Long ago, Vallala maharaja ruled with Thiruvannamalai as his capital. He had two wives, Mallama Devi and Sallama Devi. He was a very staunch Siva devotee. Lord Shiva once appeared in his dream and told about his presence near the mountain that is in his country. The king circumbulated the mountain and found a Shiva lingam near the mountain, at the place he had in dream. (In that place a temple was erected later, and is called as aadhi Annamalai, the linguistic twists made it as adiannamalai) He then placed the Shiva lingam and built a temple.
Though he possessed all materialistic wealth, he did not have a son. He consulted the Rajaguru as to the way by which he could get a son. Guru advised him to do all
kinds of dharma.
So the king arranged for the same and announced that anyone and come and get anything that is under the control of him.
Lord Shiva wanted to test the King's charitable disposition and his devotion. Shiva appeared in the guise of sanyasi and his bhoothaganas appeared in the guise of humans. He sent all his followers to the dance girls houses at Thiruvannamalai.
He himself then went to the palace and asked the King for a dancing-girl. As all the dancing girls in the city were already engaged the King could find none for him.
Sallama Devi, said she could go herself to the sanyasi, if the King had no objection. The King was more than happy when he heard this proposal. As he didn't want any one go back without their wish being fulfilled.
The devotee pretended to sleep on a cot. As soon as the queen did namaskaram to him, he changed into a child. The queen immediately took the child to the king and narrated the incident. The king took the child in his arms and the next minute it disappeared. Then a voice from above was heard, saying that it was the Lord himself who came in the form of sanyasi to check if the king kept his words and that whenever the king really wanted to be with the child, the Lord Arunachaleswara himself would come to him in the form of child instantly.
True to the words, the Lord appeared as a child whenever the king felt like playing with him. The Lord played happily with him till he was satisfied.
After many years, the king became old and he passed away. This news reached the ears of Lord who was then in procession. The Lord came back running. He entered thru the main gopuram. (Note that Arunachaleswarar never leaves or enters thru the main gopuram) The last rites of the King were done by the Lord himself as he was only playing child of the King.
To this day, staunch devotees of the Lord are able to hear the words 'Appa' twice in the garbagruha on, masi magham, the day on which the king passed away. The Lord is also taken on that day to Pallikondanpattu to do the shrardham.
True devotion may move then the gods beyond our wildest imagination.
Annamalaikku harohara!!!
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