therefore left the Jaina Mutt, came to his sister, besmeared his body with holy Ashes, uttered Panchakshara, went into the temple of Thiru Athikai and sang a Pathigam. By the grace of Siva, pain ceased and Lord Siva bestowed on him the name of Thirunavukkarasu.
Dharmasena'a desertion made the Jains tremble. The Pallava king Mahendravarman summoned him and subjected him to a series of trials. He was shut in a burning kiln and he came out of it alive. The royal elephant was incited against him but it would not injure him. He was given poisoned food and it did him no harm. He was bound to stone boulder and thrown into the sea and using it as a flout he reached the shore. Mahendra Pallava became a Saivite
Thirunavukkarasar then went to Thiruvathigai and from there he commenced his pilgrimage. He met Thirugnana sambanthar at Sirkali who christened him with the name Appar. Appar in one of his tours went to Thingalur where Brahmin Saint Appoothi founded many charitable institution in Appar's name and Appar himself saw a Watershed founded in his name. Appar went to Appoothi's house and consented to be his guest. The eldest son of Appoothi while cutting fresh plantain leaf was stung by a cobra and was dead. Keeping this as a secret, Appoothi invited Appar for the feast. Appar found out what had happened and by singing a pathigam he brought back life to the dead body.
In one of his tours he and Thirugnanasambanthar stayed at Thiruvizhimizhalai for a pretty long time and there was a drought. Each of them was supplied with a gold coin by Lord Siva and the devotees were daily fed. Both of them proceeded to Vedaranyam. As the gates of the inner temple were closed, the devotees went in by a side gate. They were informed that the gates were shut by the Vedas. On hearing
