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Proper beginning should be with SRI, the first letter of
the name - Sri Kalahasti. It stands for a certain spider that
attained Sayujyaprapti here. The spider was the son of a pious
brahmin called Satyasaka in previous birth and lived on the bank
of river Tamraparni. He developed friendship with lowly weavers
and spent a dissolute life, despite the heart-rending appeals by
the parents to return to the Brahmin fold. Due to quirk of fate,
he left his parents and went to Konkanadesa along with a
weaver called Patala - a victim of incurable diseases, but was
very rich. The weaver adopted and called him Karambai. He died
soon leaving all his wealth to Karambai. Instant richness made his
head reel. And he dissipated all the inherited in the company of
unbridled characters. When thrown into ditch of penury, he
repented, but to what effect? Before his death he had the
good fortune of meeting a Saivate devotee,
who asked him to part with a cloth to adorn the Sivalinga of his place. He
obliged. That was the only merit stood to his account at the time of death; for,
under the intoxication of money, he led an immoral life causing unending
torments to his dependents and trusted friends.
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