Page:The story of saiva saints.pdf/23

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26. APPOOTHI ADIGAL

Appoothi Adigal was a Brahmin Saint who lived in Thingalur. He called every one of his belongings by the name Thirunavukkarasar. He conducted a water pandal which also he named after Thirunavukkarasar. One day while Thirunavuk karasar, during his pilgrimage, passed by Thingalur, he saw the water pandal and came to know about the fidelity of Appoothi Adigal. He went to Appoothi Adigal's house. Appoothi was much pleased to welcome Thirunavukkarasar and requested him to dine in his house. All dishes were prepared. The eldest son of Appoothi, mooththa Thirunavkkarasu by name, went to the back yard to fetch a plantain leaf and while cutting it, he was stung by a cobra and dead. Without informing Thiru navukkarasar of the death of the boy, Appoothi invited him for dinner. Thirunavukkarasar came to know of the sorrowful incident, got the corpse, sang impromptu a decad beginning with 'ONRUKOLAM' and made the dead come back to life. The dinner was over. Thirunavukkarasar then visited the Siva shirne at Thiruppazhanam and while improvising a decad sang in praise of Appoothi in one of the stanzas. Appoothi Adigal obtained eternal bliss by chanting the name of Thiru navukkarasar.

27. THIRUNEELANAKKA NAYANAR

In Saththa mangai there lived a Brahmin Saint Thiru Neelanakkar by name. In the temple called Ayavanthi, a spider fell on Siva Linga and the wife of Thiruneelanakkar blew air by her mouth and spit on the spot. Without understanding the purport of her action, the Saint considered it to be an offence and transgression and excommunicated her. Lord Siva came in his dream and showed him pimples in the places where she had not spit. The Saint changed his mind and took her back. Once Thirugnana Sambanthar was his guest. Thiru Neelakanta yazhppanar and his wife