Nayanar 51: Vayilar

The 51st saint is Vayilar Nayanar. The words of Arurar are, “Turaikkonta cempavalam irulakarrum coti ton Mayilai Vayilan atiyarkkum atiyen’—‘I am the servant of the servants of Vayilan of the old Mayilai of the light of the red coral on the port removing darkness.’

Nampiyantar emphasizes his mental worship; his mind was the temple, infinite knowledge was the light, the blossomed heart was the flower and love was the nectar offered—a description which reminds us of some verses of Appar.

Cekkilar identifies this Mayilai with Mylapore now in Madras. He is said to belong to the Sudra community. According to Cekkilar, he comes of the family of ‘Vayilars’. In addition to what Nampiyantar has said, he informs us that Vayilar bathed the Lord with bliss.

In the sculptural representation of this saint at Darasuram, we find him seated cross-legged between two trees with the beard, the sacred thread, a garland round his neck and probably the jata-makuta with the cinmudra held in the right hand whilst the left hand is resting on his lap. Probably the garland round his neck is rudraksamala. The figure suggests a yogi in contemplation on his mental temple.

The Sanskrit and Kannada traditions mention this saint as Vayilaru ndyanar or Vagmi which latter word is only a translation of the name of the saint and he is there also famous for his mental worship.

There is a separate shrine in the Mylapore temple for this saint but it must be of very recent date.