Kannappa Nayanar’s Unconditional Love for Lord Shivan.

Once there lived a hunter. He used to go hunting everyday to support his family needs. One day in forest, he noticed a Shiva Lingam. He fell in love with the Shivalingam in first sight. He heard a walking noise so he hidden himself in trees.

He saw a well dressed brahman (man who do prayer rituals) coming near the Shiva lingam. The brahman came. Cleaned the whole place. Poured a pot of water on Shiva Lingam. Chanted Mantras, offered garlands of flowers and some vegetable and fruits to Shiva Lingam. Brahman finished his rituals and left the place.

The hunter felt he can do the same too. After the brahman left, hunter carried water in his mouth. Brought some fresh meat and plucked some flowers from forest.

Hunter splashed water in his mouth on Shiva Lingam. Offered meat and flowers to God. He knew no mantras so he spoke to God about everything happened that day.

Next day morning, Brahman was shocked to see the meat offered to the Lord. Immediately, he cleaned the place and did his rituals.

After Brahman left, Hunter as usual came with mouth full of water and meat. Threw away everything brahman offered and kept his offerings.

This happened for many days. Brahman was very upset and confused about who is doing it. So he planned to hide after his rituals are done.

Next day, Brahman was hiding in a nearby tree. The hunter came with mouth full of water and splashed it on Shiva Lingam. Offered meat and forest flowers. Brahman got very angry to curse the hunter. Immediately, Lord Shiva appeared before brahman and asked him to watch patiently.

Hunter was sitting and explaining his whole day to Shiva Lingam. Suddenly he noticed an eye from shivalingam shedding tears of blood. A voice from sky said “Kannappa, you have to give your eyes to stop the blood”

Immediately the next moment, the hunter plucked his eyes with his arrow and stuck in eyes of Lingam. Blood stopped.

The other eye started tearing blood. The hunter without any thoughts placed his feet for right place identification of the second eye on the lingam to stick his other eye in the lingam.

When he plucked his eyes, Lord Shiva appeared before the hunter happily. Lord Shiva said “Stop Kannappa Stop, my beloved devotee, You have unconditional love for me. I will give both of your eyes back. Tell me, what do you want?”

Kannappar the hunter, said “Lord, I want to be with you always.” So Lord Shiva took Kannappar with him. Brahman understood rituals do not get you to God. Only the unconditional love is the only expectation of God from you.

Nowadays people do so many rituals like coconut breaking etc., to God. If there is no love in offering, the offering becomes useless. The omniscient God accepts anything that is offered to Him with pure unconditional Love. The hunter Kannappar is joined in 63 Nayanmars. He is praised as Kannappa Nayanar, the great devotee of Lord Shiva.

Why Squirrels have 3 lines on their back?

Lord Hanuman gave the message that Goddess Sita devi is at Ashoka garden in SriLanka of King Ravanar. She was kidnapped and prisoned. Immediately, Lord Ramar created his own huge army.

Indian ocean was on the way to reach SriLanka. The army prepared and planned to build a bridge very quickly for the army to walk on it. The army started towards SriLanka and on the way the Indian ocean appeared.

The army built the bridge without seeing day or night. Its the quickest, strongest bridge man made ever without any modern equipments. When Lord Sri Ramar supervised the word, He noticed the small squirrels carrying very small stones.

Lord Sri Ramar look at a squirrel and asked, “My dear little ones, what are you doing?”

The Squirrel replied, “Dear Lord, We know you are going to fight Evil king Ravanar. We cannot do something huge but we want to contribute something towards your goal. So, we are collecting small stones and fill in the gaps between the huge rocks of the bridge.”

Lord Sri Ramar felt very happy with this reply. He took a squirrel in his hands and drew 3 lines on the back of the squirrel with love and blessings. The reason why squirrels are independent, Divine and active is by Lord Sri Ramar’s blessings.

Rameswaram bridge between SriLanka and india was successfully built and army crossed to reach SriLanka. The war was won by Lord Sri Ramar.

If you are visiting India, Remember to visit Rameswaram and check out the bridge.

If you want to do something for God, Start now with whatever you have with whatever you can. Everything is victorious in God. Jai Sri Ram.Jai Hanuman. Love is the main component. Big or small does not matter.