Yenathinathar

Yenathinathar is the warrior-chief who spent his arms and wealth in the service of Shiva’s devotees, counted among the sixty-three.

Life/Legend

The hagiography relates that Yenathinathar, a chieftain of Chola country, fed and guarded devotees with his retinue; when his means ran out he gave his armor, his weapons, and finally his body’s labor — the god receiving each in turn and restoring all. The tale is told as the soldier’s dharma turned to devotion.

Legacy

His name stands in the Nayanar lists as the exemplar of the kshatriya path of bhakti.

Verification notes

• Narrative is hagiographic (Periya Puranam); dating traditional.
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).