The saintly devotees of Shiva are known as Nayanmar (Nayanar). There are 63 of them. The activities of these devotees differ, but the one thing in common is their intense love for the Lord. They followed different ways of praying the God and led different kinds of life styles - brahmacharyam (Sandesar), grihastam (Nilakandar), vanaprastam (Aiyadikal Kadavarkon), sanyasam (Thirumular). Their traditional work (akin to caste system) too differed - Sampandhar (reciting Vedha), Appar (farmer), Nilakandar (potter), Thirunalaippovar (cobbler) and so on. There are both male and female (Ichainyaniyar, Karaikkal ammaiyar) devotees. The wives of many of these Nayanmars too were equally devoted to Lord Shiva as their husbands were (Thirunilakandar). Some of them were highly learned while some others excelled with their simple devotion though not learned in any scriptures (Kannappar). Some of them were kings (Pukazch chozar) and some others didn't even have even a house to live in (Thirumular). They all excelled in their own way - single minded devotion to Shiva.
One can find some important qualities in the lives of these saints. Most of them did not undertake a service that was different from their regular lifestyle. The weaver Necar had taken the service of providing clothes whereas the farmer Marar gave them food. The service they undertook may look mundane, like throwing a stone on the Shivalingam everyday, but they did it with intense love for the Lord and with determination, undermining the hurdles on their way.
- Sundaramurthi Nayanar
- Tiru Neelakanta Nayanar
- Iyarpahai Nayanar
- Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar
- Maiporul Nayanar
- Viralminda Nayanar
- Amaraneedi Nayanar
- Eripatha Nayanar
- Enadinatha Nayanar
- Kannappa Nayanar
- Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar
- Manakanchara Nayanar
- Arivattaya Nayanar
- Anaya Nayanar
- Murthi Nayanar
- Muruga Nayanar
- Rudra Pasupathi Nayanar
- Tiru Nalai Povar Nayanar
- Tiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar
- Chandesvara Nayanar
- Tiru-Navukkarasar Nayanar
- Kulacchirai Nayanar
- Perumizhalai Kurumba Nayanar
- Karaikal Ammaiyar
- Appuddi Nayanar
- Tiruneelanakka Nayanar
- Nami Nandi Adigal
- Tiru Jnana Sambandar
- Eyarkon Kalikama Nayanar
- Tiru Mula Nayanar
- Dandi Adigal Nayanar
- Murkha Nayanar
- Somasira Nayanar
- Sakkiya Nayanar
- Sirappuli Nayanar
- Siruthonda Nayanar
- Cheraman Perumal Nayanar
- Gananatha Nayanar
- Kootruva Nayanar
- Pugal Chola Nayanar
- Narasinga Muniyaraiyar
- Adipattha Nayanar
- Kalikamba Nayanar
- Kalia Nayanar
- Satti Nayanar
- Aiyadigal Kadavarkon Nayanar
- Kanampulla Nayanar
- Kari Nayanar
- Ninra Seer Nedumara Nayanar
- Mangayarkarasiyar
- Vayilar Nayanar
- Munaiyaduvar Nayanar
- Kazharsinga Nayanar
- Seruthunai Nayanar
- Idangazhi Nayanar
- Pugazh Tunai Nayanar
- Kotpuli Nayanar
- Pusalar Nayanar
- Nesa Nayanar
- Kochengat Chola Nayanar
- Tiru Neelakanta Yazhpanar
- Sadaya Nayanar
- Isaijnaniyar
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