Chapter 52: The Broken Ship

When Vandiya Devan saw the sails on fire, he knew assuredly that the ship wouldn’t escape the rage of the sea. His fate too was tied to this ship and therefore he too would give up his life along with it. Despite the realization that he would die soon, the thought didn’t drown him with despair or sorrow. On the contrary, his enthusiasm grew by leaps and bounds. He unbound himself from the ropes that he had tied around himself and laughed out aloud. He was happy that he didn’t have to die burning in the fire that would soon spread through the ship. Death by water was much more preferable.

He didn’t want to waste the precious few moments that were left to live. He wanted to enjoy the terrible beauty of the stormy sea before he left this world. He looked around the sea in the light of the burning sails and tried to guess as to where he would drown precisely. He had heard people say that those who die with unfulfilled wishes and dreams would rise again as ghosts and haunt the place where they gave up their life.

Vandiya Devan wonders whether Kundavai will grieve his death

Will my ghost float through these skies? Will I fly through these waves in a spectral form? Aha! One day, Princess Kundavai might make a journey through here and will the sailors show her this place saying, ‘This is where Vandiya Devan died!’ Will her beautiful eyes shed a few pearls of tears for me? Would I be allowed to wipe her tears then?

Just when his thoughts raced towards death the ship was tossed high on a huge wave that allowed him to see the sea from a great height. Like a moving light, the ship illuminated the entire surroundings and he looked around eagerly to enjoy the last few precious moments of his life. And that’s when he saw it!

He saw a ship and there was a tiger flag hoisted on top of it!

Dear God! Is there no end to your miracles? That ship must surely bear Prince Arul Mozhi Varmar. He must have come searching for me!

Parthibendran’s ship that had come searching for Vandiya Devan too was tossed around by the cyclone’s mad fury but the ship was manned by experienced sailors who have traversed the sea in stormy weather. They brought down the sails from the mast and had tied it securely and held the ropes of the ship together to prevent it from capsizing. The waves played around with the ship tossing it up and down as if it were a toy. When the force of the wind increased the ship would have spun around uncontrollably but the brave sailors of Chola Kingdom prevailed.

“I have seen worse storms and cyclones than this and have brought my crew safely through them, my Prince,” assured the Captain of the ship but he also mentioned yet another danger that might be fatal.

“With the storm raging all around us, it is very dark as it is and the rains have been pouring without any respite. I fear that we might get very close to the ship that we have come searching for and in the darkness the possibility of colliding with it is very high. That ship too must be stuck in this cyclone just as we are and we may not even know that we are close to it until we collide on it. That would be fatally dangerous! Both the ships will be break apart. That’s why, I am not worried about this storm as much as I am worried about this darkness,”

The Prince was aware of this danger, which is why, he was on the upper deck ignoring thunder and rain, looking around with his sharp eyes when lightening struck. His heart was heavy and worried.

Will I ever meet my friend Vandiya Devan again? That courageous man who bore my sister’s message came to me braving so many dangers, what would be his fate, stuck in the hands of the murderous Arab pirates? And if these dangers were not enough, the weather was posing the biggest challenge for the Prince. What if we die here just as the Captain feared, by colliding on the other ship in this darkness? Who would tell my father the new about Oomai Rani?

He had no intention of reveal their family secret to Parthibendran. The Pallava warrior was loyal but his attitude irked the Prince to no end. Until now, the Prince had never faced an outright defeat in any of the mission that he had undertaken. But his heart wondered often, that night, ‘Will I fail in this mission?’

The Prince heard a loud thunder and involuntarily he had to close his eyes and when he opened it again, his eyes followed a light that was newly alight in the sea. At a distance they saw a ship with its sails flapping wildly and the top of he sail was burning and on the deck of the ship was a lone man standing! That must be Vandiya Devan! But why is he standing there alone? Where are the others? But there was no time for any more thoughts. The Prince decided almost immediately as to what he would do now.

 

Prince Arul Mozhi spots the burning ship

The others in their ship too had seen the other ship now and raised an alarm. The Prince went and stood next to a small boat that was tied to their boat and spoke to the sailors who stood next to it.

“Who among you is prepared to come with me?” When the sailors learned his intention they were understandably shocked but soon many came forward. Parthibendran and the Captain tried to stop the Prince.

