Thiruvilayaadal puranam that made me cry

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Hemanatha Bhagavathar arrogantly invites everyone to challenge him in singing in Madurai. The king, a Pandiyan, invites him to his court as a good geasture from a lover of arts. Hemanatha Bhagavathar performs in his court and challenges the ruler to stage a performance with an artist who sings better than him. It was a matter of prestige for Pandiya naadu. The ruler accepts the challenge and asks all his ministers to bring a better performer than Hemanatha Bhagavathar. Not finding anyone, his ministers said they could only find Paanapatharar, who while no match to Hemanatha Bhagavathar he was their best bet. King orders Paanapatharar to come and compete with Hemanatha Bhagavathar. The king also asks Paanapatharar to give his best and the prestige of Paandiya naadu lies with him.

Paanapatharar was no match to Hemanatha Bhagavathar. He know that himself. He didn't know what to do and cursed his fate. He decides that only Shiva can help him in this situation. He sings "Isai thamizh nee seidha" song. In that he says, "You have saved many of your bhaktas. What's your plan? Is the victory going to be to the arrogant guy or the Madurai Tamilian (Lord Shiva)? I have surrendered everything to you. With prestige of Madurai (Paandiya naadu) at stake, if you lose in this competition, the blame is on you, not me."

Shiva takes form of a firewood seller. Toiling all day selling firewood, the seller rests in the thinnai of the hotel where Hemanatha Bhagavathar stays. Not getting sleep, he starts singing "Paatum Naane Bhavamum Naane". The song captures, "Hey, arrogant man. Remember I am the one who made you sing." The song and music is so enchanting and captivating that Hemanatha Bhagavathar realises that his music is so inferior in comparison.

Hemanatha Bhagavathar come out of his house and asks the firewood seller from whom he learned music. The firewood seller responds, "I tried learning, but music wouldn't enter my head. Paanapatharar tried his best but couldn't teach me music. It just wouldn't come to me. I was that pathetic and I was ousted by him for being a mediocre student." 

Hemanatha Bhagavathar ponders, "If the music of a Paanapatharar's mediocre student is multiple times better than mine how am I going to face Paanapatharar tomorrow?" Instead of suffering that humiliation, let me escape from Madurai now itself.

Thus Lord shiva belittles himself and takes his devotees to the pedastal. Such is the grace of Lord Shiva.

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