Page:The story of saiva saints.pdf/14

Rh the temple with flower garlands, the royal elephant of Pugazh Chola, a chola king, becoming mad or frenzy seized the basket containing flower garlands, threw it off and went on its way Sivakami Andar cried out in anguish “Sivatha Sivatha” (O Siva O Siva!) entreating succour. Eripaththar hearing the call for aid got wild and killed the elephant and the mahout with his sword. This incident was communicated to the king who rushing to the spot came to know the reality and requested to kill him also for expiation of the sin committed by his elephant. This act of the king moved the Saint and he rushed to cut off his own neck and die. The king held the hands of the Saint, obstructed him and saved him from self immolation. At this moment a voice from heaven was heard to the effect that it was only to proclaim the devotion of the Saint, the elephant's action happened and by the grace of the Lord the dead elephant and the mahout came back to life. By this unflinching devotion the Saint became the head of Siva's celestial hosts.

There was a Saint called Enathinathar at Eyinanur. He belonged to Sanar's Caste. He had an enemy called Athisooran, Both of them were well at imparting instruction in Sword-fight. Athisooran entertained jealousy over the Saint and one day he was defeated in a combat. The next day he approached the Saint once again for a combat besmearing his forehead with sacred Ash. At the sight of the sacred Ash on the forehead of his foe, the Saint became bewildered. He thought for a while that Athisoora should not be censured for killing an unarmed one. So he held a sword in his hand and pretended to fight. Athisoora struck the Saint and by the grace of god he attained salvation.