The Story of Thirumoola Nayanar

A great yogi and disciple of Nandi on Mount Kailash, was traveling through India on a pilgrimage. He had visited many sacred places and was making his way to the Podigai Hills. As he walked, he came across a herd of cows crying in distress. Their cowherd, a man named Mulan from the village of Satanur, had died, and the cows were grieving for him.

The compassionate yogi, seeing the cows' sorrow, decided to help. Using his yogic powers, he placed his own body in a secure spot and transferred his soul into Mulan's body. The cows, sensing their master was alive again, were overjoyed and began grazing happily.

When the sun set, the yogi, now in Mulan's body, led the cows back to Satanur. Mulan's wife was confused when he didn't enter the house. She approached him, but he refused to acknowledge her, telling her there was no relationship between them. The villagers, seeing his strange behavior, realized he was not the Mulan they knew but a great spiritual master who had entered his body.

The next morning, the yogi went back to the place where he had left his original body, but it was gone. Through his divine vision, he understood that Shiva had arranged for this to happen so that he could remain in the Tamil lands and share the wisdom of the Shaiva Agamas.

Accepting his new purpose, he went to the temple at Tiruvavuduturai and sat under a pipal tree. For three thousand years, he remained in a state of deep meditation, and each year he composed one verse of a holy text called the Tirumandiram. This sacred work, which means "Holy Mantra," contains three thousand verses and is a profound guide to Shaiva philosophy and yoga.

After completing his mission, he was united with Shiva, leaving behind a legacy of divine wisdom and compassion. His story is a powerful example of a yogi who sacrificed his own life and identity to help others and fulfill a divine purpose.