How Arunagirithar Made Lord Muruga Appear At Thiruvannamalai
Saint Arunagirinathar spent much of his life at Tiruvannamalai which was under the rule of Prabhu Deva Raya II in the second quarter of the 15th century. The king was a great patron of art and literature and had many scholars in his court, the chief among them being Sambandan. Sambandan was a devotee of goddess Kali and had obtained a boon that for a period of twelve years, she would appear anytime he invoked her. The king also had a great respect for Arunagirinathar owing to his extraordinary love for Lord Murugan and his compassionate attitude towards Villiputturar. This made Sambandan feel envious and he decided to get rid of Arunagiri. Sambandan tried to convince the king that Arunagirinathar was not as great as he was assumed to be. He further challenged that he could ask Goddess Kali, his Ishta Devata, to appear in an open assembly. If indeed Arunagiri was great, he should similarly be able to manifest his Ishta Devata Murugan too. Whoever failed to do so should leave the kin...