and scattered the flowers. Enraged at this, a Saint called Eripaththar killed the elephant and the mahout on the spot. The king, on hearing this, thought that a foe had come and killed the royal elephant and rushed to the spot. To his astonishment he saw the devotee of Siva, and prostratiag at his feet offered his sword to kill him to expiate his sin.
Once this Chola king had a combat with Athigaiman. His solidiers cut the heads of the soldiers of the foe and placed them before him. Among the slain there was a head having a matted lock. He thought that it should be the head of a devotee of Siva and felt that he had committed a sin by killing a devotee. He placed the head on a golden plate and carried it over his head. Then he tended a sacred fire, circumambulated the fire chanting the Panchakshara, entered into it and attained final beatitude.
43. NARASINGA MUNAIYARAIYAR NAYANAR
He was a feudatory under the Pallavas. He used to feed the devotees of Siva on Thiruvathirai days and offer 100 pon (gold coins) as gift. One day there came a devotee besmeared with sacred Ashes but with signs of lust. The Saint went forward to welcome the guest, fed him and gave 200 gold coins. He took care of the temples in his terrain and obtained beatitude.
44. ATHIPATHTHA NAYANAR
There lived in Nagappattinam a fisherman called Athipaththar. His occupation was fishing and the best of his first harvest (catch), he used to set free in the sea as oblation to the Lord. Lo! It was the will of the Lord that he got only one fish every day and the first fish was let away in the sea according to his cherished notion. Hence he lost his main income and he became very poor. One day he caught a golden fish decked with gams; but even this fish he let off in the sea. By this selfless act, he, blessed by god, reached the Feet of the Lord.
