Chapter 10: Choodamani Viharam

After Poompuhar went under the sea, Nagapattinam became the most important sea port for the Cholas. Many merchant ships came to the beautiful land of the Cholas through Nagapattinam bearing precious gems and fast horses of Arabia, seeking to barter goods.

Years ago, when Sundaramurthy Nayanar came to Nagapattinam he saw rich ships helmed by the prosperous merchants bringing in their goods to the port. He described the scene in a song where he hails Nagapattinam as a port city of beautiful palaces. Nambi Aroor, yet another poet saint too described Nagapattinam as a port, where one can procure a rare breed of fast Arabian horses. That’s probably why Sundaramurthy Nayanar too got himself a horse instead of buying the rich wares that the merchants were peddling.

Many historical plaques have hailed this port city as the most prosperous and bustling place where goods were often bartered. They also describe it as a city with many palaces and mandapams and the famous Choodamani Viharam.

Malay of today was known as Sri Vijaya Nadu in the olden days. Kadaram was an important city of this Kingdom and the Kings of Shailendra vamsam ruled over Sri Vijaya Nadu for many years. Of all the kings in this lineage Magaradwajan Choodamani Varman was most famous. He was known as a political strategist of great intelligence, his knowledge about worldly affairs could only be compared to the wisdom of Guru Bhagawan himself. The plaques of Anaimangalam compared his intelligence and acumen to the sun himself.

The son of this great king, Mara Vijayathunga Varman wanted history to remember his father’s name in posterity, therefore he built a huge Buddha Viharam at Nagapattinam and called it Choodamani Viharam. One may wonder why the Kings of Kadaram, came all the way to Nagapattinam to build a Buddha Viharam. In those days, Nagapattinam and Sri Vijaya Nadu were engaged in trade for many long years. Many people from Sri Vijaya Nadu who had come to Nagapattinam to trade had settled in the port city. The Kings of Kadaram and his citizens belonged to the faith of Buddha and since large number of his citizenry were settled in Nagapattinam, he built the Choodamani Viharam for their benefit. The Chola Kings who were benevolent towards the followers of Buddha allowed the Kadaram king to build a Viharam in their land. Apart from giving them the land, the Chola Kings also gifted many grants and bestowed tax-free lands on the Viharam.

Later after many years when Arul Mozhi Varmar (Raja Raja Cholan) was crowned the king, he would bestow the entire village of Annaimangalam as a tax-free gift to the Choodamani Viharam and would inscribe this royal decree as a stone plaque for posterity. Today these stone edicts can be seen at the Netherlands museum.

Leiden Copper Plates of Chola that describes
Choodamani Viharam in Nagapattinam

 

Leiden Copper Plates of Chola

Right from the time of Vijayalaya Chola, the kings who came after him were great devotees of Lord Shiva. King Aditya, Paranthaka Chola, Gandarathidhar and others were very devout and had built many temples and had bestowed many lands and riches to their beloved God. However, they were also very tolerant of people who followed other faiths and religion. In this regard, King Sundara Chola was more benevolent than his ancestors, as he bestowed many rich grants for Buddha Viharams. Pleased by his actions, many Buddha Viharams and their principle Bikshus hailed Sundara Chola’s grace and benevolence every day. Added to this, when they heard about Prince Arul Mozhi Varmar’s actions in Elangai where he had ordered his army to rebuild the dilapidated Buddha Viharams, their joy knew no bounds.

Now that we know this, we wonder what had happened at this Buddha Viharam that has agitated the peaceful Buddha Bikshus. One can hear a lot of confused gabble of voices at the entrance of Viharam. Let us go along with Senthan Amudhan to see what is happening there.

When Senthan Amudhan entered the Viharam through the rear entrance there was no one about, so he made his way through to the main entrance. At the public entrance of the Viharam there was a main temple of Buddha. Many devotees had gathered there holding offerings of lotus flowers, camphor and pooja plates laden with flowers of Shenbagam. But the devotees had not gone up the temple and were instead listening intently to someone who was narrating something. Many Buddha Bikshus too had gathered around them listening to the man with their eyes filled with tears. The crowd gathered there exclaimed ‘Ayyo!’ even as the man continued his story.

Senthan Amuthan understood what had happened after he reached closer. The man narrating the story was one of the crew members from Pallava Parthibendran’s ship. Their ship had reached Nagapattinam one day earlier and soon after their arrival, rumours about the Prince’s death had spread around the city. Worried by these rumours the head of the Viharam bid one of the crew members of the ship to come so that they could learn the truth of the matter. Narrating the incidents that happened during the storm, the man completed his story with the news that the Prince had jumped into the sea to save someone.

