The series 'Anandha Thandavam' comprises small stories taken from the life of a few great souls born on earth. It consists of incidents from the life of Manikkavachagar, Sekizhar, Meiporul Nayanar and Mara Nayanar. The serial traces their unwavering devotion to the Lord and reinforces the fact that true devotion can move even mountains.
The opening episodse shows all the subjects happy under the rule of the Pandya King. It also shows his minister trying to wage a war for fame and extension of the kingdom. The minister Thiruvaduradigalar is given the task of buying the horses and is given gold coins for the same purpose. Here, Lord Shiva appears before him as a sage and shows him the path to salvation.
Thiruvathuran, now known as Manikkavachagar, sings the praise of the Lord all through the day. He spends the gold coins given by the king, in building rest rooms, renovating temples, digging wells, building schools etc. He addresses his wife as 'mother'. When the king learns about this, he orders him to be produced before him.
Horses are brought before the king and the king is satisfied. But in the night, they all turn into foxes. King orders Thiruvaduradigal to be imprisoned. He is flogged and made to walk bare feet under the scorching sun with a heavy stone placed on his head. But the compassion of the Lord knows no bounds for a true devotee.
Realising his mistake, the king requests Thiruvaruradigalar to stop nature's fury. Everyone in the kingdom is given the task of carrying mud to fill the shores. An old lady appoints a youth to do her share of work in exchange of food. But he keeps having food at regular intervals and goes to sleep. The king hits him with a stick and lo and behold! - all the others get the mark and pain of the beating. The truth of the youth is revealed and Manikkavachagar attains salvation.
Arul Mozhi Devar completes his education on Saiva Sidddhantam. The king is impressed with his knowledge and makes him the chief minister and he is conferred the title of 'Uttama Chola Pallavarayar'. After serving his duty as a remarkable minister in the kingdom, he, at last, sings the glory of the Lord in Thiru Thondar Puranam. He is given the title 'sekkizhar' and the God and the Goddess come down to dance for his songs.
The king known popularly as Mei Porul Nayanar, is an ardent devotee of lord Shiva. He prostrates whoever comes in the guise of a sage. Muthanan, a dacoit, egged on by the kings brother Chitrasenan, disguises himself as a sage, a devotee of lord Shive. The king treats him with full respect, but Muthanan knifes him. Even then the king orders that the person in the guise of a sage should be escorted till the outskirts of the kigdom safely. On hearing this Muthanan has a change of heart.
This episode shows the compassion of the lord for his true devotees. Maaranar, an ardent devotee of the lord, does not eat before he feeds the sages. He looses all his wealth and his home as well. Still his service continues. One day there is nothing left in the house and both the husband and wife go to bed with just a glass of water. The lord decides to test his devotee, and visits his house in the midnight asking for food. What Maaranar does should be seen to be believed.
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