Chapter 47: The Captain’s Death

Oomai Rani on horseback

It is easy to guess who the woman riding the horse’s bareback was. The Prince immediately went near the horse along with Poonguzhali. The others lingered back watching and wondering how a woman could tame and ride an Arab horse with such ease.

Oomai Rani got down from the horse and cast a worrying glance at the Commander, Vaishnavan and the soldiers behind then. She then proceeded to speak with Poonguzhali in sign language.

“My aunt has seen something strange in the forest. She wants us to accompany us,” said Poonguzhali.

The Prince immediately decided to leave with her and asked her whether he is allowed to bring the others. Oomai Rani thought for a moment and then nodded her assent and they journeyed towards South East direction through the thick forest. As they followed her deep into the forest, they had to hurry to keep up with her and the Prince’s eagerness increased with each step. He intuitively knew that something of importance has happened or else Oomai Rani wouldn’t take him on such a long journey through the dangerous woods. The reason for this was soon upon them.

In a small clearing through the woods, they noticed bodies of slain men, soldiers and sailors savagely cut with bleeding wounds and the rotting stink of dead men. The Commander and the Prince who has seen countless wars were astonished by the savagery of the enemy who had cut down the men mercilessly.

The Prince looked around immediately and shouted, “Quick! Quick! See if someone is alive,”

The commander and his soldiers immediately checked the bodies of the sailors for life. Oomai Rani led the Prince through the clearing and under a tree was a man resting his head on the bark of the tree. His body was fully covered with wounds and blood. He had been dealt with a deathly gash on his head from which blood had oozed all over his body. He opened his eyes with difficulty and looked at the Prince piteously. He tried to speak something and with difficulty opened his mouth.

The Prince went near him and carefully held him in his arms saying, “Someone get him water, now!”

“No. I don’t want water. This woman gave me some just a while ago. If she had not come here on time, I would have died. Ayya! I came here with the treasonous intent of arresting you and the Gods have punished me justly,”

The Prince who recognized him after hearing his voice, said, “Ah! Kalapathy! (Those days, the captains of ships were called Kalapathy, just as army commanders were called Dalapathy) What are you saying? How did this catastrophe happen? I cannot believe that you tried to betray me!”

“Ayya! I led two ships here on Pazhuvetarayar’s command to arrest you. Here is the royal decree with Chakravarthy’s seal,” said Kalapathy and took out an Oolai from his waistcloth.

The Prince glanced over the Oolai and said, “What treason did you do here? You followed the orders of Chakravarthy. When I learned that you are here, I hastened to meet you, to give myself up. Who attacked you? Tell me quickly!”

The Kalapathy then told everything that happened after he arrived in Elangai. He left for Elangai from Nagapattinam on two ships laden with sailors and soldiers. His heart was not in the task but he couldn’t say no to direct orders from the king. Pazhuvetarayar too had issued a few orders before he left. They asked him to anchor the ships at a safe secluded place and meet the Prince with Chakravarthy’s Oolai. They also cautioned him about Kodumbalur Periya Vellar and that he should not learn about his intentions to arrest the Prince under any circumstance. They asked him to find the Prince’s whereabouts first and then give him Chakravarthy’s message. They didn’t expect the Prince to revolt but if he did, the Kalapathy had orders to arrest him with force. Next Pazhuvetarayar provided him with a few of his own men to help the Kalapathy to fulfil his order.

The Kalapathy took the ships onto the sea with a heavy heart. His men had no inkling as to why they were going to Elangai and this made his mission all the more difficult. He knew that he would have to reveal the true nature of their mission to his crew when they neared their destination but he hesitated fearing the consequences. When they reached Thondaimaan river, he left for Gangasenan Sea Port to learn about the Prince’s whereabouts. He learnt that the Prince was near Anuradhapuram at the Port and then hurried back to his ship.

When he returned to the ship, he learned that Pazhuvetarayar’s men had revealed the true reason of their voyage. Kalapathy’s sailors swarmed around him asking him to confirm whether they would arrest the Prince. Kalapathy tried to pacify them saying, “We have sworn our service and sword to the King’s service and the King has ordered us to imprison his son and bring him back to Thanjavur. We cannot defy his orders,”

“We cannot do that. These are not Chakravarthy’s orders. These are Pazhuvetarayar’s orders!”

“What will you do then? Will you defy the Chakravarthy’s orders?”

“We will go to Maanthodham and surrender our service to the Prince,”

“But the Prince is not in Maanthodham,”

“If that is so, then we will surrender to Kodumbalur Periya Vellar,”

Kalapathy tried to convince them to give up this mutiny but they refused and a handful of Pazhuvetarayar’s men agreed to stay with him. With just ten men supporting him, it was impossible to sway the minds of over 200 men.

