Nayanar 6: Viralminda (Viranmintar)

The sixth saint is Viranmintar [Viralminda]. Mintar must be the proper name, coming from the word ‘mintu’ meaning strength. ‘Viral’ means victory. Arurar sings, “Viripolil cul Kunraiyar Viranmintarkkatiyen”— ‘I am the servant of Viranmintar of Kunrai, surrounded by gardens’. His place is Kunrai. Nampiyantar Nampi states that it is Cenkunram whilst Cekkilar is more definite in making it the Cenkunrur of the Cera country. The description given by Arurar will suggest a victorious warrior.

Cekkilar will make him belong to the Velan kulam. He is said to have disapproved of Arurar’s not worshipping the Bhaktas before worshipping Shiva, (We have to discuss more about this for fixing the occasion when Thiruthondathogai was sung) and he disapproved of even Lord Shiva’s accepting Arurar as his devotee. The principle was gradually becoming accepted that the worship of Bhaktas was superior to the worship of Shiva himself. But Arurar does not seem to suggest anything more than a victorious warrior or king serving Shaivites and Shaivism.

The saint is called in the Sanskrit and Kannada traditions ‘Sangu Nayanar or Viraminda or Mereminda Nayanar. It is not clear whether the name Sangu has any reference to the ‘sanga of Bhaktas or whether it is a corruption of the place named Cenkunrur where he is said to have been born. Kannada and Sanskrit traditions will make it appear that he disliked Arurar because of his haughty indifference towards Shaivites and of his love for prostitutes.