As his mind fixed itself upon that wondrous vision, it began to whirl with awe and devotion. Before him appeared two radiant beings, luminous as those adorned with the crescent moon. They spoke with gentle authority: “Understand clearly what we say; at your request, we shall reveal the means of deliverance.” They continued, “He whom you seek is the Lord who governs the creation, maintenance, dissolution, and the grace that pervades the universe. Now, before your very eyes, the majesty of this god has been revealed. In reverence, circumambulate him on foot, your body perfumed with musk. Whatever prosperity you possess, O Lord, offer it all to him. Very soon, through this devotion, you will attain a great accomplishment.” With unwavering mind and deep faith, he devoted himself to the Lord of Arunachala, following their instructions with all his heart. Thus concludes the twenty-third chapter, called ‘The Account of the Moon-crested Radiant Ones,’ in the Uttarardha of the Arunachala Mahatmya, in the first Maheshvara Khanda of the sacred Skanda Mahapurana. Nandisha, the conduct of these two learned and radiant ones has been heard and is indeed remarkable. But when did the accomplished Vajrangada worship the god, and how did he do so? Vajrangada chose his dwelling at the very foot of the Lord’s presence. A great army followed in the path of his vehicle, and the king himself, an ocean of courage, was thus seen. The king of the earth respectfully received the arriving army, offering his entire treasury and the most fruitful lands. Near the hermitage of Gautama, he established a sacred grove for the practice of austerities. Leaving his son, Ratnangada, in his own place, he turned his attention fully to the service of the Lord. All around the Śoṇa mountain, lakes brimmed with clear water. By the radiance of Lord Arunānātha, the embodiment of the pillar of fire, noble women adorned with beauty formed his retinue. At that sacred place, the sage Agastya arrived, accompanied by his devoted wife Lopāmudrā. Each day, Agastya performed his ritual bath in the lake known as Navatīrtha. The lord of men, who had accomplished the destruction of the buffalo-demon, worshipped at every moment the liṅga-form, revered by Brahmā and Viṣṇu themselves. At dawn, the king would rise, bathe, and, with his own feet, circumambulate the holy site. On the full moon of Kārttika, beloved of Pārvatī’s Lord, he was anointed with fragrant sandal, lotus, and camphor water. Before each monthly flag-hoisting and other festivals at the holy place, with a pure heart he performed the circumambulation, offering his whole self in devotion. He addressed the deity as Arunācalanātha, ocean of the nectar of compassion. Daily, he anointed the Lord with various substances, beginning with the five nectars, and worshipped with kalhāra flowers and streaming musk essence. In this way, for three years, Vajrangada, self-controlled and steadfast, served with unwavering devotion. One day, he beheld a vision: one resembling a mountain of mist, mounted upon the noble bull. In the presence of the Brahmarṣis such as Vasiṣṭha, and great sages like Nārada, and amidst surging waves of compassion and the abodes of lotus essence, Vajrangada saw the Lord of gods. Overcome with reverence, he placed his eight limbs upon the ground in full prostration. With hands joined atop his head, the king humbly made his request, saying, “I alone have acted thus; let my transgression be forgiven.