63 Nayanmars

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
Isaignaniyar
Planned to send an article about each one per week (Every Thursday) from Last week of May.  Suggestions are welcome.