In the merchant tradition of that magnificent city came the marvelous devotee mUrthiyAr. For the Lord who has sandal like body, he undertook the service of providing sandal everyday without any break. Then the vaduka king from the north killed the pANdiya king in the battle and captured the kingdom. As he followed the jainism and practised intolerance, he troubled and tortured the true devotees of Lord Shiva. Inspite of the heavy hurdles put by the horror hearted king, mUrthiyAr continued the service to the satisfaction without pause. The determination and dedication of the devotee drowned the devilish acts of the king. Irked by this he blocked all the ways through which mUrthiyAr can get the sandal. mUrthiyAr couldn't get the sandal required for the service. Disappointed but not going down in the determination he ground his hands instead of sandal on the stone that is used for grinding. With the skin pealed, bones and nerves coming out, with blood flowing out like the love that flows in his heart, he continued. (Is he grinding the source of reincarnation !!). The Lord not bearing this, raised the sound, "Out of the determination of love you did this, don't continue this ! The king who brought these troubles will be dead soon. Then you rule the kingdom and reach our world". Shocked and surprised mUrthiyAr stood up. Like the sorrows disappear in the presence of the blissful Lord, his wounds and pain disappeared and he became as bright as the Sun.
The king who never knew holiness died and reached the place he deserved , the Hell. The next morning the ministers were worried as the king died without leaving any offspring to rule the country. So they decided to send an elephant, eyes tied, with a garland to select the new king. They worshiped and sent the elephant eyes tied. It roamed around the city and came near the tower of the temple. Meanwhile mUrthiyAr decided as it was Gods order, he will take up the service of ruling the kingdom and came out of the temple, stood near the tower. It was the picture of mighty saluting the magnificent when the majestic elephant saluted mUrthi nAyanAr, garlanded him, took him on its head as he had the feet of God on his head. The entire city roared with instruments sounding with the pleasure of the people. The rising of the sun of mUrthiyAr over the mountain of the elephant drove away the darkness of fear in their mind. The ecstatic procession reached the palace.
mUrthiyAr said to the ministers and courtmen, "If the fragrance of shaivism spread then I am ready to rule the country". All of them agreed it as a boon. He further said that even if he becomes the king he would have holy ash as the sandal, holy ornaments of devotees as the valuable ornaments of the king and the matted hair as the crown. The lusture of outside beauties don't ruffle the true devotees. When he has the feast of bliss in his heart, why should he bother for the liquor of transient pleasures ? He continued the worship of the Lord who never worships anybody, ruled the kingdom with the shaivismof the Lord who never worships anybody, ruled the kingdom with the shaivism illuminating the hearts of the people. As he ruled with holy ash, rudhrAksham and matted hair as the ornaments he is praised mummaiyAl ulakANda mUrthiyAr (mUrthiyAr who ruled the world with three (holy) things). Then he gave the kingdom to the successor and joined the sandal fragrant feet of Almighty. Let the determination of mUrthiyAr in doing the service and the simplicity and unperturbedness of mind even when he became the king stay in the mind.
Sarvam Sri SeetaRamachandraparabramha aarpanamastu
