The Nayanars (or Nayanmars) were a group of 63 Tamil Hindu saints who were devoted to Lord Shiva. Their lives and hymns, composed between the 6th and 8th centuries CE, were instrumental in the Bhakti movement in Southern India. The collection of their hymns is known as the Tirumurai, which is a vital part of Tamil Shaiva literature.
The Nayanars came from a wide variety of social backgrounds and castes, demonstrating that devotion to Shiva transcends social status. The list of 63 Nayanars was compiled by the saint Sundarar in his work Tiruthonda Thogai, and later elaborated upon by Sekkizhar in the Periya Puranam.
Here is a list of the 63 Nayanars, a group of the most famous Lord Shiva devotees from the Southern part of India.
The 63 Nayanars List
- Tiru Neelakanta Nayanar
- Iyarpahai Nayanar
- Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar
- Maiporul Nayanar
- Viralminda Nayanar
- Amaraneedi Nayanar
- Eripatha Nayanar
- Enadinatha Nayanar
- Kannappa Nayanar
- Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar
- Manakanchara Nayanar
- Arivattaya Nayanar
- Anaya Nayanar
- Murthi Nayanar
- Muruga Nayanar
- Rudra Pasupathi Nayanar
- Thirunalai Povar Nayanar (Nandanar)
- Thirukkurippu Thonda Nayanar
- Chandesvara Nayanar
- Tiru-Navukkarasar Nayanar (Appar)
- Kulacchirai Nayanar
- Perumizhalai Kurumba Nayanar
- Karaikal Ammaiyar
- Appuddi Nayanar
- Tiruneelanakka Nayanar
- Naminandi Adigal
- Tiru Gnana Sambandar
- Eyarkon Kalikama Nayanar
- Tirumula Nayanar
- Dandi Adigal Nayanar
- Murkha Nayanar
- Somasira Nayanar
- Sakkiya Nayanar
- Sirappuli Nayanar
- Siruthonda Nayanar
- Cheraman Perumal Nayanar
- Gananatha Nayanar
- Kootruva Nayanar
- Pugal Chola Nayanar
- Narasinga Muniyaraiyar
- Adipattha Nayanar
- Kalikamba Nayanar
- Kalia Nayanar
- Satti Nayanar
- Aiyadigal Kadavarkon Nayanar
- Kanampulla Nayanar
- Kari Nayanar
- Ninra Seer Nedumara Nayanar
- Mangayarkkarasiyar
- Vayilar Nayanar
- Munaiyaduvar Nayanar
- Kazharsinga Nayanar
- Seruthunai Nayanar
- Idangazhi Nayanar
- Pugazh Thunai Nayanar
- Kotpuli Nayanar
- Pusalar Nayanar
- Nesa Nayanar
- Kochengat Chola Nayanar
- Tiru Neelakanta Yazhpanar
- Sadaya Nayanar (father of Sundarar)
- Isaijnaniyar (mother of Sundarar)
- Sundaramurthi Nayanar (Sundarar)
Famous and Prominent Nayanars
While all 63 Nayanars are revered, a few are particularly well-known for their profound devotion and inspiring stories:
- Tiru Gnana Sambandar, Tiru-Navukkarasar (Appar), and Sundaramurthi Nayanar (Sundarar): Known as “The Trio” or “The Nalvar” (The Four) along with Manikkavasagar, their hymns form the most significant part of the Tevaram. Their songs and travels revitalized Shaivism and are still a central part of temple worship in Tamil Nadu.
- Kannappa Nayanar: A hunter who, in a display of intense devotion, offered his own eye to the Shiva Lingam when he saw it bleeding. He was about to pluck out his second eye when Shiva appeared and stopped him, impressed by his unwavering faith.
- Karaikal Ammaiyar: One of the three female Nayanars, she is one of the earliest known female poets in Tamil literature. Her ascetic devotion led her to renounce her earthly form and embrace a skeletal one to fully dedicate herself to Shiva.
- Manikkavasagar: Though not traditionally counted among the 63 Nayanars, he is considered one of the most important Saiva saints and is often included with the “Nalvar” due to his devotional masterpiece, the Tiruvasagam.