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Home / Nayanmars / Dandi Adigal Nayanar
The blind devotee of Thiruvarur whose faith restored his sight

தண்டியடிகள் நாயனார்Dandi Adigal Nayanar

Native placeThiruvarur
Associated templeThyagaraja temple (Kamalalayam tank), Thiruvarur
Guru PujaPanguni (Chathayam / Shatabhisha)
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The Life

Born blind in the sacred city of Thiruvarur, Dandi Adigal lived by begging yet longed to serve the Lord of the Thyagaraja temple. He resolved to widen and deepen the temple's great tank, Kamalalayam, guiding himself with staked cords and carrying away the earth though he could not see. Jains whose dwellings adjoined the tank mocked and obstructed him, filling back the earth he removed and taunting that a blind man was needlessly killing creatures in the mud. Grieved, Dandi appealed to the king, staking his very eyes on the truth of Shiva. He entered the tank chanting the Panchakshara; when he emerged his sight was restored, while the scoffing Jains were struck blind. The king banished them and honoured the saint, whose faith had triumphed.