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kingship) and a crown on his head, as a youth of incomparable beauty. With a smile dancing on his lips, he said, “We stay in Jyotivana (Kaleswara).” On hearing these words, Sundaramurthy woke up with excitement and recollected the glorious kindness of the Lord who appeared and showered benevolence on him, and narrated the wonderful vision to the Chera king with joy. There and then he sang, overwhelmed with devotion, the Thevara Pathikam commencing with the words, “Thondar Adithodalalum' on Lord Kaleswara.
From there they started to visit the far off holy place, Thiruppunavayil. Even as they started, God Kaleswara (who appeared in the dream of Sundaramurthy) and Amba approached them in the guise of an old brahmin couple. When Sundaramurthy asked them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?" they replied, “We shall talk about that later. First give us food. We are hungry.” Sundaramurthy consented, got the food prepared and looked for the couple, but they were not to be seen anywhere. All the lanes and by-lanes of the village were searched but they could not be found anywhere. They came back to the Mutt only to find that the food had disappeared and the leaves in which the food was eaten were scattered all over the place. Sundaramurthy was wonder-struck and exclaimed, “Ah! What a wonder is this! What can this be except the leela (play) of the Lord of the Universe?” As he arrived at this conclusion he heard an invisible voice: “Where do you intend going without seeing us who reside in the Jyotivana?" Sundaramurthy was wondering where that Jyotivana was and how to go there. The invisible voice once again said, “We are proceeding there on the vehicle of the sacred bull Nandi. You may also come there, following its footsteps.”
Sundaramurthy followed the footsteps, accompanied by the devotees, but suddenly the track disappeared. As he stood there in confusion the invisible voice was heard to say, “Look