“If you are resolved to do this folly then leave now. I will not shirk my duties to my King and defy his orders,”

The mutinous sailors then took charge of one of the ships. At first they wanted to take the ship to Maanthodham but the others rejected the idea. Later, they decided to go there through land and in their hurry to leave, they failed to anchor the ship properly. The ship moved towards the land and ran aground.

After the sailors left, Kalapathy didn’t want to linger around their ship. So he moved his ship to a secluded cove and anchored it. He had heard a disturbing rumour about an Arab ship that sank near the Gangasena port. He had learned that fierce pirates from that ship were roaming around the region.

Kalapathy then decided to travel by land to meet the Prince and he wanted the remaining men to guard the ship safely until his return. The sailors were disheartened by the turn of events and Kalapathy was trying to pacify their concerns when they were attacked.

Just as he feared, the Arab pirates surrounded them and attacked them fiercely. The Kalapathy and his men who were not prepared for this attack and were unarmed. The pirates slaughtered them mercilessly and captured their ship.

“My prince! I alone escaped their deadly attack with grievous wounds. I wanted to tell someone about what happened to us. Thankfully through God’s grace I met you. I got my just rewards for my treasonous acts. Ponniyin Selva! Please forgive me!”

“Kalapathy! You did your duty even during the most perilous times. Why do you ask my forgiveness? If there is a heaven for brave souls, you have earned a seat of respect there,” Said the Prince and touched the forehead of the wounded captain. Overcome with gratitude and pain, Kalapathy clutched the hands of the Prince and gave up his life.

Chapter 29: The Mahout

A thousand years before the present events of this epic, there reigned a King in Elangai named Valahambahu. During his reign, a war raged between the Chola kings and the Elangai forces. Defeated by the enemy, Valahambahu fled from his capital city and sought refuge among the steep mountains of Thambilai. Later he gathered his forces and ousted the invaders from his capital city Anuradhapuram. After he successfully recaptured his kingdom, he expressed his gratitude to Lord Buddha by converting the mountain caves of Thambilai into a sanctuary of peace and piety. The caves of Thambilai were made into a shrine as the sculptors made large and small statues of Buddha and other Gods and Goddesses of the Hindus as well. Even today, one can see the wondrous beauty of these statues brought alive by the deft craftsmanship of these talented sculptors.

Thambilai is known as Dambulla Today

Rock Caves and Paintings of Dambulla

Vandiya Devan was awestruck by the massive statues of Buddha that were seen everywhere. He felt that he had stepped into a new world filled with astounding things to discover. Many devotees bought baskets of exotic flowers as an offering to Buddha and were seen walking towards the mountain temple. Buddhist monks clad in their customary dull saffron robes thronged the streets and occasionally they raised their voice to shout ‘sadhu’.

Vandiya Devan saw all these sights in wonder and said, “I thought we were entering a war-torn region ruled by Cholas, instead we are in a city ruled by Buddha!”

“This city is very famous for their Buddha shrines for over a thousand years now,”

“But right now, it is the Cholas who have captured it,”

“True.”

“Then why is it that there are no Chola soldiers on the streets?”

“All the soldiers are garrisoned in the woods outside the city,”

“Upon whose orders?”

“The Prince’s. Who else?”

“I have been wanting to ask you. Parthibendran Pallavan came here and searched for the Prince in vain and has left. Then why are we searching for him again?”

“Do you think I would believe that Pallavan’s words and abandon my search? Did Prahaladan accept his father’s words when he said that ‘Narayana does not exist’?”

“Veera Vaishnavarey! You were constantly fighting the saivars and advaitis in our Kingdom, why don’t challenge these monks for a debate here? Are you scared by their overwhelming numbers?”

“Thambi! I have never feared anything. Can you tell me how it looks?”

“It is dark and monstrous and almost as big as the elephant that attacked us. Have you never seen it?”

“No,” said Azhwarkadiyan and approached two people who were standing on the road. He conversed with them for a while and then returned.

“Vaishnavarey! What did you ask them? I hope you didn’t ask them whether Vishnu is a big God. Even you should agree that Lord Buddha is the biggest God here,”

“Thambi! I have put aside my veera vaishnavam in Rameshwaram. I am here on a royal errand,”

“Then, what did you ask them? Did you enquire about the Prince’s whereabouts?”

“No. I asked them whether there was a festival happening here today,”

“What did they say?”

“They said that they were waiting to see two travellers from the land of China. That’s why the monasteries here have arranged many festivities to welcome them,”

“Where are these travellers from China now?”