When they heard it, everybody in the crowd started crying and shouting in anguish. The head of the Viharam, an old Bikshu started crying and streams of tears wet his ochre clothes. Anguished and in despair the old Bikshu climbed the steps to the temple and the other Bikshus followed him. Senthan Amuthan too followed them behind but no one noticed him.

“I can’t believe that this is the will of Lord Buddha. How many castles did we build in the air? Recently when I went to Thanjavur and met King Sundara Cholar and told him about the great deeds that his young son was doing for us in Elangai. Princess Kundavai too was right next to them. She called me again for a private audience and told me that she wished to open a medicine clinic next to this Viharam and that she would bestow grants from her own income for the same. That was not all. She also made an important request to me. She said that there would come a time when her brother might need shelter from his enemies and that she looked upon us to provide it. She asked me whether I would be able to protect him! And I told her that I would be honoured to host the Prince as my guest and that I would protect him from any harm. What a calamity has visited upon us? The prince drowns in the sea and along with him all our dreams has shattered.  How did the Sea God dare to take away the beloved son of Cholas?”

Listening to the anguish of their leader the other Bikshus silently shed tears and silence descended upon them. Senthan Amuthan moved towards the leader thinking that now would be a good time to speak to him.

When he came forward the other Bikshus noticed him for the first time and wondered aloud as to who he was?

Senthan Amuthan addressed the leader saying, “Ayya! My name is Senthan Amuthan. I have come from Thanjavur. I wish to speak to your leader privately,”

“I keep no secrets at my Viharam. You can tell whatever you want to, in front of them,” said the old Bikshu.

“Ayya! I have come here with someone who is very unwell,”

“Who is he? What ails him? Where have you left him?”

“He is at the rear entrance,”

“How did you get there?”

“We came by the boat through the canal. He is suffering from Shivering fever. I request you to…”

“Oh God! The shivering fever spreads in the air. Why did you bring him here that too now of all times?”

“Acharyarey! So long, I was under the impression that King Ashoka belonged to the faith of Buddha. Now I know that he was not,”

“Why do you say that?”

“I once saw the pillar of Ashoka near Kanchi and in that it was written that it is one’s prime duty to take care of the sick and infirm but here you are driving me away,”

The old Bikshu looked at his disciples and said, “Wait here, I will go with him to see this person,”

As they neared the rear entrance, the Bikshu got agitated when he saw a young woman was standing with a young man.

“How could you do this? How dare you bring a woman to this Viharam? Women are prohibited from entering our Viharam, don’t you know that? That’s why we keep a separate monastery for women monks!”

After raging thus, he neared them and saw who the young man was and he stood transfixed in shock and surprise. He couldn’t speak for a while and when he did, he looked at Senthan Amuthan for confirmation, “Is it Prince Arul Mozhi Varmar?”

But the Prince heard him and answered instead, “Acharyarey! No! I am not a Prince. This woman and this man are trying to drive me mad. I am an ordinary man who pliés the boat for a living and I asked this woman, “Will you marry me? Let us get on a boat and go far away from here,” but she is babbling something odd. She says that I was born to rule this world and that she wouldn’t marry me because she is but a mere fisher girl. She just wants me to be happy and well and that she wishes to see me succeed in life. How is this story? Now tell me who is truly mad? Me or her?”

Senthan Amuthan whispered something in the ears of the old Bikshu. He had by then realized that the Prince was in the grip of the fever and was incoherent. He remembered Kundavai Devi’s request and was glad that he finally got the opportunity to repay the benevolence showed by the Cholas.

He turned towards the other Bikshus and said, “This boy is indeed afflicted with ‘shivering fever’. If we let him outside he would infect other people. In Elangai, thousands of people died thanks to this fever. I will take him to my personal chamber and will oversee his medication. If he says something inappropriate in the meanwhile, ignore it. He is not in his senses,”

 

Bikshu takes Prince Arul Mozhi Varmar inside the Viharam

Saying thus, the old Bikshu took the Prince’s hand and Senthan Amuthan held his other hand and together they took him inside the Viharam.

 

Poonguzhali 

As they took step after step, towards the Viharam door, Poonguzhali felt that the door of her desires would soon shut, never to be opened again. She would never see the Prince again in this birth. 

