422 laid down with fever and was not able to keep up the engagement. He was deeply worried and puzzled, not knowing what to do. His wife, Papathiammal, proposed an alternative of sending his younger brother to Chettiar's house. Sapapathy agreed and requested his brother to read a few verses and apologise for his inability to keep up the engagement. Ramalingam conveyed his brother’s message to Chettiar who was at first very much worried and puzzled, for, he had invited prominent people to attend the inaugural function. When Ramalingam went and sat before the audience and began the discourse, every one was surprised at the way in which he explained the first line of the invocatory verse in the beginning of Periapuranam. He narrated how Lord Nataraja gave this sacred line *ULAKU ELAAM UN ARNTU OTARKU ARIYAVAN” meaning that the Lord is too rare to be felt and sung by all, all inspired by Him to the divine poet, Sekkizhar and how he was enabled to sing the entire work of Periapuranam with the help of His grace. Ramalingam quoted many verses from the text to stress the point that the beginning line was divinely inspired. Every one in the audience sat spell-bound at the extraordinary eloquence, flow and sweet exposition. Every one liked to get the pleasure of hearing his lectures for some more days. Sapapathy was informed of this, so that he might send his brother to fulfil the desire of the audience. He complied with the request, but he also went to overhear his brother without his knowledge, incognito as one in his audience. After this inspiring speech, his elder brother and his life partner Papathiammal began to worship him as if he was Lord Muruga himself. This was unbeara ble to Ramalingam. Therefore, he left the house and thus underwent much difficulties. From the
