Spotty causes further confusion

If what he had done by day was not enough, Spotty was trying to do one better by night!

Mum Lioness was making dinner for two hundred guests. The cubs were helping out with leaves, and garnishing and clearing the dining space.

Spotty was in the other cave telling the guests and displaced residents stories.


The Raos from Madurai wanted to know how Tiru swami had acquired his name.
Instead of saying that Mum Lioness is the best person to tell you, he straightened his collar and started.
"Tiru swami was named after the holy city of Tiruvannamalai.". He then paused, pondered and said, "Or was it the other way round?"
This chance remark led to centuries of debate and many hundred doctoral theses. Centuries later some scholars dated Tiru swami's birth as 5000 BC to account for the hill being named after him!
The animals knew that the six-month cub could not be telling a lie. But it never occurred to them that he could have his facts wrong.

What about Om cub?
Om was named after the great Sadhu Om, said Spotty. And the most instrading part is .. (he paused here for effect) .. that Mum Lioness did not name him. (Another long unbearable pause. He was now down to a hushed whisper). "He named himself!"
"And he started writing poems from the day he was born!", continued Spotty, now on a roll.
Spotty had this knack, or gift, or bad habit of starting by telling the truth, and then continuing on his own from there. One did not know where facts stopped and his imagination began. And he believed whatever stories he spun.

What about Arunacub, they asked?
Is he named after Arunachala Hill, one asked.
Or is Arunachala Hill named after him, a child asked.
Oh no! said Spotty, this is a complicated case!
He took a deep breath.
Arunacub is actually named after Sadhu Arunachala.
Who is that, the animals asked.
Sadhu Arunachala is a devotee of Bhagavan who has not yet come here. He will come here in about 1935, after travelling around the world.
Will he travel by dragon? one kid asked.
Finally he will reach Bhagavan's feet and serve Bhagavan all his life. He will take on the name Sadhu Arunachala. Aruna cub has been named in his memory. He will be a great friend of the young Annamalai Swami who brought mangoes the other day for Tiruswami.

"Om cubbie wrote a poem the day he was born, and signed it Sadhu Om" - Spotty

How do you know so much, the animals asked.
Spotty answered impatiently, I have important work to do now. I must be off.
And so saying he bounded to the other cave.
"Where have you been little Spotty?" Mum Lioness enquired. "I have been waiting for you! I have an important task for you. Taste the sambaar and tell me if its up to the mark."

"Oh, I am dog-tired!", Spotty complained. "I have been taking care of all the guests!"