SOMASIRA NAYANAR (Series of Tamil saints)

Somasira Nayanar was a Brahmin by caste. He lived in Tiruvambur. He was a great devotee of the Lord and served His Bhaktas, irrespective of their caste. He did Yagas and worshiped the Lord, without expecting any reward. He went to Tiruvarur and lived with Sundaramurthi Nayanar to whom he had totally surrendered himself. Thus he got His grace.

Here is a simple life of saintliness. On the face of it there does not seem to be anything spectacular about this Nayanar. But, we have to bear in mind the conditions that prevailed in South India in the Nayanars days. It was almost impossible for a Brahmin in those days to mix with people of other castes, however, devoted they might be to God. For a Brahmin to serve them was unthinkably difficult. It required very great willpower, determination, and devotion to God and His Bhaktas.

Again, in those days no one would even think of performing a Yaga without expectation of a reward. Yagas were performed only with a specific selfish desire. That Nayanar performed them selflessly and desireless, shows that he had already reached a high stage of Jnana or spiritual insight. He was a true Jnani and Karma Yogi.

Over and above all these, he was highly devoted to the Guru, Sundaramurthi Nayanar. What cannot Guru Bhakti achieve? And, yet, the foolish and arrogant man speaks lightly of it and ridicules Guru Bhakti!