Cheraman Perumal Nayanar

rdf:langString Cheraman Perumal Nayanar

rdf:langString Cheraman Perumal Nayanar

rdf:langString Cheraman Perumal Nayanar

rdf:langString Tamil Shaiva tradition

rdf:langString Depiction of Cherman Perumal Nayanar in Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur

rdf:langString Cheraman Perumal Nayanar (literally meaning Chera king the Nayanar) was a bhakti poet-musician and religious teacher (one of the sixty-three nayanars) of Tamil Shaiva tradition in medieval south India. The Cheraman Perumal's friendship with Chundara, one of the 'Three Nayanars', is celebrated in the bhakti tradition. The legend of the Cheraman Perumal is narrated in the hagiographic 'Periyapuranam', composed by Chekkizhar, a courtier of Chola Kulottunga II, in mid-12th century AD. The collection is based on an earlier work by Nambiyandar Nambi (10th-11th centuries AD). Thiruvanchikulam Siva Temple in Kodungallur is associated with the Perumal and Chundaramurtti Nayanar. The Cheraman Perumal is credited as the author of 'Ponvannattandadi', hymns in praise of the Lord of Chidambaram, 'Thiruvarur Mummanikkovai', in honor of the deity of Thiruvarur, and 'Adiyula' (the first of the ulas) or 'Thirukkailayajnana Ula', in praise of Shiva. Historians tentatively identify the saint with Rama Rajasekhara, the 9th century ruler of the Chera Perumal kingdom of Kerala.

rdf:langString *Ponvannattandadi *Thiruvarur Mummanikkovai *Adiyula or Thirukkailayajnana Ula

rdf:langString Nayanar