Chapter 17: Thirunaraiyur Nambi

 Vandiya Devan entered Pazhaiarai city again along with Prince Madhuranthakan’s entourage. As they passed through the Chola warriors houses at Ariya Padai Veedu, Pambai Padai Veedu, Pudu Padai Veedu, Manapadai Veedu and through the many temples and the market, Vandiya Devan noted that people didn’t greet the Prince enthusiastically and nor were they curious enough to throng the streets to gawk at him. He couldn’t help but remember the excitement and delight of the citizenry during his last visit, when they celebrated Krishna’s Janmashtami.

People had thronged the streets moving from one street play to another… Jostling crowds, merriment at every corner, delighted happy faces were to be seen everywhere. However today, the streets were deserted and no one came out of their houses even while the Prince’s entourage were hailing his presence loud and clear.

It was easy to deduce from this less than tepid reception that Madhuranthakan was not a popular Prince in the city. Vandiya Devan was however happy about the lack of crowd, as he could avoid the eyes of anybody who might possibly recognize him.

When the procession neared the Chola Palaces, they could see a huge procession coming from the other end of the street. In the midst of the procession was an open palanquin bearing a young Saivaite. As the crowd passed them by Vandiya Devan noted that the people were more enthusiastic about the young anchorite who was seated in the palanquin then their own prince! The devout crowd passed by singing hymns, songs and playing drums and many stringed instruments. Many cheered the procession by shouting, ‘Thiruchitrambalam!’ ‘Hara Hara Mahadeva!” “Long Live Thirunarayayur Nambi”

Prince Madhuranthakar viewed the procession with resentful eyes and then asked something about the Saivaite who just passed them by. The soldier confirmed that the Saivaite was indeed Thirunaraiyur Nambi.

“How strange? The people of this city ignore their own Prince and yet crowd around this Nambi and cheer him wildly!”

Vandiya Devan who had turned around to see the tail of the procession noted that one of the Saivars along with Thirunaraiyur Nambi resembled the Saivar who had crossed the Kollidam River along with him and Thirumalai.

The prince’s entourage proceeded ahead and they soon reached Sembiyanmadevi’s Palace. Periya Piratti was waiting outside accompanied by her handmaidens and companions bearing Aarthi plates and flowers. Madhuranthakar got down from his chariot and greeted his mother by seeking her blessings. The dowager queen lifted her son and breathed the scent of his hair lovingly and said, “My son, you have come here at a very opportune time. Thirunaraiyur Nambi has come here. Refresh yourself soon and come to my Sabha Mandapam.”

Vandiya Devan couldn’t help but note that the Prince’s face lost colour when he heard his mother speak thus.

Poor man! He thought that his mother had arranged for a welcome reception for his sake at the palace and was waiting to welcome him with garlands and flowers. Instead when he found that they were waiting for the young Saivaite whom they had just seen in the streets, he was naturally disappointed.

In Sembiyanmadevi’s palace, the Prince got ready to meet Thirunaraiyur Nambi at a very slow pace. He had no interest in glorifying yet another Saivaite but his mother sent message after message asking him to hurry up. At last, when he was ready, he asked, “Where is that soothsayer?” Vandiya Devan who was waiting impatiently to go along with him came forward and said, “I am here,” The Prince took him and few other bodyguards and went to the Sabha Room.

The Sabha room was packed with people. Queen Sembiyanmadevi and Princess Kundavai sat on their seas on side while in the center of the room, sat the young anchorite Thirunaraiyur Nambi. There were many Olai Suvadi placed before him. Next to him stood the same Pattar whom Vandiya Devan had encountered at Kollidam. Vandiya Devan’s eyes roamed all through the Sabha Room and finally rested on the Princess’s face. Kundavai looked surprised to see him at first and then she didn’t turn towards him at all. It made our hero anxious and hurt leading him to wonder whether she had forgotten him altogether!

Thirunaraiyur Nambi with Prince Madhuranthakan and Vandiya Devan

When the Prince entered the Sabha Room, men stood up respectfully and bowed low towards him.

