Om Namah ShivayaVetrivel Muruganukku AroharaHar Har Mahadev
Home / Nayanmars / Eripatha Nayanar
The axe-bearing zealot who avenged an insult to Shiva's flower offering.

எறிபத்த நாயனார்Eripatha Nayanar

Native placeKaruvur (Karur)
Associated templePasupatheeswarar Temple, Karur
Guru PujaMasi - Hastham
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The Life

Eripatha Nayanar of Karuvur (Karur) was a fiery devotee who carried a battle-axe and instantly punished any wrong done to Shiva or His servants. One day a rutting royal elephant scattered the flower-basket of Sivakami Andar, a devotee bringing blossoms for the daily worship. Enraged, Eripatha struck down the elephant, its mahouts and attendants with his axe. The king came out not in anger but ready to lay down his own life for the wrong his elephant had caused; and Sivakami Andar, grieving that men had died for his sake, moved to kill himself. Moved by such mutual devotion, Shiva restored the elephant and all the slain to life and revealed His grace, honouring Eripatha's uncompromising zeal for the Lord's service.