Bhakta Kannappan

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Briefly

Vardha Amonker

Kannappa Nayanar was a Tamil saint also known as Bhakta Kannappan and Dheeran. He was born in a hunter family. He was a stauntch devotee of Lord Mahadeva. He was the son of Raja Naga Vyadha and his his wife in Uduppura near Sri Kalahasti, present day Utukkuru. His father was a Shaiva devotee of Lord Kartikeya. He was called Dinna or Dheera by his parents. He married a woman called Neera. It is said that Kannappa Nayanar was the rebirth of Arjun within the Kali era.

Arjun meditated for the Pashupathastra and Lord Mahadeva had taken the form of a hunter to examine Arjun and his bravery. Then continued the war between Arjun and the hunter as to whose arrow had struck the boar. Finally Lord Mahadeva wins and Arjun realises that no only he is powerful. Lord Mahadeva blesses him with the Pashupathastra but due to his boastful nature Arjun is reborn with the Kali era as Dheeran.

Thinna was a staunch devotee of the Vayu Linga of Sri Kalahasti which he had found within the forest. He was a hunter and did not know how to properly worship Lord Mahadeva. He offered Lord Mahadeva whatever animals he would hunt. Thinna's thoughts were pure. Therefore Lord Mahadeva accepted whatever Thinna offered. Once Lord Mahadeva decided to see how much Thinna was devoted to him. With his divine power created a tremor and the roof-tops of the temple began to fall. All the rishis ran away from the scene except for Thinna who covered the linga with his body to prevent it from any damage and because of this devoted feat of his he was called thereafter as Dheera (valiant).

Thinna noticed that one of the eyes of the Shivalinga oozed blood and tears. He thought that Sri Bhalanetra's eye must be injured. He plucked his own eye with the arrow and placed it where the eye bleeded. He noticed that the other eye also now bleeded. But if he plucked the other eye he would become blond and not know where to place the eye. He placed one toe on the place where it bleeded on the Shivalinga and plucked his second eye and placed it on that spot. Lord Mahadeva was pleased with his devotee. He blessed him and restored both of his eyes. He was made one of the holy Nayanars. Finally he was liberated and went to heaven.

He was called Kannappa Nayanar which means the devotee of Lord Mahadeva.