NAYANMARS THE PIONEERS OF BHAKTHI MOVEMENT

Nayanmars are 63 in number who composed poems on Lord Shiva.These saint poets lived in 6th to 8th century.These poets influenced the Bhakthi movement in TamilNadu when Jainism was at it's peak.With the advent of Nayanmars of saivism and the Alwars of vaishnuism ,Hinduism was saved from Jainism when it was on the verge of extinction.Sundarar's Thiruthondarthogai was the first poem which streamlined the names of the Nayanmars.
Among the nayanmars Sundarar was the friend to Lord Shiva who took liberty to ask and demand anything as a friend.During his marriage ceremony lord Himself came in the guise of an old man and made him to realize the purpose of his birth.Only for 18 years he lived in this earth.The youngest among the Nayanmars is Thirugnasambandar who was fortunate to be fed with milk by Umadevi Herself who is Shiva's consort. His life span was only 16 years and he was the youngest among the Nayanmars. Thirunaukarasar who was otherwise known as Appar was the eldest and lived for 81 years in this world and did uzavarapani that is cleaning the temples.When he was not able to ascend the Kailashmountain , theLord took pity on him and showed the Dharshan of Kailash at Thiruvarur. Manickavasagar  who was minister by profession, is considered as Lord Shiva himself.But he was not in Nayanmars 's list.Appar,sambandar ,sundarar,Manickavasagar are called Samaiyakuravar and their composition is known as Devaram.All nayanmars statue are seen in the standing position except Karaikal ammaiyar who had the priveledge to be called as Ammaiye by Shiva.She is the only one seen in the sitting position.
These Nayanmars are the pillar stone of Hinduism who retreived Hinduism from the brink of extinction and saved Hinduism from the clutches
 of jainism. Sundarer who was drawn by God Himself to enter into the service of God was the first person from whose work Thiruthandar thogai we learn about the Nayanmars.He list out the names of the Nayanmars and about them in short.
Nambiandar Nambi expanded the list and included Sundarar and his parents, and named it as Thirumurai.
The first seven books are called Devaram.Thiruvasagam written by Appar ,GnanaSambandar,Sundarer, and Manickavagar and Thirukovaiyar as the eighth book.Twenty eighth hymns written by nine other saints as ninth book.Thirumanthiram written by Thirumoolar as the tenth book.Eleventh book is thiruthondar andadhi comprises with eighty nine verses devoted each verse to each of the saint, forming a necklace on the Lord's servants.
In 12th century Sekkizhar , the chief minister of Anabhaya Kulothunga cholan , saw his king  indulged in the language beauty and the love story of jeevagachinthamani a jain epic, wanted to divert his king towards the Hindu Bhakthi cult.He started to tell the greatness of Nayanmars in his work Periapuranam. For that he visited many birth  places of Nayanmars ,saw the inscriptions to ascertain the authencity of the Nayanmar's history.Lastly he came to Thillai(Chidambaram) and stayed there for a year ,consolidated his work and prayed Nataraja to give him the first line to his work.Pleased with his prayer God himself gave the first line as Ulagelam unarnthotharkariyavan.
An Epic must contain worldly nature,lifescience,and Bhakthi.Periapuranam gives all these three.It contains 4253 poems and is translated in many languages included Sanskrit,and Russian languages.
Such a great work must be read and enjoy the greatness of Nayanmars.These lives of Nayanmars guides us to follow their path and paves the path for our salvation.Not only that if we follow the righteous path and surrender our life towards the service of God, surely His gracious look will  fall on you and in the time of adversity his compassionate hand will hold you to stand firm with out falling down.He could not see the sufferings of his devotees.He is compassion incoranate.