The story of saiva saints/16. MOORTHY NAYANAR
16. MOORTHY NAYANAR
There lived in Madurai a Saint called Murthiyar. He belonged to the Merchant's Caste. He used to supply sandal wood paste to Lord Siva. Once there was scarceness of sandal wood owing to the orders of an alien ruler at Madurai. Hence he used his hand as sandal wood and rubbed his hand on the stone as if to make sandal paste. By the grace of the Lord his wounds became healed. The alien ruler of Madurai died and he had none to succeed. By the grace of the Lord Moorthy Nayanar was selected as the king by being garlanded by the royal elephant. The matted locks was his crowns the rudraksha beads were his ornaments; and the sacred As was the water for the anointment. With this triad he ruled his kingdom and attained the Feet of the Lord.