In the Hindu sectors, there are only two sectors, one is Shaivism and the next one is Vaishnavism. In the Shaivism, the devotees are following lord Shiva and they are called as Shaivites or Saivites in common it is said as Saivam. Shiva is also known as Rudra and this name came to him when Shiva is anger he used to dance, with the violence. Shaivism has its ancient roots, which could be traceable in the Vedic literature of 2nd millennium BCE, The oldest text Shvetashvatara Upanishad dated to late 1st millennium BCE mentions names such as Rudra, Shiva and Maheshwaram. This Shaivism was developed by sixty-three saints. They are called NayanMars in the Tamil language, the names of the 63 Nayanmars, who worked hard to spread the Shaivism internationally by visiting to different cities and villages and explaining about the Shaivism.

The names of the 63 Nanyanmars Hindu saints

Adipathar, Appudiyadigal, is a Bhramin AmarNeedi Nayanar, Arivattayar, Aanaya Nayanar, Isainyaniyar, Idangazhi Nayanar, Iyarpagai Nayanar, Ilayankudimarar, Uruthira pasupathi Nayanar who is a Bhramin, Eripatha Nayanar, Yeyarkonkalimarar, Yenadinadar, Iyadigalkadavarkon, Gananathar Bhramin, Ganuampullar, Kannappa Nayanar, Kaliya Nayanar, Kazhatrarivar, Kazharsinger, Kari Nayanar, Karaikal Ammaiyar, Kungiliyakalayanar, Kulasirayar, Kootruvar, Kalikammba Nayanar, Kochsengatchozhan, Kotpuli Nayanar, Sadaya Nayanar, Sandeeswara Nayanar, Sakthi Nayanar, Sakiyar, Sirapuli Nayanar, Siruthondar, Sundarmurthy Nayanar,has visited many Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu.

Seruthunai Nayanar, Somasimaarar is a Bhramin, Thandiyadigal, Thirukuripputhondar, Thirunyana sambanthamurthy, Thirunavukarasar, Thirunalaipovar, Thiruneelagandar, Thiruneelagandaryazhpanar, Thiruneelanakka Nayanar, Thirumoolar, Naminandiyadigal Bhramin, Narasingamunayar, Nindraseernadumaran, Nesa Nayanar, Pugazhcholan, Pugazhthunai Nayanar, Poosalar, Perumizhalaikurumbar, Mangayarkarasiyar, Maanakanjara Nayanar, Muruga Nayanar, Munaiyaduvar Nayanar, Moorga Nayanar, Murthy Nayanar, Meiporul Nayanar, Vayilaar Nayanar, and Viranminda Nayanar. Although Bhramin community people are known as High class community are only six Bhramins out of 63 Nayanmars rest of them are from the other cast and other community saints.

Only all these sixty-three Nayanmars developed the Shaivism. They went almost all the Shiva temples and contributed their songs. All the 63 Nayanmar idols could be found in the largest Shiva temples. There are thousands of Shiva temples are available in Tamil Nadu alone. Whole India there would be about one million Shiva temples will be there. There is no one to count the temples in India. At the same time, when the Temple gets more income state or the central government undertakes the temple, because the government can earn revenue from the Temple. In general, each devotee is contributing some money to the temples. Thee devotees are even offering their money to the priests of the temple. However Hindu Temple priests are not offered a good salary, only the devotee’s income is their prime income. A temple gets its familiarity when the temple is visited by anyone of the 63 Nayanmars. The devotee believes there will be high power in the temple and that is the reason great Tamil poets are visited that particular temple. Shaivism is very easy to follow, unlike the Vaishnavism however, all the Saivites will be reading the thirupugazh, Paamalai in the temples. Shivarathri is the important festival for the Saivites, the whole night they pray the Shiva to take his blessings. In north India, Shivarathri is being celebrated very grandly than South India. Many Saivities are worshiping the lord Shiva only and in all over the world.