The Story of Ilaiyankudimaranar

In the town of Ilaiyankudi, there lived a wealthy farmer named Ilaiyankudimaranar. He had a kind and generous heart, and his greatest joy was serving those who worshiped the god Shiva. He would welcome them into his home, clean their feet, and offer them a delicious meal, no matter what it took.

To test his devotion, Shiva caused him to lose all his wealth. Even when his money ran out, Ilaiyankudimaranar’s generosity didn't stop. He sold his belongings and borrowed money just to keep serving devotees.

One dark, rainy night, a devotee of Shiva came to his door. Though Ilaiyankudimaranar and his wife had no food for themselves, they welcomed the guest. They were determined to feed him, but since it was so late, they couldn't go out and buy anything. His wife suggested they go to their farm and get the rice seeds they had sown that very afternoon. These seeds were meant for the next crop, not for eating, but Ilaiyankudimaranar was happy to do it for a guest.

In the pouring rain and darkness, Ilaiyankudimaranar went to his field. He felt his way through the mud, gathering the seeds that had been washed to the edges by the rain. He rushed home, and his wife washed the mud off the seeds. But now they had no firewood. He then took an old wooden beam from his own house and used it to cook the rice. His wife was worried about what they would serve with the rice, so Ilaiyankudimaranar went back out into the rain and pulled up some spinach plants from the field.

After his wife cooked the spinach, they went to wake their guest. But when they approached him, he transformed into a bright flame of light. Shiva and his consort Parvati appeared, riding a sacred bull. Shiva praised the couple's extraordinary devotion and told them they would come to his divine world to live in eternal happiness, served by the god of wealth himself. The story of Ilaiyankudimaranar is a testament to the idea that true generosity is not limited by a lack of resources.