Ethics of Worship of Nayanmars

Abstract

There are twelve Saiva Thirumurais (The Thirumurai is a twelve-volume compendium of songs or hymns in praise of Shiva). Periyapuranam is the twelfth of these. Periyapuranam simplifies the methods of worship. Sixty-three Nayanmars excelled in the worship of Lord Shiva. They followed three kinds of worship and attained salvation. The three types of worship of Guru worship, Linga worship, and Confluence worship are mentioned in the Saiva Siddhanta texts. Linga worship is of two types: Athmartham (Spirituality) and Paramārtham (Salvation). The worship of the Spiritual Linga belongs to everyone. The worship of the Salvation Linga in the temple belongs to the Adi Saivas. The worship of the devotee is the best way to conquer the three subjects that prevent the attainment of the Supreme Being, Shiva. Most of the Nayanmars worship with devotion. Moreover, the lives of the Nayanmars were a form of worship. The ethics shown by them are a simple method of attaining salvation.