The first trial that the Aaiyyanist King Nekaankilaan proclaimed was the 'Trial of Battle/Combat' (Ankaamiyyan). All the greatest warriors in the Kingdom would gather together and battle against each other to see who would fulfil the ancient prophesy of Seer Janeganianaa. The first trail would be the battle of Champions.
As mentioned previously, the ancient Seer Janeganianaa deemed that a warrior should be able to best all the great warriors (in their current era) from each region using any and all weapon they chose. The competition in ancient Aaiyyanist scriptures was describe like this:
Each region would choose their supreme warrior to take part in the Trial. There would also be a pool of warriors who fancied their chances at the Trial that would be allowed to join. (Remember, at this time most humans were psychically/spiritually abled and thus could determine if they had a good chance to do well in the trial... and thus not so many individuals joined via this path.) Once all the warriors were chosen or entered freely, each one would fight each other until the other was defeated. If any warrior died or was disabled such that they would be unable to fight again within two months, then the winner would be disqualified. The aim of the battle would then be to make the enemy submit or pass out without sustaining injury. This was important as described in the second part of the tournament. The warriors would keep fighting each other until there was one warrior who had defeated all the other warriors in the competition. If there were no overall winner (i.e someone who has won all their battles), then the tournament would be forfeit.
. If there was one overall winner, then the next (second) stage of the tournament would begin. The second stage would then take place (two months later) and would be the same as the first stage - except the one warrior who won the first stage would then face all the warriors who lost... all at the same time. In other words, in the second stage the winner of the first stage will simultaneously fight all the losers of the first stage at the same time. If the winner of the first stage lost the second stage, then the tournament would have no champion that year. It is said in ancient Dravidian texts that there was only 3 other champions for 1000 years prior to the tournament of Ankaamiyyan of King Nekaankilaan.
Please note: many Aaiyyanists know these rules as they also coincide with the Dravidian wrestling form of the SainikaH martial schools. In fact, the SainikaH wrestling is derived from this ancient competition and was then refined through the ages into the mode/form we have today. In the modern form there is of course no edict to make the opponent pass out. It is only submission that can win the match. And of course the second round, the winner of the first would still face all the other losers, but limited to 2-3 people vs 1 per round. Even in this modern form, there are not many winners of the second round.
And so the first trial began. The Kings and Queens of all the lands summoned their greatest warriors to fight. Many other warriors joined in the competition as stateless free fighters, until there were around 1000 fighters ready to win the Trial of Ankaamiyyan. Delviniyan also joined the trial, for his ego-self wished to see if he was able to become 'Brahman's Instrument'. He was also still hooded as he did not wish himself to be revealed just yet. It should be noted that the trial was not only open to men, women and Aravanni but all beings: Asuras, Devas etc... At this point in time the difference between the powers of the ancient Humans and demi-Gods was comparable - as the boundary between the ethereal spirit realm (Lokas and Talas) was much closer than they are now. It should also be noted that this was not a competition of strength alone, but one of tactics, Yogic devotion and will power.
And so the competition began. Delviniyan easily beat all opposition that stood in his way including an incarnation of Sadanandiyanal. The great teacher Aaiyyani Asweenikaaya who taught the children and warriors of the Aaiyyanist court the Art of Battle also triumphed until at last she faced the masked Delviniyan. You must remember that Aaiyyani Asweenikaaya was a great teacher and warrior and she felt supremely confident in her ability to win the battle using any weapon she chose. She opted for the bow, the Kattaariyaan (punch dagger), and Maduvulal (Stab shield) and readied herself to face Delviniyan.
Delviniyan walked slowly up to her with no weapon and performed the unarmed Alavuyyanian move that Murugan had taught him all those years before. Asweenikaaya fell down paralysed temporarily and forfeited the match. Thus Delviniyan won the first round.
In the second round, two months later, Delviniyan faced both Asweenikaaya and 1000 more warriors all lined up on her side. Asweenikaaya gave a rousing speech on how all the warriors should enact pure will to defeat any usurper who claims the title of 'Brahman's Instrument'. And so the greatest warriors of the day lead by Aaiyyani Asweenikaaya charged against Delviniyan who was alone and unarmed. Delviniyan remembered Murugan's words and used his inner Alavuyyan to amplify himself and he performed the Alavuyyanian once more. (Delviniyan directed a blow to each warrior using this most treasured of Dravidian Yogic techniques). And thus all the great warriors (all 1000 of them) fell paralysed to the ground as the resonant energy of the Alavuyyan Loka spread over them. Soon, within a short while... all the warriors had succumbed, and Delviniyan had won.
Delviniyan accepted his role as champion of Ankaamiyyan, but he still did not remove his hood as he was still not ready to face the Royal households of both the Kalaiyyans and Aaiyyanists. This perturbed King Nekaankilaan (The Aaiyyanists) and Queen Sironemaniyaa (The Kalaiyyans) greatly but there was nothing that could be done. Delviniyan simply rode off back to the forest to wait for the next challenge.
Please note: for a fuller rendition of the first Trial, all Aaiyyanists should read (or have a copy of) Ankaamiyyanal, which gives a more detailed account of this chapter.