The Family Relationship as shown by Periyapuranam

Abstract

In Periyapuranam, the 12^th Thirumarai, we can see that Sekkizhar has recorded the family relationship of the Nayanmars, their hospitality, their love and charity, the basic ways of life, and the way in which the relationship of the husband, wife, people, and neighbours is shaped. Ilayankudi Mara nayanar is doing service to the devotees along with the family of Ilaiyankudi for the path of love, the Lord makes the world rejoice and performs his blessings. Sekkizhar records that despite the terrible poverty, he did the service of sharing food with his devotees without losing his love. Kunguliya Kalaya Nayanar's devotional service, fragrant incense, has given a detailed message to the Lord. When Nayanar was accompanied by poverty and hunger, on the way to satiate his hunger by selling the Mangal Sutra given by his wife, a man came to meet him with a kunguliyam (Medicinal herbal - Shorea robusta) package, forgetting all his wife, family, and neighbours, and selling Mangal Sutra for the service of kunguliya dhoopam to the Lord with love, he bought kunguliyam. Sekkizhar has recorded that the Lord made his service known to the world and gave him vanpatham (Final Emancipation). Sekkizhar was the one who guided society through family relations about the supremacy of the way of life. The article highlights that the goal is to inculcate in the mind the virtues of giving to others, feeding, and serving God, and living by following a united way of life.