[1] Kanampulla Nayanar was born into a farming family in Pullirukkuveloor or Irukkuveloor, located at Sirkazhi Taluk, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.
Due to his devotional practices, Kanampulla Nayanar's wealth quickly eroded; he moved to Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, where he earned a living by cutting and selling Kanampul grass.
With the money he earned, the saint purchased ghee (clarified butter) to light lamps in the Shiva temple.
Due to a famine, he was unable a to sell grass, but the Nayanar saint wanted to continue to serve Shiva by lighting lamps in his temple.
[2] Tamil month karthikai - Kiruthikai star is widely celebrated as Guru Puja Day of Kanampulla Nayanar.