Sembiyanmadevi said, “My Son! This Nambi is from Thirunaraiyur and due to the blessings of Polla Pillaiyar (Lord Ganesha) he has found a few rare Devaram hymns. Centuries ago, a Chola Princess Mangaikarasiyar became the queen of Pandya Kingdom. She invited Gyanasamandar to Madurai to debate with the Jain monks. Gyanasamandar won the debate and also sung many Devaram hymns where he describes the glory of the queen too. We are truly fortunate beings to be given the opportunity to listen to these hymns. If your father had been alive he would have been thrilled to listen to him but I can only wish that you hear them instead,”

The Prince said, “I can’t wait to hear them Amma! Let the recitation begin…” Though he gave his assent thus, his mind and heart were engaged elsewhere. He loathed the fact that his mother esteemed young Saivars like this boy and showered him with such respect and attention but he swallowed his words and remained patient. He had to please his mother…

The Nambi started reading the hymns chronologically where Gyanasamandar described the beautiful city of Madurai and praises it with many verses.

Listening to the verses intently, pearls of tears formed in Sembiyanmadevi’s eyes. She was profoundly moved by the potent words of the hymns that described Queen Mangaikarasiyar. She thought herself to be fortunate to have been married into the same family where the erstwhile Pandya Queen was once born. While the mother thought thus, the son could only hear the hymns that described the Chola might and their glories. He found himself thinking about the Chola throne and his rights towards it.

 

Queen Sembiyanmadevi with Princess Kundavai

As the Nambi continued his hymns, there came a dialogue between the Pandya Queen and Gyanasambar.

“Ayyo! This boy is so small. How can he debate with those old monks?” Gyanasambar assures the queen with sweet words that he had the blessings of his Lord and that he could defeat the Jain monks.

 

Saint Poet Gyanasambandar

When Sembiyanmadevi heard these verses she imagined herself to be Queen Mangaikarasi and the young Nambi to be Gyanasambandar and experienced a bliss that was indescribable in words.

However Madhuranthakar inferred the same verses differently.

Yes! I am a young man however I will not be scared by the likes of Thirukovallur Malaimaan and Kodumbalur Vellar who support Sundara Chola’s sons. I will claim my birth right and ascend the throne…

Vandiya Devan oblivious to the hymns or their inherent meaning found himself looking at Princess Kundavai. The Princess didn’t look towards him and nor was there any indication that she recognized him. Vandiya Devan was sorely disappointed and crushed by the Princess’s disregard. He kept wondering what could possibly have angered her.

Could it be because he didn’t go to her directly or could it be because she expected him to come early?

While he churned up one question after another he was also thinking up a viable plan to meet the Princess alone.

When the recitation ended, Sembiyanmadevi told the Nambi’s entourage, “Ayya! When I look at this boy, I feel as though Gyanasambandar himself has been born anew to take us on the path of devotion. I bid you to take him all through the land of Tamil Nadu. Bring forth all the Devaram hymns sung at many temples under one fold. Segregate the hymns sung by divine saints Appar, Gyanasambandar and Sundara Murthy and let their verses be heard all through the temples of Tamil Nadu. This was my Lord Husband’s wish and I want to fulfil it during my lifetime. I have arranged for palanquin, men, guards and gold for your entourage to travel through the Kingdom. My son here would get the Chakravarthy’s permission for this venture,”

The dowager queen’s announcement was greeted with loud cheers from the crowd gathered but Prince Madhurathakan found them extremely unpleasant.

Previous Chapter                                                                                        Next Chapter

Chapter 16: Madhuranthaka Devar

We met Prince Madhuranthakan at the beginning of this story and then had a mere glimpse of him while he was in the underground chamber in Thanjavur. It is quite unfortunate that we failed to introduce this famous prince (who would later ascend the Chola throne as Parakesari Uttama Chola) in a befitting manner to our readers. We shall take this opportunity to do so now.