“My Prince! What is this? How is it possible to ply a boat in this storm? It would be almost impossible to reach that burning ship to rescue Vallavareyan but still we will make an effort to do that. However you need not go, there are others here, who would do it,”

“Be careful! I will not forgive those who try to stop me now,” said the Prince sternly and lowered the boat into the sea and then turned towards the sailors and said, “I need two of you to come with me,”

The Prince then jumped into the boat along with the two sailors and the boat moved away from their ship. The Prince and the sailors plied their oars with much difficulty and slowly the boat approached the burning ship. By then, the fire that had started at the top of the sails had burned it half way down. Vandiya Devan looked at the approaching boat in the light of the fire but didn’t move towards it. His astonishment rendered him speechless and had robbed him of his mobility. He watched the Prince silently.

“Jump! Jump into the sea now!” shouted the Prince but Vandiya Devan didn’t hear it. He stood still like a statue. The Prince saw that the fire was soon spreading through the ship and if they tarried any longer it would be disastrous for all. Within a second he decided what to do and set things in motion. He tied the rope that they were carrying the boat and asked the sailors to hold it tightly and jumped into the sea. The sea played around with the Prince lifting him high into the air and taking him to the abysses the next second. The Prince swam steadily towards the ship when a huge wave aided him and threw him into the ship. Vandiya Devan ran towards him and lifted him up. The Prince held him tightly and said, “Hold onto me! Don’t let me go!” and they both jumped into the sea. The sailors from the boat put their oars down and were pulling the rope steadily. Prince and Vandiya Devan were soon near the boat and they climbed onto it with great difficulty.

“Ply the oars fast now!” shouted the Prince. The burning ship would soon sink into the sea and the Prince didn’t want to be near it when it happened. When a ship sank, the turbulence of the water would naturally increase and the displacement of water would in turn place the other boats in the vicinity in danger.

The ship soon began to sink and it was unbelievably terrible to watch the scene and yet their eyes were drawn towards it dark beauty! But just as the Prince anticipated huge waves rose again even as the sea ate up the Chola ship sinking it to its depths. With the burning ship gone, they were plunged into darkness yet again and Parthibendran’s ship was nowhere to be found. They could be lost in the sea with no sense of direction or worse they might be even collide with the ship and break their small boat.

Though the storm had passed them by the turbulence of the sea didn’t dissipate soon enough. The cyclone in the meanwhile travelled to Kodi Karai and other coastal cities and towns bringing destruction and loss in its wake.

After surviving the burning ship, the small boat that bore the Prince, Vandiya Devan and the two sailors was floating around. They didn’t ply the oars as they were clueless about their direction but soon they encountered another danger. A sail that was half burned from the drowned ship soon floated in their direction and due to the darkness, they didn’t spot the danger until it was very close to them.

“Ply the oars fast now!” shouted the Prince but before he could finish, the sail mast had hit the boat splitting it into half. The Prince immediately held Vandiya Devan saying, “My friend! Don’t be scared, this sail mast is more secure than this small boat. Hold onto it!”

Chapter 51: The Storm

The sea and the air was still all around them. The ship stood immobile defeated by the elements of nature and incapable of moving without the winds. Vandiya Devan stood for a while looking at the placid sea silently. In his heart arose great waves of emotion and a germ of an idea!

He lifted both his hands up in the air and shouted, “Ohm! Hreem Hasht!”and then unsheathed his sword with deliberate ferocity and swirled it around twice.

 

Sea God Demands Blood Sacrifice

“Yes. The Sea God wants a sacrifice indeed. He wants the blood sacrifice of two cowards who would attack those who are asleep. Unless I give this sacrifice he will not allow this ship to move forward. Come now! Show me your head, let me remove it from your worthless self,”

Ravidasan looked at Vandiya Devan surprised at first and then laughed out aloud saying, “Thambi! What is this game?”

“So you think this is a game? When I was in the lower deck tied and bound to those logs, I had a dream. I saw a spectre that rose above the sea to touch the skies. It spoke to me but I didn’t understand what it said then. Now I do. It demanded that I sacrifice two Kali devotees. That would be you and your friend here. Once I offer your blood to the Sea God, this ship will move. The Sea God’s thirst for blood was not quenched with the blood of those Arab fiends. Come now, let me sacrifice you,” he said swirling the long sword again over his head.

