Another famous work of Saint Arungirinathar is Kanthar Anthaathi. This is a work of 100 verses. Each verse is of four lines and mostly all the lines of every verse begin with the same words with, of course, different meanings. Antha means “end” and aathi means “beginning,” and Anthaathi is a particular type of work wherein the last word or phrase of the previous verse forms the beginning of the next verse — the “antha” (end) of a verse is the “aathi” (beginning) of the following verse.

It is believed that this work was the outcome of the literary contest between the learned but arrogant Villiputturar and the devout, divine-inspired Arunagirinathar. The condition was, it is said, that Arunagirinathar should compose Anthaathi songs without interruption and Villiputturar should at once give their meaning, he who failed to do so would have to accept defeat.