Chapter 26 - Danger! Danger!

Chinna Pazhuvetar

Walking through the palace, they reached the Asthana Mandapam with Vandiya Devan in the lead. There he saw Chinna Pazhuvettarayar, sitting on a throne with his soldiers and servants around him.

A servant was holding olai suvadis - palm leaves on which were written messages for Chinna Pazhuvettarayar. The accountant was waiting with the daily accounts and the soldiers for orders from their master. In short, Chinna Pazhuvettarayar looked the very image of power!

When he saw Vandiya Devan, his face brightened and he asked, "Who are you thambi?"

Whenever Chinna Pazhuvettarayar  saw young warriors like Vandiya Devan he became very gracious. That was because he wished to enlist all bright young warriors in his band of warriors.

"Thalapathi, I have come from Kanchipuram. Prince Aditya Karikalan has sent a message."

As soon as he heard that Vandiya Devan was from Kanchipuram, Chinna Pazhuvetar's face fell.

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Chapter 25 - Thanjavur Fort

Chola Flag with Tiger Sigil

The signet ring with the image of the palm tree was like the magic ring in mythological tales. At the entrance of the fort, there were flower-sellers, vegetable and fruit vendors waiting to get inside; the guards were exercising the utmost authority in allowing them inside.

But our young hero did not hesitate, he walked up briskly towards the entrance and showed his magic ring to them. Immediately ,the guards respectfully withdrew and opened the door to let him inside.

Vandiya Devan did not know that this was a momentous occasion - his stepping inside the fort. This would set off a chain of many important events in the history of the Chola kingdom.

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Chapter 22 - The Velkarars

Nandini and Vandiya Devan

A fair hand parted the veils of the palanquin. Vandiya Devan immediately got down from his horse and went near the palanquin sayi

ng, "Maharaja! Maharaja! Your palanquin bearers..."

When he looked up, he was dazed. His speech slurred, "No! No! You are the princess of Pazhuvur. Your horse came and hit my palanquin."

All this happened within a blink of an eye. The palanquin bearers and the other soldiers immediately surrounded Vandiya Devan and held him and his horse. Despite all this activity around him Vandiya Devan was unable to take his eyes off the beauty that was before him.

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Chapter 16 - Prince Arulmozhivarmar

Mark of Kingship

About 980 years ago, when King Sundara Chola was ruling Chola Kingdom there was no other royal power in South to challenge him. The power of the Cholas was steadily rising as they expanded their territories and improved economy and trade. Prior to Sundara Chola's reign, his uncle Gandarathidathevar (Prince Madhuranthakan's father) ruled the Chola kingdom. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and was not interested in waging wars. Taking advantage of the situation, the Pandya king who was in hiding tried to win back his kingdom, with the help of the Sri Lankan king. Sundara Chola rallied the Chola troops and crushed their revolution and sent the Pandya king back into hiding.

After restoring order in the Pandya kingdom, the generals and commanders wanted to teach a lesson to the Elangai king, Mahindan, whose support had enabled the Pandya King to rise again and again. Sundara Chola decided to send Kodumbalur Illaya Vellar (Vanathi's father) as a commander of the troops to Sri Lanka.

Unfortunately for Kodumbalur Illaya Vellar, the Chola army arrived in batches and he had to lead a small batch towards the capital. Due to the lesser number of soldiers and limited resources, the the Chola army was defeated and Kodumbalur Illaya Vellar died bravely of grave wounds.

Learning about the defeat of the Chola army in Sri Lanka, the Pandya King who was in hiding, came out in open and started rallying an army again. But this time, he paid a terrible price for rising against the Cholas. It was Sundara Chola's eldest son Aditya Karikalan who led the army, and he won the war by beheading the Pandya king, thus earning the title - The slayer of Veera Pandiyan.

Despite these victories, the Elangai king still supported the Pandya dynasty and continued to be hostile towards the Cholas . Sundara Chola decided to send his army again, to teach him a lesson. There arose a big argument among the prominent commanders and generals in the Chola kingdom, as to who should lead the army against Eezham.

Prince Aditya Karikalan was at war with the Rashtrakutas in the border therefore Sundara Chola's youngest son Prince Arulmozhivarmar, came forward and expressed his wish to lead the army to Eelangai.

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