Aditya Karikalan, along with his companions and retinue, was making his way past the splendid spot where the Manimuktha River merged with the floodwaters. As they rode, they conversed about the honors bestowed upon the prince on the first night at Thirumudukunram, and about the temple renovations underway in that sacred place.

“I am greatly pleased by what Sundaramurthi Nayanar did at Thirumudukunram!” said Parthibendran.

“What are you referring to?” asked Aditya Karikalan.

“That he refused to sing in praise of the old one!”

“I do not know of this. Tell me the details,” said Aditya Karikalan.

When Sundaramurthi Nayanar was on his pilgrimage, he came to Thirumudukunram, also known as Virudhachalam. As was his custom, he visited the Shiva temple there. The temple priests, after arranging for him to have darshan of the deity, requested, “Please compose and bless us with a hymn in praise of our town’s Lord!”

Sundarar asked, “Let me see, what is the name of the deity in this temple?”

Since the place was called Thirumudukunram, the priests had named the deity Viruthagireeswarar. They told him this name.

Sundarar’s face fell; he thought to himself, “Must I go on singing of old men everywhere?” Then he asked, “Very well, what is the name of the goddess here?”

“Viruthagireeswari,” replied the temple priests.

“So, you have given the title of ‘old man’ to the Lord, and made the goddess an old woman as well? I cannot sing of old men and old women! Farewell!” declared Sundaramurthi Nayanar, and, in anger, left the temple.

The priests believed that unless Sundaramurthi Nayanar composed a hymn, their temple would not gain renown. So, they consecrated another goddess in the temple and named her ‘Baalambikai’—the Young Mother. Once again, they went to where Sundaramurthi Nayanar was staying, told him the above details, and requested that he make another pilgrimage to the holy temple at Thirumudukunram. Sundaramurthi Nayanar, with his generous heart, agreed, and once more journeyed to that town, where he sang hymns in praise of Viruthagireeswarar, accompanied by Balaambikai.

Hearing this tale, Aditya Karikalan burst into laughter, his whole body shaking uncontrollably.

“Perhaps the poet who came to Periya Pazhuvetarayar said something similar, like Sundaramurthi. Maybe he declared that he would not sing of the old man or the old woman. Is that why the elder married Nandini? Who knows?” he said.

Hearing this, Parthibendran and Kandhamaaran laughed so hard that it seemed as if they would fall off their horses! Their laughter was so uproarious, it looked as though they might tumble to the ground.

After their laughter subsided, Parthibendran said, “I do not know why God created something called old age. Would it not have been better if everyone remained the same until their appointed time, and then simply died?”

“What does it matter what God has ordained? Whether one grows old or not lies in one’s own hands,” said Karikalan.

“How can that be?” asked Kandhamaaran.

“Do we ever think of Abhimanyu or Aravan as old