Before we introduce Prince Madhuranthakar to the readers, it is important that we learn more about his ancestors. Before the reign of King Sundara Chola, his uncle King Gandharathithar ruled over the kingdom for many long years. The King and his young wife Queen Sembiyanmadevi were devout saivaites who were keen on piety, art and architecture rather than expand the Kingdom through war. King Gandaharathithar’s one great wish was to bring all the Devaram poems written and sung by divine mystic poets under one fold but it remained unfulfilled during his lifetime. Nonetheless he did bring together many Devaram poems that he had heard and that’s not all he was also a prolific poet who penned many poems glorifying Lord Shiva. One of his poems describes eloquently about Chithambaram temple where his father had given all the gold in the Chola treasury to gild the roof golden for Lord Shiva.

Queen Sembiyanmadevi worshipping Lord Shiva at Uma Maheshwarar Temple, Konnerirajapuram (aka Thirunallam) 

Gandharathithar abhorred wars and had no ambition to expand the borders of Chola Kingdom. He believed that the common people were the true casualties of war and therefore rooted for peace all through his reign. His noble intentions notwithstanding the might of Chola Empire declined considerably during his reign. He had married Sembiyanmadevi at a very advanced age and their son Prince Madhuranthakan was an infant when he breathed his last. The Kingdom was undergoing turmoil during that period. His brother Aringzha Chola was grievously injured in the war and was in his deathbed while his son Prince Paranthakan (Sundara Chola) was a young warrior who had proven his might in many battles. During the final years of his reign, Gandaharathithar decided to crown his nephew as the next heir apparent and decreed a will to that effect. He also wanted his Queen Sembiyanmadevi to bring up their son Madhuranthakan as a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva lest power and riches of the Kingdom tempt him.

 

Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi as goddess Parvati, India, state of Tamil Nadu, Chola period, ca. 998 Bronze; height 92.1 cm (36¹⁄₄ in.), Freer Gallery (Washington D.C.)

Sembiyanmadevi kept her promise to her lord husband and brought up their son with devotion and piety. She tried to instil in him the deep devotion for Lord Shiva and kept him away from the affairs of the kingdom.

Prince Madhuranthakan until the age of twenty fulfilled his mother’s wishes and devoted himself to the worship of Lord Shiva. He was disinterested in the affairs of the kingdom and to tell the truth he had no inkling about the fact that he had any claim on the Chola throne. However after his wedding to Chinna Pazhuvetrayar’s daughter two years ago, there was a sea change in his outlook and attitude. From a shy introvert Prince he transformed into a resentful angry young man. Pazhuvur Queen Nandini Devi had much to do with his transformation as did the Pazhuvur brothers. He resented the fact that Sundara Chola had ascended the throne and that his own mother played an important role in denying him the kingship. His wishful dreams of being a king became a raging wild fire after he learned that the most powerful noblemen of Chola Kingdom supported his claim. While these noblemen wished to wait for Sundara Chola’s demise, the Prince was unwilling to wait that long. He believed that Sundara Chola never had any claim to the Kingdom and that it had rightfully belonged to him in the first place.

Now that Sundara Chola was bedridden and unwell, why can’t he take over the reigns of the Kingdom?

The Pazhuvur brothers found it difficult to keep the Prince’s desire for the Kingdom in check. They feared that the Prince might do something foolish and foil all their plans to secure his succession. King Sundara Chola’s sons were brave warriors who commanded much respect and love from the army and the masses. Two powerful noblemen – Thirukovaloor Malayaman and Kodumbalur Vellar, supported the Crown Prince’s claim to succession. The Pazhuvur brothers felt that it would be impossible to stake a claim to the throne for Madhuranthakan, while the King was still alive. Therefore they had decided to stall their plans until Sundara Chola breathed his last.

In the meanwhile, when they learned that the King wished to crown Madhuranthakan instead of his own sons, they felt that an amicable solution was possible after all… If the King himself wished to deny his sons the throne and crown his cousin there was no more need for any subterfuge.

