The Story of Mangayarkarasi Nayanar

Mangayarkarasi Nayanar was a Chozha princess who married the Pandya king of Madurai, Nedumaran. Although her husband was a valiant ruler, he was a follower of Jainism, and under his influence, the Pandya kingdom had strayed from the path of Shaivism. Mangayarkarasi Nayanar, a woman of deep devotion to Shiva, was deeply troubled by this.

She patiently waited for an opportunity to correct her husband's course. Along with the devout prime minister, Kulachiraiyar, she secretly kept the light of Shaivism alive. The two of them prayed tirelessly for the redemption of their kingdom and their king. Their prayers were answered when they learned that the great young saint, Tirugnana Sambandhar, was in a nearby town. They sent a message to the saint, inviting him to Madurai.

Mangayarkarasi Nayanar's faith was put to the test when the Jains, angered by the saint's presence, set fire to his camp. Sambandhar, using his divine power, transferred the fire to the king's stomach, causing him immense pain. The queen and the minister were distressed, but they knew that only the saint could cure the king.

When Sambandhar was brought before the king, he applied sacred ash while chanting the holy five-letter mantra, and the king was instantly cured. This miraculous healing, along with the saint's victory in a subsequent debate with the Jains, led to the king's conversion to Shaivism.

Mangayarkarasi Nayanar was overjoyed. She had fulfilled her role as an ideal wife by patiently and lovingly guiding her husband and kingdom back to the right path. Her story is a testament to the power of a wife's patience, determination, and unwavering faith.