Pusalar

Pusalar
Inscriptions on the Kailasanathar Temple of Kanchipuram are used to date Pusalar to the eighth century.
Nayanar
Born	8th century
Residence	Thiruninravur
Venerated in	Shaivism
Feast	November 13
Attributes	Shaven head and folded hands

Pusalar (also spelt as Poosalar), also known as Pusalar Nayanar (Poosalar Nayanar) and Pusala Nayanar, is an eighth-century Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fifth-eighth in the list of 63 Nayanars. His hagiography speaks how he created a grand temple for Shiva in his mind and how his patron god Shiva preferred attending the consecration of his mind temple, instead of a grand temple created by a Pallava king.

The primary account of Pusalar's life comes from the Tamil Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar (12th century), which is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars. Pusalar was a Brahmin, the priest caste. He lived in Thiruninravur (Tiru Ninravur/ Ninravur), presently a neighbourhood in the city of Chennai. In Pusalar's times, Thiruninravur was part of Tondai Nadu (Thondai Mandalam), which part of the Pallava kingdom. He could have been a temple priest.

Pusalar was a Shaiva, a devotee of the god Shiva. He wanted to create a grand temple for Shiva, but did not have the money to do so. Thus, Pusalar decided to build a temple to Shiva in his mind with his imagination. He followed the rituals of temple-building, sanctified the ground and lay the first stone of his mind temple on an auspicious day. Over course of time, he completed his mind temple and selected a holy day for the Kumbhabhishekam ceremony, when the temple is consecrated and the image of God installed in the garbhagriha (sanctum sanatorium).

The Pallava king Kadavarkon had just completed a grand Shiva temple in the capital Kanchipuram and selected the same day for consecration of his temple. Shiva appeared in the king's dream and instructed him to postpone the date of consecration as He would be journeying to Thiruninravur for the consecration of His devotee Pusalar's temple on the same day. The king postponed the date as per the divine decree and hastened to see the magnificent temple of Pusalar, which Shiva favoured over his own. However, on reaching Thiruninravur, the king could find any stone temple visible in the town and was perflexed. He reached Pusalar's house and informed Pusalar about his dream. The saint revealed that the temple existed in his heart. The king was astonished by Pusalar's devotion and bowed down to him and worshipped him. Pusalar consecrated the temple on the ordained day and continued his worship until his death, when he is said to have attained Kailash, the abode of Shiva.