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Chapter 9: Three in a Boat

As the day dawned, night flew away from the world like a reluctant lover who was withdrawing from the arms of the woman she loved. The goddess of night and darkness withdrew from the world with self-same reluctance and hesitancy. As she kissed the world goodbye for one more time, one might even imagine the conversation they had. “Just few more hours, my love and we shall meet again tonight!” and then she moved away from her lover with many a hesitant step.

After released from the tenacious love of Goddess of night, the world cheers happily with thousand chirping birds that herald the dawn of yet another beautiful day.

The boat sailed on smoothly through the narrow canal while the flower bearing plants that grew along the banks bloomed in the morning sun. When Poonguzhali opened her eyes, she laid it on the handsome face of the Prince who was still asleep. She wondered whether he was still asleep or unconscious due to the raging fever. Yet his face was radiant and peaceful, as he lay wrapped in a deep sleep.

Next to the Prince, Senthan Amuthan was plying the boat mechanically.

“Poonguzhali! Why did you wake up so early? Sleep some more.”

Poonguzhali smiled beautifully at her cousin and her happiness radiated through her body. Though she was born in the wild woods, the raw beauty of the nature and the wilderness never failed to amaze her.

“Athaan! Will you sing a song in a ragam that signifies dawn?

“I cannot sing when a much superior singer is in front of me. You should sing.”

“But you sang in the woods yesterday!”

“I sang then to save you from mandiravadi. But now only should sing,”

“I would love to sing but what if the Prince got disturbed?”

“I won’t get disturbed. You both can sing,” said Arulmozhivarmar and opened his eyes.

Poonguzhali bent her head shyly and smiled.

“Where is the boat going?

“We are going to Nagapattinam Choodamani Viharam,”

“Then whatever I saw and heard last night was true?”

“Yes Ayya! This is my cousin who got the message from Kundavai Pirrati!”

“Tell me Amudha, what did my sister bid you to do? Did she ask the Viharam me to make a Budha Bikshu out of me?”

Senthan Amudhan who was dismayed by the Prince’s question didn’t know what to answer but the Prince looked around distracted by the sudden sound of horse hooves.

“Where is my friend? Where did the warrior from the Vanar clan go?” he asked and then closed his eyes again.

Right after that Vandiya Devan appeared on the banks on a horse and Senthan Amuthan stopped the boat. Vandiya Devan stopped the horse and came near the boat.

“No need to worry, I just came by to check whether you are fine. There is no more danger,”

“What about Mandiravadi?” asked Poonguzhali

“He doesn’t know that you are taking the Prince on this boat. He seems have believed every word that I told,”

“Did you see him?”

“Yes but I pretended as if I saw his ghost and he believed it,”

“I have never seen anyone who could lie so much,”

“I don’t lie. I just give a free reign to my powers of imagination. How is the Prince?”

“He wakes up in the middle and speaks two words and then goes back to sleep again,”

“That is typical of this shivering fever,”

“How long will it affect him?”

“Sometimes it might ravage him for a month but thankfully the Buddha Bikshus of Choodamani Viharam are well-known for their skills in medicine. They should be able to cure in two weeks. Poonguzhali! Be careful! I leave the Prince in your care. I don’t have much confidence in your cousin. He just needs to see a temple gopuram and he would start singing devaram and go for darshan!”

“Ever since I made your acquaintance I have lost the desire to serve my Lord Shiva,” 

“Did you lose that desire because of me or because of this girl? Tell the truth!”

Senthan Amuthan didn’t answer his question and instead asked, “Did you find the horse without any trouble?”

“The horse found me instead. This is the same horse that I left with you at Thanjavur isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“It saw me in the dark and neighed. During my captivity with the Arab pirates, I learnt one thing Amudha! They said that every horse should be fitted with an iron shoe, like an armour. I am going to get this horse fitted with it in the first ironsmith shop that I see today. Anyway, I had best be on my way. I may not see you again and if the Prince asks about me, tell him that I am on my way Pazhaiarai and that I will send word as soon as I reach,”

Talking thus, Vandiya Devan went back to his horse and soon disappeared from their view. 

The small boat resumed its journey through the canal and as they neared Nagapattinam their path became more scenic with lovely flowers blooming on either side of the banks. Poonguzhali thought that the path towards heaven would probably look thus.

When they neared a village, Senthan Amuthan would go there to get them some food and milk for the Prince.

Whenever the Prince regained consciousness she would stay away from him not able to meet his eyes but when he was asleep, she would sit beside him touch his forehead and muss his hair. She also enjoyed conversing with her cousin as they took turns to ply the boat and sometimes they both sang beautiful songs to while away the time.

