Page:The story of saiva saints.pdf/32

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There lived in Kalanthai a chieftain called Kootruvan. He vanquished many chieftains. He was blessed with all royal -ties pertaining to a king except the crown. He requested the Brahmins of Thillai to crown him as king. As he did not belong to the Chola dynasty, they refused to crown him. Further they kept the crown in the safe custody of one at Thillai and left for the Chera country. Kootruva Nayanar entreated the Lord, the Dancer at Thillai who crowned him with His Feet. With ecstatic joy, the Saint ruled his terrain adored the Lord in several shrines, effected repairs to the, temples and attained eternal bliss.

They are a group of scholars like Kapilar, Paranar etc. They were litterateurs well versed in all arts and sciences. They were skilled to compose four kinds of poetry viz. asu, mathuram, chiththíram and viththaram. They would compose verses only on the Feet of Lord Nataraja, and adore Him. Those that possessed such characteristics were known by the name Poy adimai illatha pulavar.

He was a Chola monarch ruling the Chola domain having Karur as his capital. One day one Sivakami Andar an ardent devotee of Siva was carrying flowers in a basket to the temple at Karur. The state elephant pulled out the flower basket