Thiru Nilakhanda Yaazpanar
Nilakantar,
the great Yazh player of the yore was born in the
town
Thiruerukkaththam puliyur. It is said he brought the sound of animals, chirp of birds, rhythm of rivers and song of
trees in his classical string instrument yazh. He was called Yazhpanar
(yazh
musician).
He devoted his music to that music loving Shiva - Mrityunjaya. He went to many abodes in the Choza kingdom and anointed the Sound of pranavam with his music. He then arrived in the Lord's own kingdom - Madurai.
Tuning the instrument and with the mind tuned to praise the Lord of Thirualavay, he opened the dam of his music at the entrance of the temple that immersed the Lord of that abode. He played the tunes that suit the timings with a proficiency unique in nature. The Lord pleased by the euphonic worship of yazpanar ordered all the devotees of the town in their dream to bring him to the altar. Welcomed by the devotees the master of yazh went to the presence of the Master of all music. Realising the service he should do, the splendid musician played out his ecstatic expression of worshiping the Lord in the blessed instrument. He sang the Lord's holy deeds of dancing, in bliss with the praise of Universal bodies, destruction of three cities, demolition of the ignorance which was immeasurable for Hari and ayan, simplicity that blesses easily one who surrenders - in his sakotayaz.
Enjoying
the dedication of the devotee, there arose a voice from the God asking
the devotees to place a short bench for him so that the wonderful instrument
does not get affected from the chillness of the earth. The devotees placed
a bench on which the musician who propitiated the Lord, sat along with his
instrument to serve the Lord with his music. Then
praising the Lord of meru, he reached thiruvarur. At the entrance he sang the
its Grace that is much superior than even the love of mother and that
which kicked even the death to bless the surrendered. He got
the way through 
the northern gate into the abode, prostrated to the thirumulattanar and did his service.
After performing there for many days, he proceeded through many
holy places to reach in chirkazi. Impressed by the marvelous hymns of Sambandhar
the child who called parvati - parameshvara to quench the thirst for knowledge, he stayed with that prodigy.
He,
accompanied by his wife, used to play Champandhar's (Sambandar) words of wisdom in his heart stealing music, with complete dedication. They followed the
saint wherever he went for the rest of their life. They along
with Sambandhar got the permanent
place under the Greatest Musician's feet.
Let Nilakanda yazpanar's service in composing very nice music for the Lord stay in the minds of one and all