There have been many devotees of Lord Shiva all over the world, but among them there are some whose names can never be forgotten even today. One such name is Saint Sundaramurti Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmar saints of the Tamil bhakti tradition, who is also known as Sundarar. He is not just a devotee of Shiva but a radiant star of devotion, who considered Lord Shiva not only his master but also his friend. His devotion contains both the sentiment of servitude and the sentiment of friendship. This is such a unique relationship in which the devotee sometimes becomes upset with his God, sometimes persuades Him, and ultimately merges into Him.
The episode of Sundaramurti Nayanar described in the Shiv Mahapuran:
One of the stories of the Shiv Mahapuran says that Sundaramurti Nayanar was born in a Brahmin family. His previous birth is considered to be as one of Shiva’s attendants, and his descent on earth was a part of Shiva’s special plan. According to the story, when his marriage was about to take place, an old Brahmin came there and presented a document in which it was written that Sundaramurti was his servant. This dispute reached the temple. At that very moment Lord Shiva Himself appeared in the form of that old Brahmin and took Sundaramurti along with Him. From that moment Sundaramurti understood that he belonged only to Shiva. Then he realized that Shiva was his master, his friend, his beloved — everything.
The compositions of Sundaramurti Nayanar:
Sundaramurti Nayanar composed many devotional songs which are held in great reverence in Tamil Shaiva literature. Sometimes he would lovingly converse with Shiva and sometimes he would even be seen complaining to Him. He would say, “Lord, why did You put me into this world?” This simple and intimate dialogue is the special feature of his devotion. The most unique aspect of Sundaramurti’s devotion is that he considered Shiva both as master and as friend and addressed Him in both forms. He would persuade Lord Shiva, become upset with Him, and then singing and humming would again merge into the Lord. His devotion teaches us that our relationship with God should not be based only on fear or formality, but on love and intimacy.
Views of Pandit ji:
According to Pandit Pradeep Mishra ji, Sundaramurti was a unique devotee. He repeatedly says in his discourses, “Bholenath does not want formality from His devotee; He wants true feeling.” The life of Sundaramurti Nayanar is proof of this because –
- He never kept any distance from Shiva.
- He used to converse with God as one does with a friend.
- He showed that devotion requires simplicity, not deceit.
Pandit ji says, “The one who accepts Shiva as his own, Shiva also accepts him as His own.” Sundaramurti accepted Shiva as his own and Shiva made him His attendant, His beloved.
Only Shiva has the power to remove the sorrows of the world
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-Ob8ZMQ0uLw
First episode:
During the Shiv Mahapuran discourse, Pandit ji told that among the 63 devotees of Tamil Nadu there is a devotee named Sundar. This story is for those who say that devotees go to the temple without bathing. When the devotee Sundar was small, at the age of five his mother Janki used to go to the temple and would take him along. The child would go with his mother without bathing and would offer a pot of water on the Shivling. It became a rule for Sundar to go to the temple. Now the mother did not take Sundar to the temple; rather Sundar took his mother to the temple. When Sundar grew up, he himself did the household work. He did not get time to bathe, so he would go to the temple without bathing. Then Sundar got married; for some days he did not go to the temple. After a few days when Sundar went to the temple after bathing, the Shivling was missing. Sundar asked the priest where the Shivling was, and he told him that as soon as he stepped out of the temple the Shivling reappeared. When this happened many times he could not understand and began to cry. Then Sundar said, “Lord, are You upset because of my marriage?” Then Bholenath appeared and said, “Today you came after bathing, therefore you come to your father like this; come as you used to come.”
Second episode:
Sundar made Lord Shiva his friend. One day Shiva asked Sundar, “Who do you like more — Me or your wife?” Sundar fell ill in confusion about what to answer. He stopped going to the temple. Then Shiva came to Sundar and asked what condition he had made of himself. Sundar said to Lord Shiva, “I belong only to You. If my marriage has taken place and since I am Yours, then the marriage is also Yours. Now when everything is Yours, then You Yourself have to take care of it.” Sundar smiled.
Ask Shiva for Shiva
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Z19rGhOnKQY
Lessons obtained from the devotion of Sundaramurti:
- Build an intimate relationship with God.
- There should be truth in devotion, not formality.
- Whatever changes come in life, accept them as the divine play of Shiva.
- Make the chanting of Shiva’s name the foundation of life.
The story of Sundaramurti Nayanar is not just the biography of a saint, but it teaches that love, faith and belongingness are very necessary in Shiva devotion. When a devotee accepts God as a friend, devotion does not remain mere worship — it becomes life itself. The Shiv Mahapuran and the saint tradition give us this very message:
“Love Shiva, accept Him as your own, and then see how life becomes divine.”
