Nayanar 22: Kulachirai (Kulaccirai)

The 22nd saint is Kulaccirai Nayanar [Kulachirai]. Nampi Arurar sings, “Perunampi Kulaciraitan atiyarkkum atiy en” —am the servant of the servants of Kulaccirai, the Perunampi’. Kulaccirai was the prime minister of Kun Pantyian, who along with the Pandya Queen invited Campantar to Madura. Campantar praises him and the Pandya Queen, alternately in the Tiru-valavay hymn.

Nampiyantar Nampi makes him a native of Manamerkuti which Cekkilar identifies with a place of that name in the Pandya country and also makes him responsible for the impaling of the Jains following the version of Nampiyantar Nampi It is not clear on what basis Nampiyarttar speaks of this kind of persecution. Though impaling persons for offences is found in sculptures of the age, it is very doubtful whether this was ever used by way of religious persecution. What must have been in the mind Arurar should be the reference to this great patron of Shaivism in the hymns of Campantar. The Sanskrit and Kannada traditions speak of him as Kulabarainayanar or Kula-paksha,