“Thambi! I have never seen anyone so well versed in spinning tales,”

“Oh! I am spinning tales now, am I? Then I will let the Sea God give you his answer now,” said Vandiya Devan shouting and it seemed as though the God of Seas had heard him and he responded too!

Yes. The sea that had been placid and petrified since that morning came back to life quite suddenly. The water seemed to shudder suddenly as the temperature dropped quite dramatically and the burning sun was soon clouded with dark rain clouds that threatened to rain. In the sea, small waves rose up almost simultaneously everywhere and its distinct white foam seemed like budding flowers!

Mandiravadi Ravidasan

It was an astonishing sight and what more the Sea God also released the winds that he had bound so long. A slight breeze touched the ship rocking it up and down. Mandirvadi and Devarallan laughed out aloud.

“Ha! Ha! Ha!”

“Thambi! The Sea God has answered your plea. We offer ourselves to the blood sacrifice that he demanded,”

Vandiya Devan was astounded by the sudden change that had come over the weather. The waves that suddenly rose had gone down and the wind was still again. He wondered whether he imagined it all. He even started wondering whether Mandiravadi had truly worked out a spell on the sea! That thought had a sobering effect on him.

No! This Mandiravadi is a fraudster and I should not fall into his trap!

Next instant he looked at them and said, “Then why do you hesitate? Come forward, let me sacrifice you now!”

“We wish to pray to the Divine Mother Kali before we are sacrificed. Give us half hour of respite,”

“Alright. Do your prayers and come to me. Do not try to trick me with your magic spells,”

“We will be back soon. We will leave our weapons here!” said Ravidasan and they threw their weapons down and left him there alone and went to the opposite end of the ship. Vandiya Devan needed that half hour respite more than the Mandiravadi did. He needed that time to understand what was happening around him. He looked at the sea for answers. He wanted to kill those scheming murderers with a single slash of his sword but the sea’s resounding answer to his call had astounded him, rendering his sword arm weak.

He looked towards the southwest direction yet again. The rain clouds that were earlier small had grown big enough to cover the entire space of the sky until the horizon. A cool breeze started blowing through the ship and the sea came alive all around him. Small waves started rising up all around him rocking the ship gently. Soon enough the breeze became a wind and with every passing second it became strong enough to steer the ship right into the eye of the storm.

Suddenly there was a splash in the sea as if something was thrown in. Vandiya Devan turned around and saw that Ravidasan and Devaralan were missing! He made his way to the opposite end of the ship and what he saw astounded him. Ravidasan and Devaralan had lowered a small boat and had jumped into it leaving him alone in the ship. Vandiya Devan expected them to scheme their way through their ship journey but he didn’t think that they would abandon him in the ship.

Mandiravadi and Devaralan escapes

Ravidasan gave his smug signature laughter and said, “Thambi! We don’t wish to sacrifice ourselves,”

Vandiya Devan who understood the situation berated himself for underestimating Mandiravadi. He also realized his own dangerous situation. He knew nothing about traveling in the sea, leave alone navigating a big ship alone through a storm. He was clueless about where they were in the sea and in what direction they were going and the danger was only compounded by the fact that those two scoundrels were leaving him alone in the ship.

“You sinners! Can’t you take me with you?”

“Thambi! The Sea God needs at least one sacrifice today,” said Ravidasan and soon he and his companion were plying the oars steadily and pulling away from the ship.

He thought of jumping into the sea to try and catch the boat but rejected the idea almost immediately for various reasons. He didn’t know how to swim properly yet and if he reached the boat, what is to stop those scoundrels from murdering him? After rejecting their offer to join their gang, they have more reasons to kill him than to keep him alive. They could turn those oars on him and it would be impossible to try to be afloat while trying to fend them off.

Let them go! It is better to be alone in a big ship rather than suffer their company in a small boat. I have escaped from many dangers with the help of God’s grace. I will escape this too unscathed!

He also wondered if it was right on his part to let them escape alive. God knows what these murderers have planned and what they might accomplish once they reach the shores.

