In our pursuit of building individual temples for the sixty three Nayanmars at their respective birth places we had visited these places only to meet a pitiable state. The dense cloud of ignorance has completely covered the minds of the people.

Even now, we visit Sathanur where Thirumoolar is said to have attained his form before rendering the Thirumandiram. We find the revered Nayanmar’s icon in an Ayyannar Temple nearby!
In the past, to mark the respect for Thirumoolar, the locals used to chant verses from the Thirumandiram and go to Thiruvaavaduthurai temple where special poojas would be performed. However, now-a-days this custom has stopped. The pitiable state is that some of the local people living in oblivion do not have any due about who Thirumoolar was!!

The densely covered bushes and shrubs have been cleared in the space belonging to the Thirumoolar temple and after a Herculean effort now the temple construction work has begun.

Take the classical case of Ilayankudi, the reality pricks you like a spearhead. The Yeoman services to Siva, rendered by Mara Nayanmar have been conveniently forgotten!!

• His idol has been replaced by a Naga idol and poojas are being performed accordingly!
• The space belonging to Mara Nayanmar has been encroached by petty shops!
• What a pitiable state of affairs!

These kinds of ignorance have to be weeded out with immediate effect. The selfless services and pure devotion of the Nayanmars have to be respected and poojas on an ongoing basis has to be conducted for them. Definitely this statement will have a unified approval of one and all.

Eventhough there will be consensus in the thinking; this can be realized only if everybody works together towards this cause.

To highlight this thinking, this feeling and to eradicate the ignorance in people - “Graceful and Enlightening Procession of the Sixty Three Saiva Saints” has been conceived.

The main aim of this procession is to remove the clouds of ignorance and have a clear view of the path. The greatness of the sixty three Nayanmars which has been shrouded like a cloudy sky should be cleared up so that the Golden rays of their Glorious history showers on all of us!

We consider that this idea has been seeded in our minds of Siva Himself.

The Sixty Three Saiva Saints, the nine Thogai Adiyars, Saint Manikkavasagar, Saint Sekkizhar, Nambi Aandar, Polla Pillayar, Lord Nataraja, Goddess Sivakami – totaling 82 idols would be arranged on a decorated vehicle. The decoration would be replica of the Golden Hall (Ponnambalam) of Thillai. Thus set, the vehicle would be taken in a procession.

The procession would cover all the thirty odd districts of Tamil Nadu, will pass through all the birthplaces of the Nayanmars, the district head quarters, places which have been sung by the Nayanmars, places where they attained Siva’s heavenly abode etc. This would cover about 180 places in all.

At each place, it is proposed to render a short speech highlighting the services of that particular Nayanmar.

It is Siva – Nataraja who graced Sekkizhar by giving the initial word of “Ulagelam” for his epic work Periya Puranam at Thillai. By the grace of Nataraja this procession is also to begin from Thillai and conclude at Kundrathur, the birth place of the Saint Poet Sekkizhar. The concluding session would include a Saiva conference / meeting at Chennai.

To make this mega plan a success all the children of Tamil language, people affectionate to Tamil language, scholars of Saiva Siddhanta, learned people of the Thirumurais and all Tamils spread over the Universe should participate.

It is planned to take out this procession beginning in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan – Feb 2008) and will continue for sixty three days.

Invitation is to one and all for conducting this procession. Turn out in large numbers and seek the grace of the sixty three Nayanmars.

The dire need for this mega programme is funds. Please contribute liberally for this noble cause!

• For those who have funds please contribute as funds!
• For those who have Grace please come to Grace the procession!
• For those who can serve please render your services!
• For those who can’t contribute at all please be present!

WITH HIS GRACE AT HIS LOTUS FEET
THIRUCHITRAMBALAM