A lively drama

It is held that the Lord willed that Nambi Arooran, who came to be known as Sundarar, should sing the song Tiruthondar Thogai which is the basis of Periyapuranam. His birth is also seen as a result of his past act or karma, said Dr. Sudha Seshaiyan in a discourse. He was a close attendant and devotee of Siva in Kailasa and used to offer sacred ash and flowers to the Lord.

He had shown exceptional daring on the occasion when the Aalala poison was churned out of the milky ocean. While all dreaded it, he collected it in his hands and gave it to Siva. Thenceforth, he who was known as Sundarar got the name Aalala Sundarar.

The Lord envisions and executes a plan with great precision for Sundarar’s earthly sojourn, during which time he would sing the glory of the Sivan Adiyars. Sundarar feels a momentary distraction when he catches sight of the beauty of the two maiden attendants of Parvati, Kamalini and Anindithai.

For this lapse, Siva passes the order that Aalala Sundarar should be born on earth.

Sundarar is very perturbed and agitated by the very thought of the imminent separation from the Lord. More than that, he fears that as a human being he would find it difficult to extricate himself from worldly pulls and delusions. He pleads with the Lord for timely help and guidance and extracts a promise from Him that He would personally intervene and redeem him from the world of samsara.

Siva keeps the promise and enacts a lively drama in his life at the right moment. When the marriage of Nambi Arooran is about to take place, Siva in the guise of an old man walks in and claims ownership over the bridegroom. The Lord then reveals His divine form and inspires him with the gift of poesy to sing soulful hymns.