Nandanar- The Saint for whom nandi moved.
Nandanar, one among 63 nayanmars was born in Aadhanur in pulaiyas sect and was considered untouchable as he was engaged in a vocation that made leather works out of cow skin. He was also working as a peasant in a landlords field.
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Whenever the temple needed kettledrum, he would go give leather to the temple management. Stand outside the temple and pray for hours. Sometimes he used to dance in ecstasy while praying to Lord shiva. He considered himself extremely fortunate to be of help to the Lord.
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Once he went to Thirupungur temple for giving leather and he wished to enter the temple and pray shiva. But he was only allowed till the Dwajasthambam (kodimaram) and was asked to pray from there. He happily entered the temple and stood near the Dwajasthambam to pray.
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He however could not see Lord Shiva from the Dwajasthambam as the Nandi in front of the Lord was covering the main deity. He couldn't go further inside as he was instructed to only pray from there. So he cried in despair. The Lord was pleased with Nandanar's devotion.
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Lord Shiva asked nandi to move so that Nandanar can have his darshan. The Nandi moved few inches so that Nandanar can pray Lord Shiva. Thus Nandanar had Lord Shiva's darshan. Till date the Nandi stands in the moved position. It is a testament to Nandanar's devotion.
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On another ocassion Nandanar had the desire to go to Chidambaram to see Lord Nataraja and pray. His landlord under whom he worked wouldn't allow him. Whenever he asked his landlord, he would tell that he can visit the temple the next day. 6/10

Everyday he used to ask his master's permission, everyday the master would tell him that he will permit him to go to Chidambaram the next day. This earned Nandanar the name "Thiru nalai povar" (The one who will go to Temple tomorrow).
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One day the master gave him the permission to go to Chidambaram temple if Nandanar ploughed 40 acres field by evening. Nandanar in a bid to go to Chidambaram started to plough the entire 40acre field when he fell unconscious due to the burning sun.
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By dusk when he got up the entire field was ploughed by Lord Shiva and ready. The master was shocked to see the field ploughed. He fell at his feet and permitted him to go to Chidambaram. Nandanar was again prevented to enter the temple unless he took bath in fire.
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Nandanar then thought it to be God's wish and entered fire and came out unscathed with lustrous sagely shine on his body. Everyone fell at his feet and apologised. Not minding them Nandanar went to have a darshan of Lord Nataraja and never returned. He became one with him.
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