Once upon a time, amidst a tranquil morning, Othenan walked alongside his esteemed guru, Kakadan, in the sacred realm of Kalaripantal.
They strolled, wisdom intertwined, when they chanced upon Kathirur Gurus, who had just finished training their disciples. In a moment of jest, Othenan mockingly cried out;
"Behold, the Kathirur Gurus approach!"
In response, Kakadan, the wise elder, cautioned, "Thacholi Othena Kunhi Othena, do not trifle with the gurus, for they are the mentors of ten thousand, the mentors of you and me."
Othenan retorted with defiance, "Even if I had ten thousand disciples, even if they were my teachers, I shall not partake in the Kuncharan rituals until my head rests beneath the earth."
The Kathirur Gurus, upon their arrival at the temple courtyard, leaned their weapons upon a plank. Othenan, in his characteristic sarcasm, inquired, "Who wields the Ponkuntam Charum Pilavummal or Mankuntam Chariyata?" (referring to an enigmatic weapon).
Stung by this humiliation before their disciples, the Kathirur Gurus engaged Othenan in a verbal battle. Both sides hurled challenges, and Othenan boldly declared that he would defeat them hand-to-hand in Chundangapoil, the Gurus' sacred domain.
The Guru responded, emphasizing that the term "Kuncharanaya" signifies insufficiency.
Othenan, unwavering in the face of his foes and loyal to his friends, was unrelenting.
Ponnayam Ezharakandam became the fateful battleground where Kathirur Gurus and Thacholi Othenan would meet their destiny. Even Kottayam Naduvazhi Tampuran, an esteemed figure, held these martial arts masters in high regard. With over fifteen thousand valiant martial artists under their tutelage, the Kathirur Gurus were respected throughout the land.