Sammanthandar, a noble at the King’s court, misguided the King Vallabha Deva that Arunagirinatha had faked Muruga’s darshan. He challenged Arunagirinatha to reveal Lord Muruga to the courtiers. Arunagirinatha, placing his trust in Muruga, accepted the challenge. Despite Arunagirinatha singing the praises of Lord Muruga, the Lord did not present Himself for a long time. The saint realized that Goddess Shakthi was holding Muruga on her lap, in response to the entreaties of a Shakthi upaasaka (ardent devotee of Shakthi), at the instance of Sammanthaandar. Immediately, Arunagirinatha sang the praises of the peacock, Muruga’s divine vehicle. In response, the peacock appeared before Lord Muruga and caressed Him with its feathers, making the Lord to become aware of what was happening, and the Lord rushed out to respond to His devotee and emerged from a pillar. The sanctum is named after Muruga, ‘Kambathu Ilayanaar Sannidhi’ (another name for Muruga is Kumara, the Youthful One -Ilayanaar.)

 

Kaschiyappa Sivachariar of Kandakottam, was ordained by Muruga, to compose the Skanda Purana in Tamil. When the words ‘thikadachakkaram ainthudaiyaan’ were recited, a scholar from the assembly protested that there is no sutra (rule) in Tamil grammar to split those words. When Sivachariar humbly conveyed that Muruga Himself had composed those words, the scholars ridiculed him and demanded proof. And the Lord presented Himself in the form of a Tamil scholar and said, ‘Study the eighteenth sutra of Veerachozhiam (a Tamil Grammar treatise); there is a supporting rule’.

 

God has manifested Himself in several such forms; in both divine representations as well as human forms. He has also rewarded the faith of persons, by granting them the boons they have sought.

 

Your devotion will definitely be rewarded. But, despite all the tests you face in life, you must not let go of Muruga. That is His Message. Just hold on to him for some more time. Then you will be rewarded with the sum total of all your penance, all over the years, across all your births.