl was missing. He requested the Siva yogin to receive another new begging bowl. Siva yogin got wild and asked the Saint to take hold of the hand of his wife and dip themselves in the tank to prove that they had not deceived the Siva yogin. Both of them plunged into the tank and when they rose up, they rose up young regaining the lost youth. After living piously for some more time, they reached the feet of the Lord.
