The Life
Tirunilanakka was a devout Shaiva Brahmin of Thiruchathamangai who daily worshipped Shiva at the Ayavantheeswarar temple. Once, as he circumambulated the Lord in worship, a spider fell upon the Lingam; his wife, unable to bear an impurity touching the Lord, instinctively blew it away with her breath. He rebuked her, for the sastras forbid breath falling upon the deity, and thought her act a fault. That night Shiva appeared in his dream and showed the mark of the spider's sting soothed at the very spot the wife had blown, revealing her act to be pure love. Humbled, Nilanakka honoured her devotion thereafter. Later, when Sambandar visited, he hosted the saint with great reverence. Serving the Lord faithfully, he attained Shiva's grace. His guru puja is in Vaikasi under Mulam.