It is said that Erai dwells in the heart. With continuous devotion comes compassion for others. With continuous devotion the heart mellows and melts. Expansion of the heart brings one to to do service and charity. The Nayanmars were such persons. As in the words of Venkatesananda, they were "great Bhaktas who loved to visit the temples and sing the glories of the Lord." They were "Para Bhaktas or supreme exemplars of the highest form of devotion." Several of the Nayanmars were renunciates having once ruled their own kingdoms.
The first meeting between a disciple and his guru has always captivated me. I published a few episodes of these wonderful moments in "The First Encounters with the Masters" at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zrx_4OZnF7ss8754vh6W6r5afD6P_Sew/view
The other aspect of the masters' lives that truly amazes me are the final moments before they emerge with Erai. We shall study some of these amazing episodes here, sourced from Sri Swami Sivananda's "Sixty three Nayanar Saints" published by The Divine Life Society, India.
1. Sundarar
The Lord, desiring to take Sundarar back to His Abode, commanded the celestials to bring him to Kailasa on a white elephant. He also informed Sundarar of this. Sundarar came out of the temple. The white elephant was waiting for him there. He mentally wished to take Cheraman Perumal also with him to Kailasa. Then he climbed the elephant and proceeded towards Kailasa.
In a Padigam he sang on this occasion, Sundarar himself reveals that this departure for Kailasa was not in his physical body, but in his spiritual body. The physical body was discarded here in this world itself, and the elements of which it was composed were returned to their sources.
It is amazing to note here that several centuries later Ramalinga Adigal too created a similar feat, not leaving any trace of his body, but instead just as the camphor when lit does not leave any trace or residue, the elements that composed Adigal's physical body were returned to theirs sources.
Cheraman learnt by intuition of Sundarar’s departure for Kailasa. At once, he mounted a horse and came to Tiru Anchaikalam. There he saw Sundarar going along the sky on the celestial elephant. At once Cheraman pronounced the Panchakshara in the ears of the horse. The horse flew up and reached Sundarar. Cheraman worshiped Sundarar there. Both of them went to Kailasa in their spiritual body.
At the Gate of Kailasa, Sundarar was allowed to enter, while Cheraman was not. Sundarar went into His presence and praised His mercy:
"Oh Ocean of Mercy, You have pardoned my sins and released me from the quagmire of Samsara. You have taken me back into Your fold, and bestowed on me the Immortal Bliss. How kind and merciful You are!"
He then informed the Lord that Cheraman was outside the Gate. To please His friend, Lord Siva sent His Mount, Nandikesvarar to bring Cheraman also in. The Lord asked Cheraman how he could come to Kailasa without His permission. Cheraman replied that when he saw Sundarar proceeding to Kailasa, he could not bear separation from him and so accompanied him. Now, by the good offices of Sundarar which earned for him the Lord’s grace he had been admitted into the Lord’s Abode. In these words, Cheraman expressed a very great truth: that even if the devotee is undeserving, if he is devoted to a saint (the Guru), he will also gain a place in the kingdom of God, through the intercession of the Guru.
Sundarar, as before, engaged himself in His service with all his heart and soul. Paravayar and Sangiliyar (his wives), being purged of their Karmas, also reached Kailasa. They resumed their original duty as the servants of Mother Parvathi.
2. Tiru Neelakanta Nayanar
Potter Neelakanta to prove that he had not stolen a bowl given to him for safe keeping by a Yogi, had to dip into the temple tank holding his wife's hand to prove his innocence. But Neelakanta had abstained from touching his wife after she had asked for it, many years earlier in their prime. Now the aged couple had to reveal their secret to all who had gathered on the banks of the tank. Holding on to the ends of a stick the couple take a dip in the water. Upon arising out of the water, they regain their youth to everybody's surprise.
The Siva Yogi disappeared from their midst and Lord Siva and Mother Parvathy appeared in the sky, blessing all of them. The Lord said:"Due to the merit of having lived a life of self-control and devotion, you will live in My Eternal Abode, forever youthful."
3. Iyarpahai Nayanar
The Lord, in the disguise of a Brahmin, with sacred ashes smeared all over his body, came to Nayanar’s house. He welcomed the Brahmin with great joy, as the very sight of the holy man thrilled the Nayanar. The Brahmin said:
"Oh noble soul, you are far famed for your charitable nature. Learning that none returns empty-handed from your house, I have come to you for a gift. I shall disclose it to you, if you promise to give what I want."
The Nayanar agreed readily "provided I have it with me."
The Brahmin at once revealed what he wanted:
"It is the gift of your wife."
Nayanar had no difficulty at all in granting this! The supreme devotee of the Lord that he was, he did not stoop to doubt the credentials of the Brahmin who, though he appeared to be a Siva Bhakta, had such an undesirable desire: such is the unquestioning nature of devotion. Nor would Nayanar hesitate to fulfill the Bhakta’s wish, on the plea that it involved unrighteousness: for, to him worship of the guest (Guest is God) was greater Law than all the moral codes.
Nayanar went inside the house and informed his wife of all that had happened. She was shocked at first, but quickly regained her composure. To a chaste wife, the husband is God, and whatever he commands is Law and Dharma. She readily agreed to follow the Brahmin-guest as his wife. Nayanar came out with his wife and asked the Brahmin to accept the gift. The Brahmin, however, feared the wrath of the wife’s relatives and asked Nayanar to accompany them till they were safely out of the town and out of danger. Nayanar agreed to do so and armed himself to protect the Brahmin. They then proceeded to go.
In the meantime the relatives of Nayanar’s wife came to know of the whole story and were furious. They followed the Nayanar and party and threatened the Brahmin with death, unless he abandoned his impious desire. The Brahmin pretended to be scared. Nayanar’s wife, however, assured him that Nayanar was capable of defeating them all. Nayanar was ready to fight them.
The relatives endeavored to convince Nayanar of the unrighteousness of the whole thing, and, when they found that they could not, they preferred to die at his hands, than submit to the shame.
Nayanar at once pounced upon them and chopped off their heads. All of them died and Nayanar, happy at the thought, that through the grace of Lord Siva, he had succeeded in keeping his vow of worshiping His devotee, proceeded further with the Brahmin and the wife. When they reached the temple of Tiruchaikadu, the Brahmin asked Nayanar to leave them and return. Nayanar prostrated to the Brahmin and turned his steps homeward.
As he had hardly proceeded a few yards on his homeward journey, the Brahmin again called Nayanar aloud. Thinking that there might have been another attack on the party, Nayanar hastened to where the Brahmin was: but, to his amazement, found that he had disappeared and that his wife was standing alone there. He searched here and there for the Brahmin, and was worried when he could not be found.
Lo and behold, Lord Siva and Mother Parvathy appeared in the sky and blessed Nayanar and his wife:
"Oh noble souls, I am immensely pleased with your devotion to My Bhaktas. Both of you will very soon reach My Abode."
With these words, the Lord disappeared. The Nayanar and his wife reached His Abode and rejoiced there. Nayanar’s relatives who died at his hands also attained the lotus feet of the Lord.