Nayanar 12: Manakanchara (Manakkancarar)

The 12th saint is Manakkancarar [Manakanchara] and Arurar says of him as, “Malai malinta tol vallal Manakkancarar”—Manakkancarar, who was a munificent person and who had shoulders as strong as hillocks. Nampiyantar Nampi calls his place of birth as ‘Kancai’, which Cekkilar identifies as Kancarur, the modern Anatantava-puram (Ananda Tandavapuram). This will suggest that the name of the saint was derived from his place of birth.

Kancaran means the man of the city or village of Kancaru. Manam alone will remain as his proper name, if it is not a title emphasizing his sense of honour and we know people had been bearing the name of Mana as Manavamma and Mani the great Mankaiyarkkaraci, wife of Netumaran.

According to Cekkilar, he belongs to the Vellala community. It is clear that Cekkilar is making a clear distinction between the Sudra community and the Vellala community. Most of those whom he refers as belonging to the Vellala community are found to be commanders under the ruling kings. Here also Cekkilar says that Manakkancarar was one such commanders. He had a daughter for whom marriage with Eyarkon Kalikkamar was arranged. On the day of the marriage came in a Mavirata ascetic to suggest that the flowing braid of the bride would be good for his yajnopavita of hair (pancavati). The saint readily cut away the braid of hair which re-appeared as of old by the Grace of God.

Eyarkon is said to be a contemporary of Arurar and it is unfortunate we do not have any detailed reference to Manakkancarar in his hymns. The name itself seems to suggest that the saint had a high sense of honour as probably befitting the great warrior or commander he was. The Kannada and Sanskrit traditions describe him as a Cola king, Manakanjanadisa. Probably he was a chieftain of the part of the Cola country full of love for Shaivites.