By Swami Sivananda
Kalikambar Nayanar was a Vaishya by caste and he lived in Pennagadam in the Chola kingdom. He was doing some service in the temple. He was very devoted to Siva bhaktas in whom he saw the Lord Himself. His wife, too, helped Kalikambar in all this.
One day, Kalikambar's former servant came to his house in the guise of a Siva bhakta. Kalikambar Nayanar, as usual, welcomed the Siva bhakta, washed his feet and worshipped him. But, his wife who recognized the former servant did not join. Kalikambar Nayanar understood her lack of devotion and cut off her hand! Kalikambar then continued his worship of the Siva bhakta. Practising this form of yoga sadhana, Kalikambar attained Lord Siva.
This saint has dramatically proved the great truth which Sage Narada has emphasized in his immortal work "Bakthi Sutras" — there is no distinction of caste, creed or status, among the devotees of God. True servitors of the Lord do not recognize such distinctions among themselves: and others, too, shall not entertain such distinctions. It is blasphemy against God because Siva's devotees have become one with Him. Siva bhataks are all manifestations of Divinity. Whatever might have been their past life, caste or faith, they have now become divine and hence, such distinctions have no meaning.
References:
Sekkilaar, and G. Vanmikanathan. Periya Puranam — A Tamil Classic On The Great Saiva Saints of South India. Ed. Dr. N. Mahalingam. Chennai: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 2000.
Sivananda, Swami. Sixty-Three Nayanar Saints. World Wide Web edition. India: Divine Life Society, 1999.
See Also:
Print this page