God will see to them surely, what else can I do here? If only I could go back to Prince Arul Mozhi! He shouldn’t have abandoned me in the forest that day. Along with Poonguzhali if he had only signalled me to get on that elephant I wouldn’t have jumped into the sea to catch this ship so foolishly. If ever I meet him again, I will fight with him saying, “Is this how you repay someone’s gratitude? Is this how you treat your friend?” But will I ever meet him again? But why not? Commander and Azhwarkadiyan saw me and must have told the Prince about my predicament.

Even as he stood thinking thus, the boat had gone very far and soon would vanish from his line of sight. How did the boat move so fast? And that’s when he noticed that the ship too was moving. The sea was becoming choppier and soon it began to toss the ship around. Soon he noticed that everything was becoming dark. How is this possible? How could it become dark in the middle of the afternoon?

He saw in the South Western direction again and found that storm clouds had clouded the sun completely! The clouds kept rolling in the sky as Vandiya Devan watched the sight fascinated by its wild beauty. Soon the sky was filled with dark clouds with nary a ray of light from the sun. The wind too had picked up pace and was blowing steadily with a ‘shoo’ sound.

The waves were no longer small and had started tossing the ship around while its sails flapped wildly around. So this is the cyclone that Poonguzhali spoke about all those days ago. He had heard from someone that when a storm blows, the sails need to be brought down. But bringing down the sails of a warship is no mean task. It required the muscles and tensile strength of ten men and what would he do alone? Let God take care of this ship.

But his innermost heart whispered the truth out aloud. The ship would be tossed around for a while in the sea and then it would sink. Before it sank, it would probably break and along with it, he too would drown.

I would soon die in the sea! If only I could meet that Kudanthai Jodhidhar again, I will show him the consequences of lying. What’s astrology then? Just a bundle of lies! If only I could meet him again… What is this madness? Where am I going to see him again?

Suddenly something hard fell on Vandiya Devan’s shoulder and a hail storm was unleashed. Frozen water fell all over the ship. Vandiya Devan who had never seen them in his life touched and held one in his hands with wonderment. He was happy to experience it before he could breathe his last. He sat down in the deck and touched the ice rocks and watched them melt away back into the sea.

The hail storm stopped as abruptly as it began and then normal rain started. As he sat there, he noticed something that he didn’t know. Even when huge waves rose and tossed the ship around, the water never stayed inside the ship. This also meant that the ship was built to withstand huge waves and this realization gave him some hope. He immediately got up and went down to the lower deck and closed the door of the store room where he was locked up. He decided to lock himself in the room again when the rain and the storm above became unbearable and the rest is up to the Gods. He also felt gleeful about the fact that Mandiravadi and his friend had left a ship like this and had opted to escape in a small boat. But that boat was carefully constructed just as the ship. Even if the storm broke it apart they could escape with their life by just clutching the wooden log that was built with it. They might escape this storm and go ashore to Kodi Karai. From Kodi Karai his thoughts sprang towards Pazhaiarai.

How would Prince Kundavai learn about my fate? Who would tell her that I lost my life trying to fulfil her commands? Will these waters tell her about it? Will this wind whisper it in her ears? Why didn’t I lose my life before I met her? Why didn’t the Gods bless me with a beautiful brave death? Why did they show me the path to the heavens only to cast me down to the depth of the hell?

The wind blew across strongly, its speed picking up with every passing second. The sails of the ship flapped around madly, just as one would expect in a ghostly ship. The sky lighted up with a lightening from one end to another casting a ghostly light around the sea and a thunder was heard piercing his ears.

Vandiya Devan had seen many storms, lightening and thunders but none of that could match his present experience. As the Gods unleashed thunder and lightening one after another, Vandiya Devan soon began to wonder why the skies haven’t split yet.

The sea threw up one gigantic wave after another. Mountains of waves took the ship almost up the heavens in one instant and then plunged it deep into an abyss the next. Caught in the maelstrom of winds, the ship with its sails spread out spun round and round.

Vandiya Devan soon began to wonder how long would the ship endure the storm. As time passed his enthusiasm and joy grew. He was convinced that his death would be beautiful indeed and before he died he was determined to enjoy the nature’s work at play. As the waves lashed out at the ship, he laughed out aloud. He tied himself to the mast of the ship and spun with the sails. He lost track of time. He could have spun for a few seconds or hours, he didn’t know. He had attained a consciousness that people reach just before they see death marching upon them.