“They have now gone to Simhagiri’s mountain fort and would be arriving here soon.”

“Where is Simhagiri?”

“At a short distance from here. It is still under the control of Elangai armies. During daytime, you could see the mountain fort from here easily. The fort of Simhagiri has a cave with many beautiful paintings. These travellers must have gone there to see that. I wonder how they got up that mountain. It is very steep. Look! They are here now,”

Sigiriya Mountain today

Sigiriya Mountain

A large elephant was making its way languorously and on its back two men were seated in a covered howdah. Their garments and looks bespoke their heritage. Seated in front of them was a mahout guiding the elephant with a goad. All around the elephant, common people and the monks raised many cries…

“Thambi! Did you see?”

“Yes. I saw. Amma! Such a big beast! Shall we find out if there is a handy ravine nearby?”

“No! No! Let us stand aside. Come here,” said Azhwarkadiyan dragging our hero.

As the elephant neared, Vandiya Devan’s attention was captured by the Chinese travellers. He wondered at their piety and devotion that enabled them to step out of their homeland to pay their respects to Lord Buddha enshrined in other kingdoms. No wonder, the people here are scrambling to welcome them in their midst. Though what is truly surprising is that they were traveling fearlessly in a land that is in the midst of a war. Prince Arul Mozhi Varmar must be responsible for it then. Where is the Prince? Will I ever get to meet him?

Travelers from China

“Thambi! Did you see?”

“I saw,”

“What did you see?”

“I saw the flat noses of those travelers from the land of China. Their clothes look very different,”

“I didn’t ask you about those travelers,”

“Then?”

“Did you notice the mahout?”

“The mahout? No. I didn’t notice,”

“You are very observant! When the mahout saw us, his eyes lit up suddenly. Didn’t you notice?”

“Somehow my observant eye missed the light in the mahout’s eyes. How did he light his eyes? Is that a trick?”

“I truly marvel at your intelligence but mostly I am amazed that Elaya Piratti saw you fit to send you on such a dangerous mission. Come with me,” said Azhwarkadiyan and dragged him behind the crowd that was following the elephant.

The elephant stopped at the entrance of the monastery. Bending its legs, it allowed the travelers the get down from its back. The monks from the monastery gave a rousing welcome to the travelers by blowing couches and ringing the bells while some showered them with flower petals.

Budham Sharanam Gatchami!

After chants ended, the travelers from China entered the monastery and most of the crowd that had gathered there followed them inside.

Vandiya Devan and Azhwarkadiyan

When the travelers had dismounted, the mahout had led the elephant away from the crowd. A group of four soldiers approached him immediately and then he handed over his mahout’s stick to them. Next, he pointed towards Azhwarkadiyan and said something to one of soldiers and then walked away hurriedly from the street. Soon enough, the same soldier approached them and whispered, “Ayya! Are you prepared to come with me?”

“We have been waiting for these summons,”

“Do you have an emblem ring?” he asked and Azhwarkadiyan took out Kodumbalur Periya Vellar’s emblem ring to show him. After scrutinizing it carefully, the soldier said, “Fine. Come with me,”

The rest of them followed him through the streets of Thambilai and soon they were at the outskirts of the city. A narrow goat path led them inside the thick forest where a dilapidated mandapam stood. The soldier asked them to wait awhile there and then nimbly climbed the nearby tree.

“What’s all this mystery? I don’t understand anything,” said Vandiya Devan.

“You will understand soon enough. Be patient,” said Azhwarkadiyan but Vandiya Devan was worried by the fact that there were only two horses tied to the back of the mandapam.

Who was that mahout? He had not paid much attention to him as he was fascinated by the appearance of the travelers from China. He tried to recollect that mahout’s face but his brain refused to remember.

“Vaishnavarey! Who was that mahout? Won’t you tell me?”

“Who do you think it could be?”

“Was he Ponniyin Selvar?”

“I recognized him only because I noticed his eyes,”

“What if others in this city recognize him?”

“They will not. Who would expect the Prince to play the mahout’s role to escort the travelers from China? Moreover the people here have never seen the Prince,”

“But you said that the travelers from China went to Simhagiri fort?”

“Yes, I did.”

“And the fort is still under the control of Elangai army. Then the Prince went all the way amidst his enemies?

“Not just Simhagiri. The Prince has travelled along with them to Mahiyangana, Samandagoodam and many other places,”

“Why did he take such a big risk?”

