The Unwavering Devotion of Kannappa Nayanar: A Story of Love and Sacrifice for Lord Shiva
In the rich tapestry of Hindu itihaas, few tales exemplify the depth of devotion as profoundly as that of Kannappa Nayanar.
Known as one of the 63 Nayanars—revered Shaivite saints—Kannappa’s devotion to Lord Shiva is celebrated to this day as a timeless story of selfless love and sacrifice.
Born as Thinnan in a hunter family, Kannappa was a simple man, unacquainted with formal worship rituals. One day, while hunting in a dense forest, he encountered a Shiva Lingam hidden amidst the trees. Instinctively drawn to it, he began offering whatever he had—water from his mouth, flowers from the wild, and the meat he hunted—out of pure devotion.
Though unconventional, these offerings were born from his sincere heart, and Lord Shiva accepted them as such. One day, while worshipping the Lingam, Thinnan noticed blood oozing from one of its eyes.
In a gesture that would etch his name in the annals of devotion, he plucked out his own eye to replace the Lingam’s bleeding one. To his horror, the second eye of the Lingam began to bleed as well.
Determined, Thinnan prepared to sacrifice his remaining eye, marking the spot with his foot to guide his aim. But before he could go through with this ultimate sacrifice, Lord Shiva appeared, moved by Thinnan’s devotion.
He restored Thinnan’s vision, blessed him, and gave him the name “Kannappa” (meaning “eye-giver”).Kannappa’s unwavering faith is commemorated at the Srikalahasteeswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, where his legacy continues to inspire devotees.
His story, recorded in the Periya Puranam—a 12th-century Tamil anthology of Shaivite saints—reminds us that devotion transcends rituals and formalities; it is the purity of heart that truly reaches the divine.In popular culture, Kannappa’s life has been depicted in films, including the 1976 Telugu classic Bhakta Kannappa.
A new film, Kannappa, is set to release in December 2024, bringing this tale of devotion and love to a new generation.
