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.
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