The story unfolds with two beings, who, adorned with pride born from the divine, received instruction from the Lord himself. Though their actions—circumambulating the sacred Aruṇādri—were performed in secret, the Lord assured them their efforts would bear fruit. In this manner, the curse placed upon them by a great sage, whose wrath had been fueled by the ocean’s poison, was lifted. O foremost of kings, you then attained the form of an animal fit for riding. The Lord, manifesting from his own limb, took the form of a musk deer. O righteous one, you arrived under the pretext of hunting, and due to a fault in mounting your steed, you underwent a peculiar condition. Yet, through your connection, the Lord was released from the bondage of animal birth. Having spoken thus, the crescent-bearing Lord prepared to return to his abode. Both of you, empowered by Śaṃkara of the crimson mountain, experienced the transformative grace of Arunachala. The vision of the Lord left your mind swirling in awe and devotion. The two radiant, moon-crested ones spoke: “Understand clearly, for at your request, we shall reveal the means of deliverance.” They declared the Lord as the governor of creation, maintenance, dissolution, and grace throughout the universe. Before your very eyes, the majesty of this god was revealed. They instructed you to circumambulate the sacred mountain on foot, perfumed with musk, in reverence, and to offer all your prosperity to the Lord. Very soon, they assured you, a great accomplishment would be yours. With unwavering mind and deep faith, you devoted yourself to the Lord of Arunachala. Thus concludes the twenty-third chapter, ‘The Account of the Moon-crested Radiant Ones,’ in the Uttarardha of the Arunachala Mahatmya, within the first Maheshvara Khanda of the Skanda Mahapurana. Nandisha, the conduct of these two wise ones was remarkable and well-known. The question arose: When and how did the accomplished Vajrangada worship the Lord? Vajrangada chose his dwelling at the feet of the Lord. A great army followed the path of his vehicle, and the king, an ocean of courage, was seen in his glory. The king of the earth respectfully welcomed the arriving army, offering his entire treasury and the most fruitful lands. Near Gautama’s hermitage, Vajrangada established a sacred grove for austerities. He left his son Ratnangada in his own place, and all around the Śoṇa mountain, lakes brimmed with water. By the radiance of Lord Aruṇanātha, the embodiment of the pillar of fire, noble women adorned with beauty formed his retinue. Then, the sage Agastya arrived, accompanied by his beloved Lopāmudrā. Each day, Agastya bathed in the lake called Navatīrtha. The lord of men, famed for destroying the buffalo-demon, worshipped the liṅga-form revered by Brahmā and Viṣṇu at every moment. At dawn, the king would rise, bathe, and set out with his own feet. On the full moon day of Kārttika, beloved by the Lord’s consort Pārvatī, he adorned himself with fragrant sandal, lotus, and camphor water. Before the monthly flag-hoisting and other festivals at the holy site, he performed the sacred circumambulation with a pure heart. Thus, the story flows—a tale of devotion, transformation, and the blessings bestowed by the Lord of Arunachala.