As
the crowd dispersed from the Sabha Room, Sembiyanmadevi told her son,
“Madhuranthaka! Do rest awhile and then come to my chambers. I will bid
farewell to Nambi and his entourage and join you there. I have important matters
to discuss with you,”
“As
you wish, Mother.” said Madhuranthakan and withdrew to his quarters, which was
just as well. He would need sometime to compose himself as his heart was
brimming with anger, jealousy and resentment.
How dare she bring
such pious beggars to the palace? She has no royal pride and if things were to
continue thus, she would drag the glorious name of Cholas through the mud.
He
felt that the Pazhuvur brothers were absolutely right about his mother’s
madness. The queen needs to see any wandering mendicant or a sanyasi and they
would be brought to the Palace with great respect and treated to a royal feast…
and if they were to sing hymns or talk about some temple, then she would
immediately open the royal treasury for them. The treasures of the glorious
Cholas are being depleted thus… by these pious beggars.
If
this weren’t enough there is Princess Kundavai who goes about opening medical
clinics all over the Kingdom. The remainder of gold in the treasury that is
left behind after temple renovation is used to for her charity work.
If these two women
waste gold on such trivial things, where would I find the gold to fulfil my
heart’s desire? How can I raise huge armies and conquer other lands?
And now she wishes to
speak to me again? What could be so important for that old woman? She might
speak about some obscure tale of Lord Shiva or the deeper significance of his cosmic
form, or about kundalini meditation. She drove me mad for twenty years with
these tales and made me the laughing stock of all in the Kingdom. I will not
allow her to talk thus to me henceforth and if she persist, I would have to
shut my ears.
Before my mother sends
for me again, I need to speak to that Soothsayer. How surprising? He seems to
know about two secret incidents so far… He surely has some strange powers
indeed! If he can see the past events through his sight, surely he can see what
is to come in the future…
Before
he left the Sabha Room he saw the soothsayer standing hesitating at the
entrance. He signalled him to come along with him to his quarters.
Vandiya
Devan in the meanwhile was trying to convey various messages through his eyes
to the Princess but she didn’t turn towards him instead she withdrew from the
hall along with the dowager queen with nary a glance at him.
What is this? Has the
Princess completely forgotten me? It must be so! She meets thousands of people
everyday. How can one expect her to remember someone whom she had met once or
twice? I was insane. I thought about her all through my trials and tribulations
but why should she think about me? It is the bee that hovers around the
beautiful flower for its sweet nectar. The bee is of no consequence for the
flower though. The flower instead looks up to the sun and smiles… who could be
the sun that makes Kundavai smile? I wonder…
Nonetheless wouldn’t
she be interested in knowing how I fared in my mission? Could it be possible
that someone had already informed her about the Prince? How can that be? No!
No! She is worried about something and that’s why she pretended not to
recognize me. She might have wondered how a man that took her confidential
message to the Prince could come back to the city as a part of Prince
Madhuranthakan’s entourage.
Aha! How surprised is
she going to be when I tell her how I managed to hoodwink Prince Madhuranthakar
into believing that I am a soothsayer? But how do I meet her?
“You
there! What are you thinking?” Madhuranthakan’s question startled Vandiya
Devan. By then they had reached the Prince’s quarters in the Palace.
In
those days there were astrologers who would predict the future by reading one’s
horoscope and Palmists who would delve into the lines of one’s palm. There were
also many obscure ways of predicting future - by calculating the time of the
question and direction (which is generally known as Prashnam astrology) and
there were also Soothsayers who genuinely possessed the sight and could see the
future events unfold in front of their eyes. Some would sit in meditation and
recite one’s life history and other impending events while others would sit in
front of a lamp and look deep into the fire to see the future. Few other
Soothsayers knew the art of reading faces and could accurately predict past,
present and future.
Vandiya
Devan knew that he was in a fix. He wondered what questions the Prince might
ask of him thinking that he is a Soothsayer.
I will have to give
some clever answers somehow escape from this palace and meet Kundavai. But how?
“Nothing
of consequence my Prince. I was thinking that if only I had learned a few
Devaram hymns instead of being a Soothsayer, then Queens and Princesses would
have received me respectfully too,”
“What’s
stopping you from doing so? You can do it even now,”
“My
Prince! All our fates are already written. We will get what we rightly
deserve,”
“What
do you think about that boy who was reciting the hymns at the Sabha room? What
about his future?”
“He
has a very bright future indeed. Shiva Yogam and Raja Yogam (fortune of a king)
will take him on a path to greatness. He will be well received by kings, queens
and princes and his name will be added to the many great saints who have
worshipped Lord Shiva,”
While
Vallavareyan took a shot in the dark here, he didn’t know that his words had a
very profound effect on the Prince. He immediately asked him, “What about my
future?”
