Om namaha Shivaya!

Om Shree Sainathaya Namaha! Blessed is he, in whom the Sadguru has infused devotion towards the supreme. For this is what the Sadguru/god wants. Though god is beyond name and form he takes form for the sake of his devotees. Though god is unattached, he is attached to the devotion of his devotees and craves for the same. I am a mere dullard, who neither knows nor understands completely the concept of surrender and devotion to the Sadguru, much less write about it. I however surrender my ego to the Sadguru, and beseech him to guide me like a mother guides a child and help me sing his glory and the most beloved characteristic of a devotee, which is devotion! By the Sadguru's grace, I will describe the life of a a great Shaiva (Devotee of Lord Shiva) saint called Kannappa Nayanar. The story is so powerful, it can infuse devotion into a person with the heart of stone. I pray to Lord Shambu Shankara whose incarnation is the Sadguru, to help me sing his glory and that of one of his foremost devotees.

His parents called him and pleaded him to return to their home but in vain! The hunter refused to budge from the vicinity of the Shiva temple. He said "My Shiva will be all alone here. I refuse to leave him alone!". This Sakhyatva (Divine friendship) that he had towards Lord Shiva, the lord of the universe was so incredible that it was beyond all bonds of Maya (Illusory powers of god). Only yesterday had the hunter come to this spot, in search of boar for feeding himself. However he was mesmerised by the lone Shiva temple located in the midst of the Jungle. So infused was he with devotion to Lord Vishweshwara (Lord of the universe), that he refused to leave the spot. He told those who accompanied him "Just as the Ganges flowed from his jata (locks) and liberated the ancestors of King Sagara, Shiva has now freed me from all worries. My only worry is to leave him alone here. That I will not do!" Thus did Tinnan, the son of the Chief of the hunters refuse to leave the desolate Shiva temple. With tears of happiness in his eyes, he stayed rooted to the spot and kept staring at the Shiva Lingam (The symbol of Lord Shiva, the closest thing that comes to describing his formless state).

From the hunted boar meat, he tasted and chose the best meat for his beloved Lord. His companions who had come to hunt with him said "But before offering the food to the lord, you must offer flowers and do abhishekam (Washing) of the Lingam with water. Tinnan agreed. He chose the best meat, then chose the best flowers from a place in the forest. However he was worried that the flowers might get crushed if he held them in his hands. Therefore he put all the flowers on his matted hair. Now his hand was full of meat and his hair full of flowers. Where and with what was he to carry water? However the simple and childlike devotion of Tinnan did not know the word "no". He filled his mouth with water at a nearby stream, and headed towards the temple of Shoolapaani (Holder of the migthy spear). There Tinnan washed the Lingam by the water from his mouth. Then he worshipped Girijapati (Consort of Parvati or Girija) with flowers. He then offered the meat to his Lord.

As Tinnan went out to hunt more meat for his Lord who was his friend, father, mother, his all in all, the orthodox priest in charge of worshipping the temple came inside. He was shocked by the presence of the meat in the temple. He cried out loud "Hey Shambo Shankara! Which uncouth and uncultured fellow has committed this sacrilege? Why did not Chandrashekara (The Lord with the moon on his locks) smote this vile barbarian with his third eye?" The priest set about cleaning the temple, and in his orthodox way, started the worship. He started chanting the rudra and chamaka with full vigor. He missed not a step in his ritualistic worship. As he went away, Tinnan came back and saw that the temple and the Linga was bereft of the meat and the flowers. He cried soulfully "My lord! You have accepted my offering of meat and flowers. I am happy that you ate! Please accept some more meat that I got today." So saying he continued with the ritual of the previous day, that is washing the Shivalingam with the water "thrown" from his mouth, worship with the flowers and the offering of the meat.

This continued almost every day. As Tinnan went out to hunt, the priest would enter, curse the entity who is causing this problem (The priest now suspected it must be some jackal or some animal which was eating it's food in the temple). This continued on and on.

Meanwhile Aparna (Mother Parvathi) the mother of the universe, noticed all this and wanted the true devotee among the two to be blessed by her Lord. She therefore asked Lord Gangadhara (He whose locks are the birthplace of the Ganges) "My lord, everyday the hunter Tinnan and the priest both worship you in their own unique ways. One is more ritualistic and clean and the other is unclean and does not know the right way of worship. Who amongst them is truly your great devotee? Who amongst them deserves a place in Kailasa (The abode of Lord Shiva) .

The supreme god of gods replied, "Uma, you are all knowing and you know who is my true devotee. However to make people aware of what I crave for which is true devotion, I will test the two of them. This test will guide devotees as to the right mode of devotion. You shall now see who my true devotee is!"

One day, the priest came to the temple, and continued his routine of cleaning the place before sitting down to worship the lord. Suddenly he noticed 2 eyes protruding out of the Shiva Lingam. Then to his extreme shock blood started gushing out of one of the eyelids. The priest tried to wash the idol, with clean water from his clean vessal. But try what he might, the flow of blood was not to stop! Worried and frightened at this , he said "Oh dear Lord! What terrible omen! I better flee!". So saying the priest fled the place.

After some time Tinnan came as usual and when he saw the strange sight, his heart melted. With tears in his eyes, he addressed the Shivalinga and said "Oh Lord, how you bleed from your eyes! You must be in great pain, wait I will apply herbs and cure your wound!". So saying he went out and brought some herbs, crushed them and applied them to the bleeding eye of the Shivalinga. However the flow of blood would not stop. Undeterred, Tinnan came to a terrible conclusion. He thought, "If I offer my eye to my Shiva, his eye will be all right". So saying, with least hesitation he cut open his eye, and offered it to the Shiva Linga. The eye stopped bleeding. Though in great pain, Tinnan was ecstatic to see that his Lord was all right, if only momentarily. For now, the other eye of the Shiva linga started bleeding. No sooner did Tinnan see this, he decided to cut off his other eye, however he was in a dilemma. Were he to cut his other eye too, how was he to locate the bleeding eye of his Lord? However when a dear one is in trouble, the answer "no" is hardly an option. Will the cow ever worry about how much distance she has to travel to seek her hungry calf and feed her? Thus Tinnan, placed his feet above the bleeding eye of the Lingam and was about to pluck out his other eye, when there was a flash of light and Mahadeva (The great god) appeared in front of Tinnan. Tinnan was overwhelmed by what he could see, and soon realized that he was able to glance at his beloved Lord with both his eyes. Lord Shiva told Tinnan "Oh beloved devotee of mine! Tinnan blessed are you! Your love for me is infinite, like the calf's love for it's mother! Many are there who have prayed to me for eyesight! You are the only one, who has offered his eyes to me! I who am pleased by a mere offering of Bilva leaves, am satisfied and most pleased by your infinite devotion". Lord Shiva continued "Come Kannapa (Eye-saint). This is no place for you, for you verily belong in my abode of Kailasa" .

Thus did Tinnan come to be called Kannappa, and bodily left the mortal world and became one with the god of gods, parabrahma Lord Shiva. Kannappa is one of the Nayanars or Shaiva saints who graced South India and infused the people with devotion towards the supreme.

Om Namaha Shivaya!

Shree Satchitananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj ki Jai!

Bow to Shree Sai! Peace be to all!