“Man may spend time doing his duties, but time never delays in doing its own duty.” This truth reminds us that life is uncertain and nothing in this world lasts forever. Wise people understand this and dedicate their lives to God, the only eternal reality. One such wise soul was Sannyasi Appar.

A Mysterious Holy Man

About 160 years ago, Sannyasi Appar traveled from place to place, helping people through spiritual wisdom. During his journey, he arrived at Kanuvappettai near Villiyanur. Every morning he meditated beneath a Nuna tree, and in the evening he was seen at the nearby Ayyanar Temple. No one knew where he stayed at night.

A Simple Way of Life

The saint lived with complete simplicity. He begged for food by stopping in front of a house only once. If the family offered food, he accepted it with gratitude and never asked for more. If they did not, he quietly walked away without complaint.

Helping the People

Over time, the villagers of Villiyanur became interested in learning about the Swami, who remained a mystery to them. Some approached the Swami, told him about their problems, and received appropriate remedies. Those who were benefited by the Swami told others about him, and they too approached the Swami, told him about their problems, and received appropriate remedies and were amazed to see their problems resolved. In this way, the fame of the Swami began to spread day by day in that area.

A man named Subpuraya Goundar, who had been childless for a long time, met the Swami and told him his problem. The Swami gave him holy water and said, “Mix it with water and tell your wife to drink it.” He gave it to his wife and told her what the Swami had said. His wife drank the holy water given by the Swami with faith. She became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy without any difficulty at the right time. He named him “Sannyasi”, which is the Swami’s name. Even today, the Sannyasi Goundar family lives in the Nonanguppam area; they have been worshipping the ascetic Apparai as their family deity for 110 years.

Teachings of the Saint

Swamigal was renowned for his mastery of alchemy. Whenever people burdened by poverty sought his help with sincere hearts, he used his knowledge of alchemy to relieve their hardships. However, those who approached him out of greed received no benefit.

Swamigal often advised his devotees, saying, “It is natural to make mistakes. Rather than regretting your mistakes, it would be better to not make them again.”

He also reminded them, “Don’t worry about what happened. Will what happened change because you worry? Think about what will happen and act accordingly,”

As the people did not know his real name, and because he remained unmarried throughout his life, they called him as “Sannyasi Siddha.” Some affectionately called him “Sannyasi Appar” because he showed people the right path like a father.

The Final Meditation

When Sannyasi Appar sensed that his earthly life was nearing its end, he sat beneath the Nuna tree and entered deep meditation. There he attained Jeeva Samadhi. The villagers laid him to rest with great reverence, established his samadhi, and placed a large black stone over his samadhi.

Miracles After Samadhi

People continued to worship at his samadhi, believing the saint’s blessings remained alive. Farmers prayed before sowing seeds and believed they received abundant harvests.

One day, during Mattu Pongal, a cow accidentally struck the stone covering the samadhi. The stone split, and villagers believed blood flowed from it, strengthening their faith that the saint’s divine presence still remained there.

Restoration of the Shrine

A small temple was later built over the samadhi. For nearly twenty years, Kuppusamy (Duraikannu Gounder) cared for the shrine and kept the sacred lamp burning. After his death, the temple fell into neglect until the youth of Kanuvappettai, with the support of the villagers, renovated it and performed its consecration in 2013.

Faith That Lives On

Devotees believe that the holy water from the samadhi cures illnesses and resolves family problems. Many villagers also believe Sannyasi Appar continues to protect them. One local story tells of a man named Purushottaman, who prayed to the saint to guard his locked house while he was away. Upon returning, he believed he saw the saint’s divine presence leaving the house after completing the task.

A Living Legacy

A 90-year-old wooden statue of Sannyasi Appar still stands in the temple, reflecting the deep devotion of the people. Every year, devotees celebrate a special Guru Puja during the Uttaram star in the Tamil month of Vaikasi.