Vandiya Devan on the Ship

The speed of the wind lessened with time and the torrent of rains stopped. The thunder and the lightening too had stopped and black dark sea danced a wild dance.

Vandiya Devan had closed his eyes tight unable to bear the glare of the lightening and had shut his ears fearing that he might go deaf thanks to thunder. He opened his eyes and removed his hands from the ears to see around.

Aha! Did I indeed escape from this storm? Has the storm passed us? Did the God save my life? Will I see the Princess again? Will I meet the Prince again? It is too early to thank the Gods now. I am still not safe. Who knows where this ship right now and God knows how many more dangers are out there waiting for me.

Even as he thought this, God seemed to answer his question with a lightening so potent that Vandiya Devan felt as if he saw over a thousand suns gleaming in front of him. One can see even in the dark once the eyes got adjusted but in this extreme light, nothing can be seen. Soon he had to shut his ears too as the thunder that reverberated through the sea was the loudest that he had ever heard that day. If Lord Indra had unleashed his Vajrayudham it might probably make the same sound.

For a while, Vandiya Devn couldn’t open his eyes, but soon he sensed a light from above and looked up to see the sails on fire. He understood why the thunder had been so loud. The lightening had struck the ship! Of the five elements of nature, two elements water and wind had repeatedly struck the ship and had failed. What Varuna and Vayu failed to achieve would soon be fulfilled by Agni!

Chapter 47 – Isana Shiva Pattar

Azhwarkadiyan went to his brother Isana Shiva Pattar’s house after his meeting with Princess Kundavai. Located near the Vada Mettrali Temple, the Pattar’s house was about half a kilometre distance away from the royal palace.

Vadathali Temple today

The city was quiet and the streets were empty, as all the drama and entertainment troupes seemed to be done for the day. As he walked by the houses of Padai veedu, he noticed many women were standing outside their houses and talking in groups, angrily. They were no ordinary women. Each one of them had sent their father, husband and sons armed with a sword and a spear to Eezham to fight along with Prince Arul Mozhi Varman. Every house in this street had sacrificed a son or a husband to the glory of the kingdom. He looked around wondered about the dissatisfaction that these women felt now and worried where it would all lead to, if they started protesting too loudly.

It was very dark, when he reached the temple. Situated atop a small cliff, the temple cliff was once occupied by Jain monks who meditated in the caves. When Appar Swami came here for the first time, he couldn’t see the temple, because the artificial catacombs that the Jains had built were all around. He entreated the Pallava chieftain who was ruling the Chola Kingdom to intercede. The chieftain ordered the demolition of the catacombs and within them a small shiva temple was seen and Appar sang in delight.

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Chapter 46 - Murmurs and Rumours

After meeting Queen Sembiyanmadevi, Azhwarkadiyan headed towards Princess Kundavai’s palace. On the way, the sights that met him at Pazhaiarai’s streets, filled his heart with enthusiasm. He happily noted how people celebrated Krishna’s birthday with such excitement. He felt no doubt about the fact that Vaishnavam was here to stay. For over hundred years, under the patronage of Chola kings, many Shiva temples were rebuilt, many grants have been given to them, countless jewels, land and wealth have been showered, yet it did not diminish the people’s enthusiasm to celebrate a festival for Maha Vishnu’s avatar, Krishna. There is no doubt that Krishna’s many miraculous deeds and endearing stories have captured the people’s imagination. So many troupes of street dancers and drama groups, have come here to celebrate this festival. He noted how people were clapping energetically at the performance of one of the dance troupes.

Azhwarkadiyan Nambi

The actors who were playing Vasudeva, Devaki, Krishna, Balarama and Kamsa were showing their acting prowess to the public. With the public were cheering loudly, the actors sang loudly and performed many interesting japes that attracted claps and frequent shouts. Azhwarkadiyan, stopped to see their performance. The scene was where Krishna was challenging Kamsa for a duel. Krishna was played by a small boy, who listed out the many crimes that Kamsa had committed and challenged him for a duel. In his reply, Kamsa who was played by a broad chested warrior wearing a mask, thundered, “Hey Krishna! Your magic prowess will not work with me. I am going to kill you now. I will kill your brother Balaraman and your father Vasudevan. I am also going to kill that Veera Vaishnavan, who is standing there with thiruman all over his body!”