“The Prince wished to see the beautiful art, architecture, statues and paintings of these places,”

“This is preposterous. The Prince is playing with his life, courting such danger. And I can’t believe that Kudandai Jodhidhar predicted such great things about him,”

“I don’t need to see the astrologer to know about the Prince. I have always known that he was destined for something great,”

Suddenly they heard the hoof beats of galloping horses. The solider who was perched on top of the tree, came down hurriedly and led the horses that were tied at the back of the mandapam. He got on the back of one of the horses and urged Azhwarkadiyan to mount the other.

“In a few seconds, a group of horses will pass through this way. We must be prepared to follow them,” he said.

Vandiya Devan came forward and asked, “What about me? Do you have another horse?”

“I have orders only to bring him along,”

“Whose orders?”

“I cannot say,”

“I have to meet the Prince most urgently. I have brought a very important message for him,”

“I do not know about that Ayya. I cannot allow you to come along with us,”

“Thambi, be patient. I will go on ahead and tell the Prince about you and arrange for you to meet him,”

“Nambi! My message to the Prince is most urgent and important. Don’t you know about it?”

“I do. You could also hand it over to me instead,”

“Never!”

“Then be patient and wait here,”

Vandiya Devan’s impatient brain refused to listen and he started thinking about a way to go along with them. It was impossible to follow them without a horse and he didn’t want to let Azhwarkadiyan meet the Prince alone. He had promised the Commander to spy on the Vaishnavan. The galloping horses were coming near and soon three horses went past them in lightening speed. The soldier and Azhwarkadiyan who were waiting for them to go past them, reined the impatient horses to stand by and then prepared to follow. Suddenly Vandiya Devan pounced on the soldier who was mounted on the horse and pushed him from the horse by lifting his leg from stirrup. The soldier fell down with a thud on the other side while he quickly mounted the horse. Enraged the soldier screamed loudly and drew his dagger and threw it at Vandiya Devan but our hero bent over the horse to miss it and urged his horse to gallop faster. With Azhwarkadiyan’s horse following his, they tried to keep up with the horses that were thundering in the forest path before them.

Vandiya Devan deftly controlled the pace of the horse and followed the three horses in front of him without getting too close. Azhwarkadiyan too did the same and said, “That was quick thinking, Thambi,”

But Vandiya Devan did not respond to him. He was deeply worried about the outcome of this quest and was wondering whether it was worth his while to come all this way to this hostile kingdom in search of an elusive Prince.

Chapter 13: Ponniyin Selvan

Just when Vandiya Devan was finding his way by foot towards Maandotham and Anirudhar and Azhwarkadiyan were conversing about the Kingdom’s affairs, Princess Kundavai and Vanathi were on their way to Thanjavur on a royal elephant. Kundavai Devi had not visited Thanjavur for some time now, for many reasons. In the first place, Thanjavur did not have enough palaces to house the princess and her retinue. With result, she would have to stay at her father’s royal residence which was not only inconvenient but also lacked privacy. Independent by nature, Kundavai couldn’t abide by the rules of security laid down by the Pazhuvur brothers. Apart from that, she found it difficult to bear the arrogant behaviour of Pazhvur Elaya Rani whose insolence knew no bounds. Her father too accepted her reservations and did not demand her presence at the capital often.

Princess Kundavai

But after meeting Vandiya Devan, Kundavai felt that none of these reasons mattered much when the safety of the Kingdom and that of the throne were under question. ‘How can I roam joyously around the gardens of Pazhaiarai when the Kingdom is under such grave danger?’ was the question she asked herself. With the Crown Prince away in Kanchipuram and her younger brother in Elangai, ‘Who will take care of the kingdom?’ Her brother had cautioned her more than once to use spies to learn what was happening in the capital. But time for covert knowledge was past and she knew that she had to be in Thanjavur, beside her father.

So far, she had been uncomfortable with the arrogance and ambitious behaviour of the Pazhuvur brothers and when she learned about their plot to crown Madhuranthakan she knew that it was time she paid a visit to the Capital. That poor boy Madhuranthakan! God knows what they are planning to do with him. They have also somehow garnered the support of important chieftains and petty kings to help his cause. They might even stoop to kill the king to fulfil their ambition. They wouldn’t find a more opportune time to act than now with both the sons away from the Capital, it would be very easy to crown Madhuranthakan as the next king. If they were short of ideas, that Rakshashi Nandini would supply them with a few murderous ones. These were the thoughts that prompted Kundavai to leave her carefree world at Pazhaiarai and move towards the fort of Thanjavur. At the capital, it would easy to see through the machinations of the Pazhuvur brothers and hopefully save the kingdom from grave danger.

But why do they want to crown Madhuranthakan? Do they truly believe that he deserves the throne? No. They want a puppet king on the throne, someone who would listen to everything that they say while the real power would rest in the hands of Pazhuvetarayar and his queen. She would then rule over the Chola Kingdom and hold sway over everybody’s life, including hers. ‘No! This will not come to pass when I am alive.’ Let me see just how clever she really is.

