247 The King of Ceylon embraced Saivism. He entreated the Saint to show mercy on the Buddhist priests and restore to them the power of speech. Regaining this power, they too became Saivaites. His mission being fulfiled, Maanickavaa sagar returned to his hermitage. One day, the Lord, in the form of a sage, called on Maanickavaasagar. He expressed a desire to copy the hymns that the Saint had already composed and sung. The Saint recited them, and the Lord copied them. After the Thiru Vaasagam had thus been recorded, the Lord asked the Saint to sing a new composition, “Thirukkovai” (£65&Gasmansu), in praise of the Deity of Chidambaram. These also were written down on palm leaves. The Lord took the scripts and suddenly disppeared. At once Maanickavaasagar knew the holy man was the Lord Himself. We felt a terrible anguish for not having recognised. The Lord wanted to immortalise Maanickavaasagar and to spread his glory. He kept the scripts on the steps of Panchaakadara of the Chit Sabha. The sages of Thillai were sur prised to see them lying there. They opened the leaves and read the contents. In the end it was writtern “Maanickavaasa gar sang these verses and were recorded by the Lord of Chidambaram”. The Sages wanted to know the meaning of these verses. He took them to the temple and sang the "Achchop Padigam” (=21&#Geririhlu@sib), “Muththinerri Arriyaadha” (gp3505.0 -o/öluma). Pointing out to the image Lord Nataraja, Maanickavaasagar declared “He is the meaning of my songs” and then going into the holy of the holics he disappeared becoming one with the Lord.