Only two women were capable of opposing such a scheme – one was Elayapirati Kundavai and Sembiyanmadevi. It would be easy to foil Kundavai’s plans but how could they counter a woman who was highly respected and worshipped by the masses.

Sembiyanmadevi has been resolutely against Madhuranthakan ascending the throne and everyone knew about it. This they felt was a real hurdle in the path of succession and even if Madhuranthakan were to ignore his noble mother’s words, the people of this kingdom would never forgive him for it. They felt that there were two solutions for this problem… either the Dowager Queen should breath her last after which the Prince can pursue his heart’s desire or he could try and change her mind. And who but her beloved son can try to attempt this?

Therefore the Pazhuvur brothers had explained all this and more to the Prince and had literally drummed it into his head that Sembiyanmadevi’s approval was of paramount importance if his succession plans were to materialize. However the Prince was less than enthusiastic to undertake this mission. Though he was more than ready to take charge of the Kingdom he hesitated to broach the subject with his mother. What more… he had no desire to meet her as well.

Meanwhile Sembiyanmadevi had sent him a message saying that she wished to fulfil an important wish that her lord husband had held dear to his heart and wanted her son to be present at the occasion. Chinna Pazhuvetarayar persuaded the Prince to make the journey to Pazhaiarai accordingly and also to try to change her heart so as to make her favourably disposed towards his succession to the Chola throne.

Previous Chapter                                                                                           Next Chapter

Chapter 15: Kalamugar

Kalamugars and Vandiya Devan

The heat of the early morning sun woke Vandiya Devan but he didn’t get up yet. He turned on his back lazily and spotted two Kalamugars coming his way on the road. Their mated hair, trident, holy ash, garland of skulls and unkempt appearance made many people wary of them. Kalamugars were staunch saivaites whose devotion to Lord Shiva was absolute. As he watched them approach, Vandiya Devan sorely missed the one person who could stand his ground against them– Azhwarkadiyan Nambi. Unwilling to be drawn into a conversation with them, he pretended to be asleep until they passed him by.

“Shivoham! Looks like this boy is a Kumbakarna…”

“Shivoham! If only we could get a boy like him, we could…”

“You are going by his appearance. He is a handsome boy for sure but he is of no use to us. He is going to be in grave danger, very soon,”

Vandiya Devan who was pretending to be asleep was curious to know what danger that would be but he couldn’t wake up now. He hoped that they would speak elaborately about that prediction…but they didn’t.

“That’s his fate. What can we do about it? Let us be on our way… come.”

The Kalamugars were a sect that branched out from the old Kapaligars. Unlike Kapaligars, the Kalamugars did not offer blood sacrifice but they retained all the other rituals practiced in their parent sect. It was widely believed that Kalamugars performed rigorous meditation in the funeral grounds and gained the power of third eye that granted them a glimpse of events to come. Many feared that their austerity gave them the power to curse anyone hence Kalamugars commanded great respect and fear and were given royal hospitality wherever they stayed. Many noblemen and petty kings gave many temple grants specifically to provide food for Kapaligars. Despite all this the reigning Chola Kings were not partial to Kalamugars and didn’t patronize them.

Vandiya Devan who was aware of this didn’t bother much about the ‘grave danger’ prediction.

Let them blabber something. What sort of grave danger is going to visit upon me that I haven’t seen already?

While this is what he told himself, he didn’t acknowledge the fact that he was still curious to know what that ‘grave danger’ would indeed be.

Vandiya Devan got up and looked around casually and noted that the Kalamugars were going towards an old mandapam. Next to the mandapam was an artificial cave with statues of lion carved out of stone. In days of yore, Jain monks meditated in those caves but now it was being occupied by Kalamugars. Vandiya Devan decided to talk to them before he could go on his way. He led his horse towards the artificial caves that was adjacent to the mandapam. Even while he was turning the bend at the mandapam he could hear them talk.

