Born as an outcaste in the famed city of Ãdhanur in south India, the young Nanda was fascinated by the gopuram (tower) of Lord Šiva's shrine in Ãdhanur. Since he was barred from entering the shrine due to his caste, all Nanda could do was to wistfully gaze at that gopuram wondering at its shape, size and grandeur and imagine the form of the Lord concealed to his view. His inability to enter the shrine, however, only intensified his yearning to have a daršan of the Lord some day.

One day Nanda and his close friends were visiting Tirupunkoor, a neighboring town, when they happened to reach Lord Šiva's shrine there. After going around the outer precincts of the temple several times piously chanting the Lord's name, Nanda and his companions stood outside the temple gates at a little distance from the flagstaff. When the temple doors opened at sunset, Nanda and party were overjoyed to behold for the first time, although from a distance, a faint glimpse of the mysterious sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Taking pity on Nanda who was struggling to get a view of the Lingam in the shrine but was obstructed by Nandi, the bull, sitting between Nanda and the Lingam, the Lord ordered Nandi to move a little to one side so that Nanda might have a clear view of Him. The Lord's daršan transported Nanda into a state of ecstasy.

On their way back to Ãdhanur, Nanda and his friends chanced to listen to a discourse during which the pundit was extolling the glory of Lord Natarãjã and Chidambaram and was saying that any one, regardless of his caste, who visited that holy city would be released from the cycle of birth and death. These words acted on Nanda like magic and kindled a strong desire in his mind to visit Chidambaram as soon as he could. He would make plans to go there but would postpone the visit to another day for fear that due to his caste he would be unable to see the Lord there. This went on for several days and finally feeling totally unable to restrain his yearning any longer, Nanda set out to Chidambaram.

Reaching Chidambaram, Nanda circumambulated the walls of the temple for several days and nights with an intense longing to see the Lord and obtain Liberation. With this thought uppermost in his mind and out of sheer weariness, Nanda fell asleep one evening. That night the Lord appeared in Nanda's dream and instructed him to enter the flaming fire and emerge hallowed in order that he may get rid of this birth. Simultaneously, the Lord appeared in the dreams of the high priests of the temple as well and ordered them to arrange a fire the next morning so that Nanda, His devotee, may take a 'fire bath'. 

Resolved to do the Lord's bidding, the high priests approached Nanda the following morning with great fear. But Nanda was overjoyed to know that finally he was going to be Liberated. The priests lit the fire and Nanda plunged into the flames meditating on the dancing feet of the Lord. Immediately, Nanda's 'illusory body' perished but he emerged out of the fire as a hallowed sage. The radiant sage proceeded to the inner precincts of the Lord and to the amazement of the high priests he suddenly merged into the Divine Form of the Lord leaving no trace of him behind.

Thus the Lord showered His infinite grace on His sincere devotee Nanda (now reverentially called as Nandanãr) and made him delight forever in the bliss of His Lotus Feet.

OM NAMAH ŠIVÃYA