“Your
future too is similar to that Nambi. Shiva Yogam and Raja Yogam will take you
on the path of greatness…”
“Appaney! Be more specific,”
Vandiya
Devan needed some time to concoct a believable story hence he said, “Prince! If
you want more specific predictions kindly light a big lamp and incense. I can
look into the fire and tell your future as it unfolds in front of my eyes,”
The
Prince restlessly issued a string of orders to his retainers and they hurried
around to follow his orders. Soon a lamp was lit along with the incense and
Vandiya Devan seated himself in front of it while Madhuranthakar sat on the
opposite site.
Vandiya
Devan sat down with his eyes closed as if he were in meditation while his mouth
mumbled away mantras. Next he shook his body rather theatrically and shivered
as though he was cold and then he opened his eyes wide and looked deep inside
the fire.
 |
| Vandiya Devan acts the Soothsayer for Madhuranthakan |
“Ayya! Do forgive me if I had something
impertinent. Your future is not similar to that boy we saw in Sabha room. All through his life, that boy would be
supported by Kings and Queens for his knowledge and piety but you… what can I
say? How do I say it? I am astonished…”
“Appaney! What are you seeing? Tell me!”
“Aha!
I have no words to describe what I am seeing here. I see a row of Kings
standing with their heads bowed. Ministers, Noblemen and Merchants are standing
in large numbers with their hands joined together in salutation. Behind them,
an army of soldiers with their armours gleaming in the sun and their arms sharp
are standing cheering wildly. On top of Fort countless numbers of people are
perched wanting a glimpse…”
“Glimpse
of whom? What are they saying?”
“My
Prince, I can hear thousands of voices and they are saying, ‘Long Live the
King!’ ‘Long Live Tribuvana Chakravarthy!’”
“And
then… what?”
“I
see the people surging forward while the soldiers are trying to stop them from
entering the Fort. People are angry with the guards for not allowing them
inside and are fighting with the soldiers… too much noise…”
“Alright!
Why are these people gathered here? Tell me that.”
“Yes.
I can see that now. I see the huge tiger flag flying as high as the sky. Below
that I can see other flags – The Fish, The Palm Tree, The Lion, The Bull and
The Pig flying under its shadow. I see a palace that can only be described to
be as wondrous as the one that Mayan built for the Pandavas. In there I can see
the golden crown of the Cholas. One truly needs a thousand eyes and one to see
the gleam of this gold and the sparkling gemstones that are studded within.
Next to that are the ancient throne of the Cholas and the royal umbrella of the
Kings gleaming with white silk. Beside the throne stand two beautiful women – apsaras who have come down from the
heaven waiting to fan their king and a the foot of the throne there are
hundreds of golden pots filled with holy waters of river Cauvery. My Prince!
They are waiting to anoint the Chakravarthy of Chola Kingdom!”
“Who
is going to be the Chakravarthy? Tell me fast!”
“There…
I can see the doors of the palace opening. Ushers are heralding the arrival of
someone. A mighty old man enters the palace and yet another warrior who looks
like his brother comes in bearing arms. Behind them is a Prince whose handsome
mien can only be compared to that of Manmadan (Handsome God of Love).”
“Who
is it? Who?”
“Ayya!
That Prince resembles you in all aspects… It is you! The two old men lead you
towards the throne amidst cheers of victory from all those who were gathered
there. Thousands of flowers and grains fall upon your head blessing you with
fortune, riches and grace. There… you are near the throne now. But what is
this? Who is that woman… inauspicious incarnate with her hair wildly free and
is standing in front of the throne…She says, ‘Do not! Begone!’ but you don’t
listen… you push her to one side… Aha! What’s happening here? I can’t see
anything but smoke… smoke…”
“Look
again! Look carefully! Tell me what you see!”
“My
Prince! Forgive me! I can only see smoke now.”
“Look
again! Tell me who that woman is? Have you ever seen her before?”
“My
Prince! The woman has vanished and so have you. Everything is gone up in that
smoke… the palace, the throne and the crown. I think there is someone in this
Palace who knows the dark arts of magic. I feel as if my face is burning… it’s
burning!”
Saying
thus, he closed his face with his hands and rocked back to and fro. After a
while he took his hands of the face and opened his eyes to find the Prince
burning up in anger. His eyes were slits of red and his lips were trembling
with rage! Vandiya Devan wondered fearfully whether he had fanned the Prince’s
heart desire beyond the limits.
“See
again! Tell me what you see!”
“My
Prince! There is no use in trying to see something that has vanished. I might
see it again but not immediately. I can however look into the fire and tell you
other things…”
“Tell!
Tell me what else do you see?”
