When Gnana Bharathi wrote in his book "Tamil Mannin Thanthai" that Ramalinga Adigal came in 1902 to conduct the last rites for Kalpattu Aiya I was truly overwhelmed and wanted to know who Kalpattu Aiya was who brought his guru who had merged with light back again. I managed to gather much about Kalpattu Ramalingam who later came to be known as Kalpattu Aiya from this wonderful book that was written in Tamil. Ramalingam was a yogi from a town called Kalpattu in Nadu Naadu or present-day Vizhuppuram. He was doing austerities on a hill at Thirunarungkundram, near present-day Ulunthurpettai. Thirunarungkundram later became known as Thirunarungkondai and eventually came to be known as Thinrangkottai. Kalpattu Ramalingam lived in solitude, continuing severe tapas, only to enter the nearby town once a day to beg for food. His only wish was to advance spiritually with the guidance of a highly evolved master.
One day he declared to others that on a particular day that he mentioned, a master shall come to guide him. The miracle happened on the very specific day Kalpattu Ramalingam had indicated. Chidambara Ramalinga Adigal or Arutprakasa Vallalar's blessed feet graced the town of Thirunarungkundram that day. Vallalar's eyes fell on Kalpattu Ramalingam's thavakudil or residence. Kalpattu Ramalingam who had anxiously awaited for the said master on seeing Ramalinga Adigal arrive was visibly shaken and was in joy. Kalpattu Ramalingam fell for Ramalinga Adigal immediately. He cried his heart out at the much-awaited master's feet. Ramalinga Adigal lifted Kalpattu Ramalingam and embraced him. "My prayers have been answered", cried out Kalpattu Ramalingam in joy. He continued, "I worship you master". "Please take me along with you", begged Kalpattu Ramalingam. Ramalinga Adigal told him to wait till he (Ramalinga Adigal) summons him.
One day Ramalinga Adigal thought about Kalpattu Ramalingam and immediately Kalpattu Ramalingam headed for Karungkuzhi where Ramalinga Adigal was staying. Kalpattu Ramalingam wept in joy at reaching Ramalinga Adigal's abode at Karungkuzhi. Although Kalpattu Ramalingam came to Ramalinga Adigal with high hopes and aspirations to serve Ramalinga Adigal, Ramalinga Adigal directed him to go to Chidambaram first and return after 6 months instead.
After 6 months had passed Ramalinga Adigal went looking for Kalpattu Ramalingam again and brought him to Dharmasalai at Vadalur. He had a kudil built for Kalpattu Ramalingam, east of Dharmasalai near a well, and instructed him to stay there. The same day Ramalinga Adigal gave him Gnana Upadesam to Kalpattu Ramalingam. Kalpattu Ramalingam never left that kudil following that wonderful moment of initiation by his master. He immersed himself in tapas as shown by Ramalinga Adigal. Kalpattu Ramalingam lost himself in bliss. If he had news for Kalpattu Ramalingam, Ramalinga Adigal would summon him. As a result of his severe tapas and its resulting Tava Kanal, Kalpattu Ramalingam's body became fiery hot and he developed burnt wounds. Seeing him in torment, Ramalinga Adigal commanded that Kalpattu Ramalingam be given food once a day. Once Ramalinga Adigal was away for days on end. Before leaving he gave instructions and reminded his followers to send food to Kalpattu Ramalingam daily. But sadly it was not done. Once on arrival back at Dharmasalai, Ramalinga Adigal inquired if Kalpattu Ramalingam was served food in his absence. As his followers stood in shame and remained silent, Ramalinga Adigal summoned them to bring food and headed straight for Kalpattu Ramalingam's kudil. He fed him with his own hands that day, taking him to another level of bliss. In another instance when Vallalar was saddened that his followers were not heeding his words and openly announced his displeasure at them, Kalpattu Ramalingam who was sitting among them, upon hearing these words of his master, suddenly fainted. Ramalinga Adigal arose and went over to where Kalpattu Ramalingam lay and revived him, mentioning, "I did not mean you".
When disciples of Ramalinga Adigal addressed him as Swami he did not like it. He did not want that name to be used on his publications too. He considered himself a servant of God or adigal. Once during his meditation, Kalpattu Ramalingam heard a voice question him, "Do you know from whom you received that Gnana Upadesam?" Of course, he knew it was from his guru Ramalinga Adigal. But he was told that, "You have received it from Vallal Ramalinga Adigal. Not only are you a student of his, but you are also his child." Henceforth from that day on Ramalinga Adigal was addressed as Vallal.
People from all walks of life came to Vadalur. As the numbers of devotees fed at the Dharmasalai increased, Vallalar summoned Kalpattu Ramalingam and Dharmasalai's cook Velur Shanmuganaar. He asked them to take charge of preparing porridge and feeding the poor who arrived at Dharmasalai in large numbers. From that day foreword both Kalpattu Ramalingama and Shanmuganaar, heeding Vallalar's command, took it upon themselves to doze the flame of hunger in the hungry arriving continuously at the Dharmasalai.
