After Vicrama-Pandian had crowned his son, Rajasekara-Pandian, and given him the kingdom, there came a learned man from Karikal, the Soren king, and said, "Our king knows the sixty-four Sastras, but you do not know the Baratha-Sastram," (art of dancing). To which objection the Pandian replied, "Having learned the other sixty-three, I consider it indecorons to learn the other, seeing that the god himself condescended to dance in the silver temple." Notwithstanding, disliking the reproach, he set about learning the art, and finding it very difficult, he went one day to the silver temple where the god was standing on one leg, and requested that

 

 

the god would change the position of his feet by standing on the other leg; adding, while he struck his sword into the ground, that if this was not done, he would fall on his sword and kill himself. On this kingly request being made, the god put down the lifted leg and raised the other one, thus changing the leg on which he stood, at which the Pandian bathed in the sea of joy, (was greatly rejoiced), and entreated, that this changing of the leg might be made publicly to appear to the people; which request the god condescendingly granted.

 

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