“There
is too much confusion out there. The people are angry, confused and scared. A
royal messenger gives them some news. Someone from the royal family has had a
tragic accident. Someone has drowned in the water… poor man! I can see the
crowds lynching the messenger for giving them this news. My Prince! Do not ever
go out in the crowds during such a time. It might be fatal for you,”
“Who
has drowned in the sea?”
“I
hear many people crying and wailing therefore I can’t hear clearly as to who
has drowned. Now that scene has vanished. Here is another one. I can see men
wearing garlands of skulls with tridents and unkempt hair. They are Kalamugars.
One of them is wielding a huge sword and is waiting by the sacrificial stone.
Here too I can see a Prince arriving and the Kalamugars surround him hailing
him wildly. Ayya! I beseech you do
not ever go near any of them,”
When
the prince heard this, he started sweating and his hands trembled. Vandiya
Devan noted this and said, “My Prince! I can’t see anything else anymore. My
eyes are burning… my head is aching. Someone is using dark magic that is
preventing me from seeing anything more,”
Just
then a messenger came with summons from his mother and the Prince left the
palace with barely contained anger. Before he left Vandiya Devan sought his
permission to see the city, “Ayya! I need fresh air. My headache is
excruciatingly painful. I wish to see this city for a while. I will probably
get relieved from this pain,”
Pazhaiarai’s
Physician’s son Pingapani had found a new hobby in life. Until a sometime ago,
he was content with learning the art of healing from his father but after his
trip to Kodikarai he was a changed man thanks to Vandiya Devan who literally
opened his eyes to many possibilities of life.
It
is but natural for people who are in love wanting to talk and share their
experiences with people around them. Unfortunately for Vandiya Devan that
person turned out to be Pinagapani. Since the Physician’s son appeared to be
simple (if not stupid) Vandiya Devan spoke to him about vagaries of love and
the inherent dangers of losing one’s heart to a woman. Citing himself as an
example, he described the many trials and tribulations that he was facing after
he fell in love with a woman.
At
first Pingapani ignored Vandiya Devan’s talks about love but the more time they
spent in each other’s company he became jealous of his companion and developed
an irrational resentment towards him. He tried to quiz him and asked him to
reveal the identity of the woman who had stolen his heart. Vandiya Devan
refused to tell him who she was and this in turn increased his anger towards
him. By the time they reached Kodi Karai he considered Vandiya Devan to be his
sworn enemy.
Pinagapani’s
jealousy and resentment increased hundred fold after they met Poonguzhali. His
proposal to her was not only rejected but also mocked and when he realized that
she thought Vandiya Devan was a better man than him, his anger knew no bounds
and he was maddened. He sought to get his companion arrested by the Pazhuvur
soldiers but didn’t realize that they would arrest him instead. They took him
to Thanjavur and locked him in the underground prison to await King’s justice.
He had enough time within the precincts of the prison, to brood over his fate.
We
saw how Princess Kundavai fought with Chinna Pazhuvetarayar to release him from
the Prison but before she could meet him, Pazhuvur Queen Nandini Devi had him
released and met him at her palace. Nandini was furious with Vandiya Devan for
escaping from her palace without taking her leave and she suspected that
Kundavai had sent him to Elangai with a message to her brother. She believed
that he would return one day from Elangai and try to meet the Princess in
Pazhaiarai. Therefore she needed someone in the city to keep an eye out for
him. After meeting Pinagapani she decided that he could be used to spy on
Vandiya Devan, if he ever turns up.
“The
man who betrayed you at Kodi Karai and left you at the mercy of our soldiers
will come back one day to Pazhaiarai. I want you to follow him and tell me what
he does, where he goes and whom he meets. If you do so, I will reward you beyond
your dreams,”
Later,
Chinna Pazhuvetarayar too called him and gave him similar orders. “If you could
help us catch that spy I will enlist you in my secret order of spies and make a
commander out of you.”
Since
then, Pinagapani lost all his interest in his father’s profession. Building
many castles in the air, he roamed through the streets of Pazhaiarai
incessantly and followed random strangers. Sometimes he would get suspicious
and would run towards them to see their face closely. When he found that they
didn’t resemble Vandiya Devan he would leave cursing. Many thought that he was
insane but he was determined to catch the spy somehow.
When
Vandiya Devan entered the city along with Prince Madhuranthakan’s entourage,
Pinagapani didn’t notice him at first. Instead he joined the crowd that had
come along with Thirunaraiyur Nambi to check whether Vandiya Devan could be
there. When Nambi’s entourage met the Prince’s chariot in the streets, one of
his men turned towards them for a split of a second and Pinagapani’s heart
almost stopped beating. He had spotted Vandiya Devan! But before he could raise
an alarm, he had entered the palace along with the Prince!
