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| Vandiya Devan and Azhwarkadiyan |
Next
morning, Prince Arul Mozhi Varmar, Vandiya Devan and Azhwarkadiyan left for
Anuradhapuram before dawn. They sped through the woods and reached the King’s
road soon. Vandiya Devan was surprised by the fact that the Prince did not take
his guards or an entourage along with him. Vandiya Devan felt exhilaration, pride and
enthusiasm in equal measures all through the ride that morning. He was
exhilarated and proud because he had completed the mission that the Princess
had tasked him with. And that’s not all. He had long wanted to meet the Prince
to whom the entire Chola Kingdom was devoted. He had accomplished that as well.
He also reminisced about their meeting and still found himself surprised by how
well the Prince disguised himself and had attacked him when he least expected
it. Who thought that the Prince would be the mahout and who knew that he would
turn the horse suddenly and attack him?
The
Prince was a strange man indeed! This is how he won the war in Elangai; by taking
the enemy unawares and by attacking them unexpectedly. Vandiya Devan was also
very much taken by the Prince’s behaviour towards his soldiers. He was
completely at ease with them and assumed no airs about being a Prince. It was
no wonder that the soldiers all over the Chola Kingdom were ready to give up
their life for him.
What
surprised him more was the benevolence that the Prince showed the people of
Elangai? In which conquered land can the people go about their work freely
without any fear or persecution? Looking around he noted how the people of
Elangai lived happy and secure in their villages while a war raged in their
land. Women and children who were the worst casualties of a war were seen
laughing and smiling! Vandiya Devan knew that the Prince who rode next to him
was the man responsible for their happiness. The Prince had stubbornly refused
to take food and supplies from the conquered people and had convinced his
father to send the same from their land. He remembered how this had irked the
Pazhvur brothers who had complained to the King about the Prince’s unorthodox
warfare in Elangai.
He
also remembered the battles that he had fought along with Aditya Karikalan. He
couldn’t help compare the Crown Prince’s savage war tactics with his brother’s
benevolent warfare. Vandiya Devan never dared to criticize or think less of his
master until then, but he couldn’t help it when he noted the happy faces of
Elangai people. If his master, Prince Aditya Karikalar had come campaigning
here, would these people be so happy and in peace? He remembered the wails and
cries of the people on whom the Crown Prince had warred. One could only see
savagery, destruction and death wails of women who had lost their home,
husband, children, virtue and honour.
Vandiya
Devan wanted to learn more about the Prince and share information, opinions and
news but they were on galloping horses that were steadily speeding on the
King’s road. But they did get one opportunity to talk.
They
were nearing Anuradhapuram when they saw a huge statue of Buddha alongside the
road. Vandiya Devan had seen many such statues in Elangai and didn’t find it
strange. But the Prince for some reason reined his horse and stopped it
abruptly near the statue. The other two did the same and came near the Prince.
The Prince watched the statue intently for some time and then exclaimed, “Aha!
What a beauty?”
“I
don’t see any beauty here. Elangai is littered with such big statues everywhere
though I wonder why?”
The
Prince turned towards Vandiya Devan and smiled saying, “I am happy that you
choose to speak whatever your heart feels, truthfully,”
“Ayya!
Let me assure you that he is speaking the truth only now,”
“Vaishnavarey!
When I met you in Veeranarayanapuram, I found myself lying more and more with
every passing day. But ever since I met the Prince, I feel like speaking the
truth. It is true that the company that we keep decides our character for
better or worse,”
The
Prince however was not listening to their war of words. He was intently
admiring the art of the Buddha statue when he said, “I have found that the art
of carving stones does complete justice to two forms – one is divine form of
Natarajar and the other is Buddha. But sadly we do not make such massive
statues for our Gods in our Kingdom,”
“There
were many great kings who ruled over Elangai in the past. Though their island
was very small, they were large hearted and their devotion was true and pure.
They showed their devotion to Lord Buddha by building huge statues, gigantic stupas
and monasteries. I am ashamed of the temples and the small statues that we have
built to pray to our Gods in our land,”
Saying
thus, the Prince dismounted from his horse and went near the statue and bowed
low touching the Lotus buds that adorned the feet of the Buddha statue.
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| A secret message from Buddha |
After
mounting the horse they rode on a slow trot and the Prince heard Vandiya Devan
comment, “What is this? Looks like the Prince will join the faith of Buddha,”
“My
friend! I have immense respect and faith for Lord Buddha but my piety has its own
reasons. The lotus feet of Lord Buddha had a message for me,”
“Aha!
But we didn’t hear any message,”
“The
message was given to me in silence,”
“What
message was it? Are we allowed to know?”
“I
have been asked to come to near the Simhatharai Pond at midnight by Lord
Buddha.” Said Prince Arul Mozhi Varmar.
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