Chandeshvara Nayanar

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Chandesha or Chandeshvara is one of the sixty-three Nayanmars. His image and iconography generally depicts him as a boy, with entwined locks of hair; and he is shown standing with his hands in Anjalimudra. He also hold an axe in his arm. In the Shaiva temples of south India, his shrine is located to the north of the temple complex. He is depicted as deeply lost in meditation, and devotees snap their fingers or clap their hands to attract his attention. He is considered to be the guardian of the temple belongings and the devotees clap their hands to show that they are returning empty handed. It is also customary to leave even the sacred ash inside the temple itself.

[edit] Mythology

The legend states that he was born into a Brahmin family. When he was a young boy, he found that cows remain uncared for, and hence he himself commenced tendering and caring for the cows. While doing so, he would pour some milk on a lingam, which he made of sand. The news of this wastage of milk reached the ear of his father, Datta; and he himself came to the field to scold his son. Chandesha was deep in meditation in front of the sand lingam, and he did not see his father. The enraged father kicked the sand lingam. At this Chnadesha’s meditation was interrupted, and he struck his father’s leg with a staff. The staff turned into an axe and his father’s leg was severed. At this point, Shiva manifested himself, and blessed Chandesha, declared that he would become a father to Chandesha; and restored the severed leg of Datta to normal state.

[edit] References

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola