Sundaramoorthy Nayanar

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Sundaramurti Nayanmar, shortly known as Sundarar, was one of the four most prominent Nayanmars, and he probably lived in the 8th century.

[edit] Mythology

The legend stats that while the Sundarar was being married, the process was interrupted by Shiva. Shiva appeared disguised as an old ascetic and asked for Sundarar as his servant and follower. Subsequently, Sundarar moved around Tamil Nadu, visiting several temples. When he reached a place known as Tiruvarur (Thanjavar district, Tamil Nadu state, India), he fell in love with a girl named Paravai and married her. The legend continues to state that at Tiruvarur, he recited the names of all the sixty-three Nayanmars. This recitation is called Tiruttondar-Tokai. He continued wandering around the land of the Tamils; continued to sing devotional songs dedicated to Shiva; and performed several miracles.

[edit] The end

His fame reached the ears of Cheraman Perumal, the-then king of Kerala. The king came to Tiruvaur and met Sundarar. Both developed friendship, and embarked on a pilgrimage (tirtha). While moving from one place of pilgrimage place to another, Sundarar became tired of life, and prayed to Shiva to liberate him from the bondage of life. Shiva dispatched an elephant to carry him. The saint pleaded with Shiva to allow the king to follow him. While the saint Sundarar continued his journey upward to the heaven sitting on the elephant, the king followed him on his horse. Both are believed to have ascended to heaven.