Poonguzhali felt that she had spent many years in the Prince’s company when she had served him. A hundred memories flitted through her mind giving way to many thousand unspoken dreams.

They journeyed through the canal for one day and night and the next day they were in Nagapattinam. One of the waterways through the canal went all the way up to Nagapattinam Choodamani Viharam. Poonguzhali took the boat through that route and reached the rear entrance of the Viharam.

They could hear some unusual activity at the Viharam. A huge crowd of people had gathered in the front entrance and many Bikshus were seen roaming around here and there in an agitated manner. Senthan Amuthan got down from the boat saying that he would go inside to check what has happened.

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Chapter 8: Oh God! Ghost!

Night blooming flowers fell upon Poonguzhali’s beautiful face from atop while the divine music played in the heaven. Poonguzhali’s veins thumbed with music when she heard the Prince’s words!

“My Prince! I am not an apsara or a heavenly damsel. I am a poor boat girl and I didn’t feed you nectar. I gave you the milk that I got from the temple priest of Kuzhagar temple,”

“I will not believe that you are not a heavenly damsel. Aren’t you the daughter of Lord Varuna himself? Samudra Kumari! How many times are you going to save my life? How will I repay this debt?”

“Ayya! If you would allow this poor boat girl to be with you for one more day and night…”

“How is that possible? I have to leave for Pazhaiarai immediately?”

“No. We have received word to take you to Nagapattinam,”

“From whom?”

“From Princess Kundavai”

“Who is that other man along with Vandiya Devan, dragging the boat?”

“My cousin Senthan Amuthan. Princess Kundavai sent him here. It was he who had brought her message, asking us to take you to Nagapattinam Choodamani Buddha Viharam,”

“Aha! Has my sister changed her mind about crowning me? I have always wanted to visit Nagapattinam Choodamani Viharam. I will join their Sangam and become a Buddha Bikshu. I will travel around the world and go all the way to China. Aha! My fortunes have changed indeed. Poonguzhali! Come let’s go,” said the Prince and tried to stand.

Poonguzhali then knew that the Prince had not regained his full consciousness and was still in the grip of the fever. Just then, they faintly heard the wail of a man.

The Prince immediately turned around, “Poonguzhali! What was that?”

“It’s an owl My Prince!”

“No! That’s a man’s voice and he is in some danger. Let us go save him right away. I want to do a good deed before joining the Buddha Sangam,” shouted the Prince and tried to run and fainted while attempting it. Poonguzhali who was right behind him held him in her arms.

Senthan Amuthan and Vandiya Devan came running and helped her carry the Prince back to the boat. Poonguzhali started to ply the boat the overloaded boat through the canal.

“Poonguzhali! It would be difficult to row this small boat with four of us sitting inside. I think it would be better if I take my leave now. It is up to you two to take the Prince to Nagapattinam safely. I don’t have to tell you anything more as you do know the gravity of the situation,”

As he spoke, his voice was tinged with emotion and worry and his eyes were filled with tears.

“Why don’t you leave after we are past the woods of Kodi Karai? I left my horse there for you,” said Senthan Amuthan

“No. I would rather get down here itself. I will sleep in Kuzhagar temple for a while and find my way out of the woods before dawn breaks. It would be tough to travel all the way to Pazhaiarai otherwise. God knows, how many obstacles are on my way back!”

Poonguzhali took out the bundle of food that she had taken from the temple priest and held it to him, “Here! Take this. Kuzhar temple prasadam,”

“You both haven’t eaten anything, you should keep the food.”

“Once we are past these woods, there are many villages on our way. Either Senthan or I can go there and get some food for us. But you have to travel without being spotted by anyone. Take the food,”

“Don’t forget that you have the Prince in your boat!”

“Who will believe that this small boat would carry the Prince of the realm? Don’t worry about us. We will take care of him. It’s our responsibility now,”

“Alright! I will get down here,”

Just then they heard the wail of the man yet again. The Prince opened his eyes and exclaimed, “Who was that?” and then slept off again.

Poonguzhali stood up and said, “No. I can’t do this. If the Prince comes to know he would never forgive me. Take care of the boat for a little while. I will pull that mandiravadi out of that quicksand and come back. It is close by, I should be back soon,”

“If you are going, I will come along with you. I will not leave you alone with that scoundrel,” said Senthan Amuthan

“No Amudha, you stay in the boat and take care of the Prince. I will go with Poonguzhali. I have some unfinished business with that mandiravadi!” said Vandiya Devan and ran after Poonguzhali.