Once as they were traveling in a cart drawn by a bull, Vallalar laid his head on the thigh of Kalpattu Ramalingam and took a short nap. Suddenly tears streamed from Vallalar's eyes and drenched Kalpattu Ramalingam's thighs, the floor of the cart, and dripped onto the earthen road they traveled. Watching this unusual phenomenon, questions arose in Kalpattu Ramalingam. Vallalar eventually quenched his thirst to know the reason for his continuous stream of tears. Vallalar had thought for a moment, "When would he see the day where peace would prevail by God's grace, where all suffering ends, where all are merged in eternal bliss, and where all come in unison bonded by love for each other". Kalpattu Ramalingam on hearing this from Vallalar wept thinking how many people actually think about this or have this thought. Kalpattu Ramalingam too prayed to see the day where all sufferings end and only bliss prevails. Returning to Dharmasalai, Vallalar passed on the full responsibility of running the Dharmasalai to Kalpattu Ramalingam. Later Amaavaasai Paradesi joined Kalpattu Ramalingam and Velur Shanmuganaar with this mighty task.
In November of 1873, Vallalar who moved to Siddhivalagam entered and stayed behind closed doors for 3 months. Kalpattu Ramalingam and Kattamuthupaalaiyam Narayanar kept shuttling between Dharmasalai and Siddhivalagam. Vallalar summoned Kalpattu Ramalingam and Karanapattu Kandasamy and passed on to them his doctrines. Vallalar stated his disappointment to them on his followers not heeding his teachings. He commanded them to continue the act of feeding with compassion. Kalpattu Ramalingam sensing something, summoned Vallalar's followers to Siddhivalagam. After 3 months in solitude, Vallalar appeared in the midst of all gathered at Siddhivalagam on 30th January 1874. He spoke his last words then. Kalpattu Ramalingam and Karanapattu Kandasamy stood in a corner, silent with tears flowing. Vallalar revealed that he would assume the role of Gnana Sidhar for the next 42,000 years and disclosing this, entered the room at Siddhivalagam. He sat on a Peedham. Kalpattu Ramalingam had the honor and privilege to latch the door from outside. Vallalar went into a blissful sleep.
As ordained Kalpattu Ramalingam, Subburaaya Paradesi, and Kattamuthupalaiyam Narayanar carried out their duties of feeding at Dharmasalai with reverence. On the 8th of February, 1902 Kalpattu Ramalingam passed on his duties to his student Subburaaya Paradesi and waited to merge with Vallalar, an act that baffled those around him. They ridiculed Kalpattu Ramalingam asking how he was going to merge with Vallalar who had left them some 25 years ago. Kalpattu Ramalingam openly announced that Vallalar will come forth to take him with him just as he had done in the beginning, bringing him from Chidambaram to Vadalur. That said miracle took place exactly after 48 days of his open decree, as ordained. It was the 26th of April 1902. Vallalar stepped into Dharmasalai after 25 years. Vallalar appeared in front of Kalpattu Ramalingam. Immediately Kalpattu Ramalingam left his mortal frame. His lifelong wish was granted that day. Vallalar carried out Kalpattu Ramalingam's last rites.
There are no words to describe their relationship that of the disciple and a guru.
So when Agathiyar spoke about Arjuna and that Lord Krishna took on his karma that would result from the confrontation and war that was to begin at Kurushetra, I needed to know who was this Arjuna whose karma that Lord Krishna took upon himself. What did he accomplish to gain the respect of Lord Krishna? From https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Arjuna we are given an insight into the relationship between Arjuna and Lord Krishna.
Together, the inseparable friendship between Krishna and Arjuna represent the cosmic inseparability of Brahman and atman, or the essence of the universe and the soul, one of the fundamental ideas of Hinduism. In a more general sense of comparative myth, Arjuna also stands as the archetypal reluctant hero, who is called to a task of great import and initially shirks his duty, only to reconsider and perform his task with unmatched effectiveness.
When duality and separateness are gone and the individual soul merges with the Brahman or the Jivatma merges with the Paramatma where is the distinction between good and evil, student and teacher, etc. Lord Krishna was using Arjuna to do his work, God's work. "Krishna reveals that he is indeed an incarnation of God, and manifests his full divinity to Arjuna."
So why was Arjuna special to Lord Krishna? Arjuna chose his personal counsel rather than the army.
Upon finishing their period of exile, the Pandavas sought the return of their kingdom from the Kauravas. However, the Kauravas refused to honor the terms of their agreement, which caused the great Kurushetra war to break out. Krishna gave each of the warring sides a choice: They could either be given the benefit of his personal counsel or of his army. Arjuna chose the companionship of Krishna while the Kauravas chose the mighty army. Thus, Krishna became Arjuna's personal charioteer during the eighteen-day war and protected him on numerous occasions from injury and death. (Source: https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Arjuna)
When Arjuna saw his own people whom he had to battle, he tells Lord Krishna, "When I see my own people arrayed and eager for fight O Krishna, My limbs quail, my mouth goes dry, my body shakes and my hair stands on end. The Gandiva slips from my hand and my skin too is burning all over. I am not able to stand steady. My mind is reeling", "he is counseled concerning the nature of the universe, proper duty, and supreme devotion." Agathiyar in relating this scene too quivered and his voice choked.