At one time Bhattar was living with his family in a town called Koorakulottamam. Here Nanjeeyar was maintaining a garden and doing flower service to the Lord.

Once, some of Nanjeeyar's disciples complained that Bhattar and his family's presence in the garden was disturbing their work.

When Nanjeeyar heard about this, he called them over and angrily told them "Am I doing this garden and flower service because I think that the Lord's hair smells poor? I am doing this as a service because it is liked by Bhattar and his family."

That is, a disciple does service even to the Lord only as service to his acharya.