“That boy wasn’t pretending to sleep. I think he was really asleep,”

“How can you be so sure about that?”

“I am yet to see another man who would placidly sleep when someone is predicting that he would be in ‘grave danger’ soon.”

“That boy looked like a good warrior. Why don’t we make him join our sect? It would do good for us.”

“Why worry about him when we are going to get a royal prince who might be the next king?”

“Whom are you referring to?”

“Who else but Prince Madhuranthakan? Don’t you know about that?”

“But… what about the other two?”

“One is already dead drowned in the sea while the other is nearing death…”

Vandiya Devan’s desire to listen to any more conversation diminished after he heard this. He wanted to leave immediately and reach Pazhaiarai as soon as possible. After giving his news to the Princess he wanted to go to Kanchi. He was indebted to Prince Aditya Karikalar more than anybody else and it was his duty to stand by him while he was surrounded by dangers. Brash and audacious the Prince was known for courting risk and he rarely listened to anyone. That’s why it was important that he hastened to the Prince immediately rather than tarry time on unimportant things.

Vandiya Devan mounted his horse silently and started off. He turned towards the Kalamugars and found them staring at him silently. One of the Kalamugars seemed a bit familiar but he didn’t care to investigate who it was.

On his way to Pazhaiarai, Vandiya Devan saw many villages where people were thronging the streets intent on their work. It was obvious that they haven’t heard the news about Prince Arul Mozhi Varmar’s death in the sea. He wished to reach Pazhaiarai and give his news to the Princess before she heard anything to the contrary from other people.

What if she heard the news about Prince before I reach her? Would she believe it? No! She won’t do anything foolish but the same can’t be said about that Kodumbalur Princess.

This thought forced Vandiya Devan to ride his horse harder than ever but his horse whose hoof was recently shoed found it difficult to run any faster. Two hours before the dusk, the fort walls of Pazhaiarai were seen. He could see the guards in front of the walls and also the Durga temple that was built near it.

Now he pondered on how to enter the fort without getting arrested by the guards. He can’t show the Palm Signet ring here. They would know that he has it in his possession and would immediately arrest him. He would then be taken away to await Chinna Pazhuvetarayar’s pleasure and wouldn’t be allowed anywhere near Kundavai.

Thinking thus, he brought the horse to a slow trot and stood near the fort walls. Just then he noticed a crowd of people coming towards the fort. Foot soldiers and body guards surrounded a horse drawn chariot shaped like a lotus.

Aha! Who is sitting in that chariot? That’s Prince Madhuranthakan Devar. The same prince who had come in the veiled palanquin of Nandini Devi is now coming to the fort in a chariot. That’s when Vandiya Devan got the idea to enter the fort.

 He decided to test Kalamugar’s statement here - “I am yet to see another man who would placidly sleep when someone is predicting that he would be in ‘grave danger’ soon.”

He knew that he was eager to learn more about the ‘grave danger’ that the Kalamugar had predicted. The same could be true for others too!

Prince Madhuranthakan

Vandiya Devan immediately turned his horse towards the chariot and the Prince’s guards were caught unawares. They didn’t stop him until he came very close to the chariot. He stood on the stirrup of the horse and shouted, “Danger! Grave Danger!” After that he suddenly jumped out of the horse and fell down.

The procession stopped and one half of Madhuranthakan’s guards caught Vandiya Devan’s horse while the other half tried to target him using their spears. But when he fell down from the horse they laughed. The Prince too laughed out aloud and then he asked his guards to bring him closer to the chariot.

Vandiya Devan who would normally be incensed by the fact that someone laughed at him seemed unconcerned about it and was staring at the Prince intently.

“You there! Bring him here,” said the Prince

When Vandiya Devan was brought near the Prince, he asked, “Who are you?”

“I… I am… Chakravarthy! Don’t you know me?”

“What! What are you saying? Who do you think I am?” asked Madhuranthakar after bidding his guards to move away.

“Who do you think I am?” repeated Madhuranthakar.

