Kutruva Nayanar
| Kutruva Nayanar | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Philosophy | Shaivism, Bhakti |
| Personal | |
| Born | unknown Kalandai |
| Honors | Nayanar saint, |
Kutruva Nayanar, also known as Kootruva , Kutruva, Kutruvar, Kootruvar, Kurruva Nayanar, Kurruvar, Kurruvan, Kutruvanar, Kurrrruvar, Kalappallan and Kalappalar, was a chieftain of Kalandai and a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the 39th in the list of 63 Nayanars. Kutruva is often described as a Jain, who became a devotee of Shiva, the patron god of Shaivism.
The life of Kutruva Nayanar is described in the Tamil Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar (12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars. His name "Kutruva" means the "God of death" in Tamil.
The Periya Puranam narrates that Kutruva was the chieftain of Kalandai (Kalantai). He was from the Kalabhras community. He is described a devotee of Shiva. He defeated many kings and chieftains in war and acquired their wealth and territories in Pandya and Chola kingdoms. Kutruva had acquired extensive lands and wealth through his campaigns, but lacking a formal title was still technically a chieftain, with no legal basis to rule his de facto domain. He requested the priests (Brahmins) of Chidambaram temple of Thillai. The Brahmins who owed allegiance to the Chola kings and crowned the Cholas, refused and fled to Malai Nadu (modern-day Kerala) under the protection of the Chera king. Kutruva approached Nataraja, the presiding form of Shiva of Chidambaram temple, to crown him with keeping his foot over Kutruva's head. Nataraja appeared in Kutruva's dream and complied, giving him the divine authority to rule. He continued to worship Shiva and gave patronage to the god's temple. He ultimately reached Kailash, Shiva's abode after death.
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