Poonguzhali could imagine the horrific scene that would unfold at the quicksand. Mandiravadi buried to his chest in the mud trying to fend off the wolves that would surround him. She could almost hear the Prince’s angry voice berating her, “Woman! You are a vile murderess!” These thoughts gave much speed to her legs and she literally ran through the woods to the quicksand.

But the mandiravadi was not there! Vandiya Devan who came behind her was equally shocked.

“Maybe it was a different quicksand. I remember you telling me that there are many quicksands around this region,”

But Poonguzhali shocked and silent pointed to the shrub nearby, where Senthan’s upper cloth was still tied.

“You think he might have drowned in this. Impossible! It is very difficult to kill Ravidasan. He has hundred lives. He would have escaped somehow!” said Vandiya Devan and removed Senthan’s upper cloth from the shrub. Though he had tried to console Poonguzhali, he was sure that the Mandiravadi was dead and felt that he deserved a nasty horrific end such as this.

They both had realized that there was nothing more to do but to make their way back to the canal. As they walked back, they spotted two figures behind a tree near the canal path. One of them was a female and the other, a male.

Poonguzhali pointed them to Vandiya Devan.

“Who do you think it is?” whispered Vandiya Devan

“The woman is my sister-in-law and the man is mandiravadi! Looks like she came here and rescued him from the quicksand!”

“That’s fine then,”

“That’s not fine. They are looking at the canal and might spot our boat,”

As they spoke softly the figures turned towards them and then immediately hid behind the bushes.

“It looks like they have spotted us!”

“Come with me. I have an idea and don’t be surprised by anything that I say,” said Vandiya Devan and dragged Poonguzhali near the place where Mandiravadi and Rakkammal were hiding.

“Poonguzhali! Listen to me. Mandiravadi is dead, which is a very good thing for us,”

“Ayyo! What a horrible death?”

“Why this sudden compassion after committing the murder?”

“Ayyo! Are you saying that I am responsible for his death?”

“Who else? Who tricked him into that quicksand in the first place? Suddenly you found some compassion in your heart and came here to rescue him but by then Mandiravadi succumbed to his fate. Now God alone knows whether you came to rescue him or to check whether he has drowned in the quicksand.”

“Who asked you to come after me?”

“If I hadn’t I wouldn’t have known about the murder that you have committed. You are a vile murderess!”

“Am I a ‘murderess’ now?”

“Yes. You are. But I am not saying that I am completely innocent either. I killed the Prince by drowning him in the sea and you killed the Mandiravadi in these woods. If you keep mum about the murder that I committed, I will do the same for you,”

“It was ‘you’ who killed the Prince. Just a moment ago, you swore that you haven’t seen him!”

“I lied deliberately. There is no need to lie anymore. Do you agree to what I have to say?”

“If I refuse?”

“If you refuse, I will immediately go to Nandini Devi and tell her about the murder that you committed.”

“What will Nandini do to me?”

“Nothing much. She would just order you to be buried until neck in the ground and command an elephant to step on your pretty little head…”

“Ayyo! How horrible?”

“If you don’t care for such a fate, then do as I say,”

“What should I do?”

“There, your cousin is coming along with a boat. Get on it and go to Elangai and stay there. You can mourn your dear dead Prince on that island,”

“Why should I go to Elangai? Why can’t I stay here?”

“Ah! I am not a fool to allow you stay here. You might go to Periya Pazhuvetarayar and reveal my secrets to him. The dead prince was dear to him and he might try to hunt me down for his murder. I have other errands to complete and wish to live a little while longer,”

“You scoundrel! Why did you kill the Prince? Tell me!”

“I have no shame in telling you the truth. The Prince and his sister had conspired against my master Aditya Karikalan. They tried to snatch the throne away from him. I am beholden to my master and his enemies are mine to slay. That’s why I killed the Prince,”

“You will receive just punishment for this traitorous act!”

“You don’t worry about that. Worry about yourself instead. Will you do as I say or should I…”

“Alright. Not that I have a choice in this matter anyway. The boat is coming near, I will go in that,”

“Listen to me, you should turn the boat towards the sea and go straight to Elangai. I will be watching you from here. If you try to turn it back towards the shore again, I will know. I won’t budge from here until you leave,”

“Alright. May a hundred wolves descend upon you,” cursed Poonguzhali and got on the boat. Vandiya Devan waited at the canal banks until the boat disappeared from his line of sight.

Ravidasan and Vandiya Devan

Just then he heard the Mandiravadi’s familiar horrible laugh behind him and he pretended to be frightened and ran away from the spot screaming, “Oh God! Ghost! Ghost!”

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