“Forgive me Prince. I mistakenly called you ‘Chakravarthy’. You are still… still…”

“Have I met you before? Have you seen me before?”

“Yes. I have seen you. No… I haven’t met you.”

“Have you seen me before or not? Speak the truth!”

“I have decided to speak only the truth since yesterday. That’s why I am finding it difficult to say whether I have seen you or not,”

“Oho! So you have been speaking truth only since yesterday is it? Good joke!” said the Prince and laughed and then asked, “If that is so then why would you find it difficult to say whether you have seen me or not,”

“My Prince! In today’s world, it is very tough to define truth. One person looks like the other. I saw someone in a veiled palanquin one day and on another day the same person is seen travelling in a chariot…”

“What did you say?” said Prince Madhuranthakan and his voice betrayed the fact that Vandiya Devan’s words had shaken him up.

“I said that since one person resembles the other, it is very difficult to discern whether I have met you or not,”

“Whom do I resemble?”

“I have seen you twice or someone who resembles you very closely. I do not know whether it is you that I have seen or someone like you… that’s why I tried to come close to you,”

“What did you find out? Am I the one that you have seen or nor?”

“You could be the person that I have seen or you could not?”

It was evident that Vandiya Devan’s cryptic answer had enraged Prince Madhuranthakan.

“You are a vagrant… I will have you…”

“My Prince! Please don’t get angry. Allow me to tell you as to where I have seen you. You can decide how to punish me after hearing me out.”

“Alright! Tell me where you have seen me,”

“It was a huge fort. Many great warriors have assembled there for a midnight meeting. I can see the huge oil lamps that have been lit on the walls. By its light I can see a veiled palanquin and the warriors discussing something of import. The leader of these warriors is asked many questions and in answer he comes near the palanquin and opens the veils. A handsome man comes out of the palanquin and smiles at the warriors who hail him victoriously. ‘Long Live the Prince!’ ‘Long Live Chakravarthy! Ayya! The handsome prince who came out of the palanquin resembled you greatly. Have I erred in any of the detail that I just narrated to you?”

Prince Madhuranthakan who had been listening to Vandiya Devan in rapt attention started sweating after he finished. A shadow of fear was seen in his face.

“Were you one of the warriors in that assembly that night?”

“No. I was not one of the warriors who had assembled there,”

“Then how can you describe it so accurately?”

“My Prince! I know not whether these events that I just described happened in truth or in a dream. I can describe yet another event for you. A dark underground chamber with nary a light and a pathway that takes one around and around…one needs to climb down and up many times before you reach the path. Through this pathway I see three people going. One is carrying a fire torch and the other is guarding them with a spear and in the middle there was a handsome Prince whose beauty could only be compared to that of Manmathan. When the fire torch cast a light around the chamber I could see many huge pillars there and a pit in the midst of which awaited the treasure of the world! Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, gold, diadems, coins and wealth of indescribable proportions! The prince who was coming through this unground chamber resembled you greatly but whether it was ‘you’ or not is something that only you can confirm,”

Prince Madhuranthakan whose fear was heightened with every word that Vandiya Devan uttered said, “Enough! Stop!”

“Are you a soothsayer?”

“No. That’s not my profession but I do have the sight that shows me what has happened and what will happen in the future,”

Madhuranthakan thought for a while and said, “You shouted something while on the horse. What were you saying?”

“I said that you were in grave danger,”

“What danger?”

“Many dangers lie in your path however there is also greatness awaiting for you. I cannot speak about them in the middle of the road. Take me along with you inside the Fort and I will read your fortune for you…”

“Alright! Come with me. We can speak in leisure…” said the Prince and then called the Commander of his guards and bid him to include Vandiya Devan in their entourage. The Commander didn’t seem very enthused with the Prince’s idea to include a complete stranger in their midst but he didn’t protest the command.

As they neared the Fort the guards manning the city opened the gates and Vandiya Devan successfully entered the city.

Previous Chapter                                                                                                            Next Chapter