Thirumazhisai-alwar continued his meditation on the Supreme Lord for a very long time and he once had a vision of the Lord’s Deity form as reclining on His Anantha at Thiru-kkudandai, the present Kumbakonam. The Deity of the Lord at Kumbakonam is popularly called as Ara-vamudan or Sarangapani Perumal.
Being captivated by the beauty of the Lord, Thirumazhisai-alwar decided to pay a visit to the Lord and spend some time at Kumbakonam. After taking the permission of Yadhokthakari Perumal, who was very dear to him, Thirumazhisai-alwar proceeded to Kumbakonam. After reaching a remote village called Perum Puliyur on his way to Kumbakonam, Thirumazhisai-alwar decided to rest for a while beneath the protruding roof of one of the houses. The Brahmanas who were reciting Vedas in that house stopped their chanting as soon as they saw Thirumazhisai-alwar coming towards them; as in those days shudras were prohibited from chanting Vedas or even listening to them.
After sometime, the Brahmanas wanted to resume their recitation and none of them could recollect the verses that they were chanting. Thirumazhisai-alwar, who was standing at a distance, reminded them the verses that they had forgotten by removing the husk of the paddy grain with his fingers as the verses were related to a ritual in which the wife of the performer of Rajasuya sacrifice removes the husk from the paddy grain. The Brahmanas realized that he was not an ordinary man though he appeared to be a shudra and fell at his feet seeking forgiveness.
It is said that the presiding Deity of Perum Puliyur turned His head towards the direction that Thirumazhisai-alwar went and the people who noticed it went and reported the same to Perum Puliyur Adigal, who was known for his piety in the village. After verifying what he heard from the villagers, Perum Puliyur Adigal went and fell at Thirumazhisai-alwar’s feet, offered his obeisance and took Thirumazhisai- alwar to the sacrificial arena where many Brahmanas were performing a sacrifice.
The Brahmanas, who were busy performing various sacrifices, started shouting at Adigal for bringing Thirumazhisai-alwar, a shudra, and humiliated the alwar by making derogatory comments against him for entering the sacrificial arena as shudras were not supposed to enter the sacrificial arena. Being hurt at the attitude of the ignorant Brahmanas, Thirumazhisai-alwar
The Lord appeared as if He was reclining on Anantha in a gigantic form in the sky and all the Brahmanas were astonished to see that and immediately prostrated before the alwar. They apologized to him, carried him on their shoulders to a chariot and took him in procession around the village to seek his forgiveness and blessings. The alwar imparted various esoteric secrets that can help one to realize the Absolute Truth and become closer to the Supreme Lord to the aspiring Brahmanas before continuing his journey to Kumbakonam.
It is said that the all-merciful Lord, who is reclining on His serpent as Lord Sarangapani at Kumbakonam, started to rise to receive and welcome Thirumazhisai-alwar as soon as he reached the precincts of the temple and the alwar who saw the Lord rise requested Him to stay as He is. Therefore, the Deity of the Lord at Kumbakonam seems as if He is getting ready to rise from His sleeping pose even today. It is said that the alwar was moved by that gesture of the Lord and started to meditate on that form while staying at Kumbakonam.
According to tradition, Thirumazhisai-alwar meditated on that form of the Lord for 2,300 years before concluding his pastimes, which lasted for 4,700 years, on this planet. Thirumazhisai-alwar has composed 216 hymns (pasurams), which are classified under two titles – Nanmugan-tiruvandadi and Thi
Thiru-channda-vrattam that consists of 120 hymns is included in the first thousand hymns of Nalayira-Divya-Prabandham and Nanmugan-tiruvandadi, which consists of 96 hymns, is included in the third thousand hymns of the Divya-Prabandham.
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