Everybody now looked at Azhwarkadiyan and started laughing. The vaishnavan looked around with anger and his hands itched to bring his staff down on the actor who was playing Kamsa. But it was pointless, as he had hidden his face with a large wooden mask. He silently slid away and left. But something was niggling his mind. That Kamsa’s voice seemed a bit familiar to him and he felt as if the actor was shouting his dialogues, just to camouflage his voice.

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Chapter 39 - Swirling World!

Periya Pazhuvetarayar and Nandini

Pazhuvetarayar knew very well that many people had criticized and commented about his getting married to a young woman, at the age of sixty. He was also aware that Princess Kundavai was one of them.

But no one had dared to tell him what exactly Kundavai had said. When he heard it from Nandini, he began to burn with anger. His eyes turned red and his voice hoarse. "My beloved, did that heartless beast say that? She called me an old buffalo, did she? Wait and see what I do to her. This buffalo is going to stamp her like a worm..." spat Pazhuvetarayar, unable to speak further.

Nandini tried to calm him. She took his hand in hers and entwined her fingers in his.

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Chapter 37 - Clash of Lions

The people of Thanjavur held the Pazhuvur brothers in special regard. It was thanks to them that their old city had become the capital of the kingdom and had gained importance.

It was but natural for people to throng to the streets whenever there was a procession but whenever Periya Pazhuvetarayar left the town or was returning home, people would gather in the streets to watch the spectacle because it was customary for his brother Chinna Pazhuvetarayar to go up to the fort entrance to welcome him.

And when they meet, both the brothers would embrace each other lovingly and then their procession would proceed towards the royal palace. The Thanjavur crowd loved to watch this spectacle. Many compared the brothers and their love for each other to that of Rama and Bharatha, or of Bhima and Arjuna.

But that day when Periya Pazhuvetarayar came back to the fort, his brother did not come to greet him, nor did people throng the street to watch the procession. Sensing something wrong, Periya Pazhuvetarayar went to his brother's palace. He intuitively felt that his younger brother was involved in some important work, which was why he couldn't come to the entrance to welcome him.

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Chapter 36 - Do You Remember?

Ravidasan - The Mandiravadi

Nandini came out of the lata mandapam and clapped her hand thrice. At the farthermost corner of the garden, the real mandiravadi stepped out, from behind a tree.

Nandini went back to the lata mandapam and sat on her couch with a peaceful expression. Mandiravadi entered the mandapam and in the light of the lamps when we see his face, it looks familiar! Yes we have seen him in Thirupurampayam! Near the Pallipadai! He was one who had ordered his men to kill Azhvarkadiyan on sight. It was Ravidasan!

When he entered the lata mandapam his face was clouded with anger and his eyes were bloodshot. He sat down at the seat opposite to the couch. Staring steadily at Nandini, he said, "Om, Hreem, Shreem Kreem, Bagavathy! Shakti! Chandikeshwari...

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Chapter 33 - A Lady on a Tree

Vandiya Devan started out on a tour of Thanjavur along with the two soldiers that Chinna Pazhuvetarayar had sent along. He knew exactly what Chinna Pazhuvetarayar would have told them. He would have asked them not to let him out of their sight. And he was sure that by now, guards at the fort entrance would have orders not to let anybody outside.

So while he was going around the fort, he was furiously thinking about ways to escape and hide but first, he would have to evade these guards that Chinna Pazhuvetarayar had sent with him. After that, he had to break out from the fort as well.

He could give the guards the slip very easily. He could always attack them and escape - but where would he run? He had a fair idea about how strong the fort was guarded, and the security inside was tighter than ever. Nobody could get into or leave the fort without Chinna Pazhuvetrayar’s knowledge. And if he tried to run away from these two soldiers they would raise the alarm. If caught he would then be led straight to the underground prison or else he would be killed.

I need to escape from here somehow without raising an alarm. There must be some way out of this fort. Most forts have an underground escape route. But how do I find it?

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