While living in Thanjavur would be uncomfortable enough, her parents would undoubtedly ask, ‘Why have you come here instead of staying comfortably at Pazhaiarai?’ It would impossible to go anywhere outside the Fort without the permission of Thanjavur Commander Chinna Pazhuvetrayar. If that were not enough, the idle women folk at the palace would start talking about her marriage, which left her seething with irritation. She would have to meet Nandini upon occasion and bear her arrogant behaviour and ungracious self. But none of these were worth a consideration when the Kingdom was under such grave danger. She also intuitively sensed an imminent danger nearing her father.

Apart from all these considerations, there was yet another important reason for her travel. She wanted to know whether Vandiya Devan had reached his destination or not. She now knew that the Pazhuvur brothers had sent soldiers to Kodi Karai to capture Vandiya Devan. Will they be successful in capturing that brave youth? She thought not. But if they do, they would bring him to Thanjavur and wouldn’t it be helpful if she were there too. They dare not do any harm to a messenger sent by the Crown Prince that’s why they have brought about the false charge of attempted murder on him. If they can blame him for trying to murder Sambureyar’s son, they would be within their rights to imprison him. There was no doubt about the fact that it was a false charge but it might be difficult to prove it. She was determined to speak to Kandan Maran and learn his version of the story as well.

While Kundavai’s mind was unravelling the political intrigues and imminent threats against her father’s kingdom, her companion and friend Vanathi’s innocent mind was engaged with just one thought. ‘When would Prince Arul Mozhi Varmar come back home?’

“Akka! You said that you have asked him to come home immediately? Where will he arrive? At Pazhaiarai or Thanjavur?”

She was wondering whether the Prince would arrive at Pazhaiarai when they were visiting Thanjavur.

Kundavai who was otherwise engaged didn’t hear her question properly. “Are you asking about Ponniyin Selvan, Vanathi?”

“Yes Akka. I was asking about him. You have called him ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ again. Won’t you tell me the story behind that name? We have all the time in the world, as this elephant is moving very slowly towards the Fort.”

“If the elephant were to go anymore faster than this, we wouldn’t be able to sit on it. Do you know what happened in the Thakkolam war?”

“No. I don’t. I want to know the story behind the name ‘Ponniyin Selvan’.”

“Looks like you will not forget about that. Alright, here is the story…”

In the early years of Sundara Chola’s ascension to the throne, his family life was very happy. He used to take many pleasure trips along with his family in the palace boats along the banks of the Cauvery. Along with his wife and children and palace servants, bards and musicians, they used to have a merry day of pleasure. With sounds of laughter, encouragements and poetic verses, the king loved to travel along with his family, whenever he felt the need to relax from the burden of the work.

  

Once while they were travelling in the palace boat thus, the King and the Queen were engaged in a serious conversation and there arose an alarm, ‘Where is the child? Where is Arul Mozhi?’ Startled they looked around to find their youngest son missing from the boat. Kundavai who had raised the alarm searched everywhere around and soon the servants and the King himself jumped into the water to search for the lost child.

Kundavai was just seven years old then, while Arul Mozhi was five years old. Arul Mozhi was the darling child of the entire kingdom. But more than anybody else, it was Kundavai who took care of him and loved him almost like a mother rather than a sister. When she found her younger brother missing, she was alarmed and shaken. Worried she looked everywhere and around the boat to see whether he had fallen into the water by accident. But how long could they search for the missing child in the water and where to search? Learning about the danger to their darling child, the queen and some of her womenfolk fainted away in fear, while some cried bitterly.

Suddenly there was a miracle. They saw her at a distance from the bank; a woman holding the missing child in her hands. Half submerged in the water, she held out the child in her hand. Her beautiful face, arms and shoulders were the only thing that were seen. 

Prince Arul Mozhi saved by Mother Cauvery

The King who was swimming nearby, immediately took the child from her and by then the palace boat had neared them. He gave the child to the servants and got into the boat and suddenly fainted. With the king indisposed and a child to take care, the queen and her servants forgot all about the woman who had saved the child. After some time when things settled down, they pondered over who saved the child. No one came forward to claim the honour of saving the little Prince’s life. No one had noticed what happened to the woman after she handed over the child to the King. After endless discussion, they decided that it must have been Mother Cauvery who had saved the Prince. And every year, they held a special puja for River Ponni (tributary of Cauvery where the Prince had drowned) and since then, the Prince was referred lovingly as Ponniyin Selvan (Ponni’s beloved).