known saint hindu sect saint generally counted eighteenth list like devout god tale numerous times folk tales folk music plays films literature tamil society included list 8th century 12th century gives account life tale focuses attributed temple prayers said moved giant stone bull appears moved position temple said fire temple tale features temple lore religious literature related temples 19th century retelling saint life remains basis later expands original narrative adding elements oppression saint higher higher tale focus saint norms emphasize exploitation superior apart collective worship enjoys temples depicted exist sites saint icon protest rights movements accounts life prominent 8th century called literature tomorrow relates tale longing visit details life revealed eleventh century stanza recalling lives described lived said visited patron god god grace thousand priests earliest primary religious account life found tamil 12th century tamil poet brought tale public attention printed added new elements tale unknown lived exactly generally dated 7th 8th century narrates belonged kingdom presently located indian state born regarded agricultural labourers singers description considers served labourers code born poverty staunch god patron god leather maker crafted drums musical instruments served village servant town beat drums times allowed enter hindu temples stand outside temple sing praises dance strong urge pay respects icon stood outside temple huge stone bull mount sculpture generally seen temples facing blocked path vision ordered little bull complied allowing central icon cleaned surroundings temple dug pond serves temple tank honour shrine returned visited temples served god visit temple lord dance everyday day actually step holy town prohibited entry came known tomorrow finally reached boundary feared set foot town saw smoke fire sacrifices heard chants scriptures thinking dancing icon town numerous times finally succumbed fatigue slept appeared dream told enter temple holy fire god informed priests prepare day approached divine order entered holy fire chanting reappeared new form looked like sage wearing hair characteristic sacred thread worn chest body sacred ash gods flowers heaven went saw disappeared image version interpreted narrative particular granted salvation transforming superiority reinforced legitimacy ban challenged president office bearer politician unit known calls fire trail propaganda conceal truth burnt stake ardent wrote operas honour saints upper rights devotion presents grim reality suffered rebel focuses atrocities suffer hands upper opera embedded social message grants emancipation play starts term come warning higher people cry entering street higher members clashes oppose devotion lord god elders headed define duties advise confront rules tell worship folk deities instead god feel needs social norms taboo idea entering temple villainous landlord appears tale repeatedly trying norms sees desire enter temple undesirable threat social status refuses grant permission resorts violence condition saint impossible task harvesting field night aided attendant saint completes task realizes apologizes lets retained final confrontation ritual fire concludes poem saying said lord granted salvation variants stories higher especially god trapped body true form revealed fire trial tales focus strict adherence norms obedience master refusal enter holy temple strongly believe portray root cause misery fits narrative proves par superior higher god round waist interpreted legs saint merged god temple lore narrates instructed son aid digging temple tank named saint variant tells dug tank night sacred waters seeing temple early half 20th century novel includes characters argue case peers echoes ideas hindu spiritual leaders like progressive upper leaders short story places classical tale contemporary setting retelling ancient tale alludes rights movements builds tale referred work introducing non upper ruthless portrayed lover art god wants cosmic dance called appears significant female characters found earlier narratives blunt understanding quest liberation women alike unlike earlier narratives tale devoid story falls prey conspiracy priest landlord non upper hatch plot end believe god harvested crop field allusion miracle impossible task work persuade organize dance contest high dance folk dance finally climax agrees undergo fire trial earlier miracle burn flames upper succeed sending warning code longing salvation punished celebration hindu religion specially tamil month moon enters lunar mansion depicted shaved head folded hands staff like receives collective worship icons brief accounts deeds found temples images taken procession festivals water tank considered sacred believed site fire recently built mentioned book small shrine dedicated exists south west town means temple sculpture singer found temple 12th century depicting trail fire hymn saints calling holy tomorrow earlier hymn praises god served poet narrates tale poems works dedicated temple tale early fourteenth century mentions legend sanskrit work ninth chapter temple called praises god served temple seen placed centre testimony devotion miracle stone image saint temple gate keeper sculptures depicted heads leaning downwards said honour shrine created outside temple stone image looks depicted hands joined head praying scenes opera local legend digging temple tank seen shrine remembrance society influence remains limited primarily tamil speaking areas christian missionary sympathetic cause narrative legend suggest devotion saw distinction class superior means salvation salvation knowledge propagated challenged authority hero tales protest leaders prove social superiority originates birth qualities deeds people tamil leadership protested bring wall temple tale built entered gate walled gate symbol oppression discrimination protesters demanded demolition state government temple currently tale connection walled gate refused protesters demands continues inspire symbol resistance hope better future young identify recent leaders like unaware dedicated book saints including speech called true means resistance said broke barrier won way freedom form self suffering justice prayer purity character compelled god descend open eyes tale numerous times folk tales plays literature art forms like musical number tamil films titled recall tale following version silent film silent film subtitled elevation directed film film featured performed stage numerous times film starring lead courted controversy overly overtones banned gold fields protests ban lifted met personally apologized climax featured fire film released acted film presented story narrative art form released small booklet saint life children says immoral legend remembered years strategy public management anxiety way devotion cited ages play social play spiritual qualifications
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