Satti Nayanar

[2] Satti Nayanar belonged to Varinjiyur, presently in Tiruvarur District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

[3][4] Some Kannada and Sanskrit inscriptions state that Satti Nayanar (sometimes called Shaktinatha) had taken a vow to slay all non-Shaivas, not only those who slandered Shaivas.

The tale teaches that one should not speak ill of, revile or disparage holy men and devotees of God.

Sivananda does not advocate the violent means of the Nayanar, but suggests that one should exit the place immediately, avoiding listening to the blasphemy.

Satti Nayanar's violence is justified by the maxim: "the sins of the devotees of the Lord are virtues whereas even the good actions performed by those without love are vices.

[4] Satti Nayanar is specially worshipped in the Tamil month of Aippasi, when the moon crossed into the Pushya nakshatra (lunar mansion).

The images of the Nayanars are found in many Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu.