Chapter 24 - The Crow and the Cuckoo

Vandhiyathevan slept like a log all night and woke up only after the sun rose in the morning. When he woke up, he didn't feel like getting up. The west wind was blowing and the branches and leaves of the trees were rubbing against each other, making a 'cho' sound. To that tune, the melodious voice of a young child sang Sundaramurthy Swamigal's Thevaram hymn to the tune.

"Ponnar Meniyan shook the tiger skin half

Minnar is the one who wears a red robe!"

Hearing this, Vandhiyathevan opened his eyes. In front of him, in the flower garden, the Konnai trees appeared hanging with golden flowers. Senthan Amuthan was plucking kondrai flowers while singing with his mouth with his intestines in one hand and his beak in the other. Senthan Amuthan, who woke up early in the morning, bathed and embraced Thiruneeru, appeared as Markandan, a Shiva devotee. Vandhiyathevan got up with the thought that his mother had not given it to him to listen to the voice of the child singing so sweetly and beautifully. Why can't he grow a flower garden like Amuthan and spend his time happily doing Shiva Kainkariyam? Why should you wander from place to place with swords and spears in your hands? Why go around ready to kill others and be killed by others at any time? Such thoughts arose in his mind. But after a while I changed my mind. Will everyone in the world be Shiva devotees like Senthan Amuthan? There will be thieves, robbers, crooks, and those who delight in persecuting the poor. The government should suppress them and establish justice and righteousness. Kings and ministers are needed to run the government. Velakara troops are also needed to protect them from danger. Kings like him need people to carry the letter. Well yes! Today we must see Sundara Chola emperor. Before the elder Pazhuvertaraiyar returned, he saw the emperor. If he comes, it may not be possible...

After bathing in the lotus pond near the flower garden, Vallavaraiyan adorned himself well with clothes and ornaments. Shall we go casually when we go to see the emperor? We cannot say whether he dressed himself up for this or whether he had the thought of seeing Pazhuvur Ilayarani again that day.

After breakfast Senthan Amuthan left with a flower pot for the noon pooja kainkariyam and Vandhiyathevan left for the emperor's darshan. Vallavaraiyan had already decided not to take the horse into the fort. It is necessary to give the horse time to rest well. Soon he might have to use the horse for a quick journey, who knows? Either way, it's good to be here. He talked to Amuthan till he reached the fort gate and learned some more details.

When Vallavaraiyan asked, "Don't you have any relatives other than your mother?" "Yes, I have a younger brother and a younger brother who was born with my mother. Tamka has passed away; His brother performs Pushpa Kainkariyam in Kodikarai Kuzhagar temple. He also lights lamps at the lighthouse at night and protects them. He has a son and a daughter; Daughter..." He stopped.

"What about your daughter?"

"It's nothing strange in our family. Some will be born dumb; Others have a sweet voice; They sing well..."

"Isn't your uncle's daughter dumb?" said Vandhiyathevan.

"No, no!"

"Then tell me she can sing better, and will she sing better than you?"

"It's beautiful, your question sounds like asking, 'Does the cuckoo sing better than the crow?' If Poongkuzhali sings, the ocean king will stop making waves and listen quietly.

"Is your uncle's daughter's name Poongkuzhali? It's a beautiful name!"

"Is it just the name, beautiful?"

"She must be beautiful, too; If not, would you be so excited?"

"The deer and the peacock must beg her for beauty. Rathi and Indrani will have to do penance for many births to become as beautiful as her."

Vallavaraiyan saw that Senthan Amuthan's heart was not fully engaged in Shiva Bhakti.

"Then tell me a suitable bride for you. Being the daughter of an uncle, is she also a legitimate woman? When is the wedding?" asked Vandhiyathevan.

"I will never say that she is worthy of me. I don't deserve her in any way. Like in the old days, if a swayamvaram is given to Poongkuzhali, the kings of fifty-six countries will come and compete! They will come as the gods have come from the heavens to marry Damayanti. But that may not happen in this Kaliyuga ..."

"Then tell her that even if she wants to marry you, you will refuse!"

"Very well; The Lord appeared before me and asked, "Are you coming to Kailash with this body like Sundaramurthy? Or do you live with Poongkuzhali from the earth?" But what's the use of what I say?"

"Why is it no use? When you like, you are almost married, isn't it? Do they all marry at the behest of women? For example, the elder Pazhuvertaraiyar is over sixty-five years old getting married! The marriage would have taken place with the queen's consent..."

"Brother! It's a big deal, why should we talk about it? Most importantly, let me warn you. You are going into the castle; Don't say anything about the Pazhuvertaraiyars inside the fort, if you talk, there will be danger..."

"Why are you scaring me all the time?"

"I'm telling you the truth, the two Pazhuvertaraiyars are now ruling the Chola empire. There is no power greater than theirs."

"Even the emperor has no power over them?"

"The emperor is ill. People say that he does not cross the line drawn by the Pazhuvurians. They say he doesn't even listen to his own sons."

"That's it! The influence of the Pazhuvertaraiyars must be enormous. They didn't have that much influence two years ago, did they?"

"No; Especially after the emperor came to Thanjai, the power of the Pazhuvertaraiyars had become limitless. There is no one to talk to them. It is heard that even Anirutha Brahmarayar got disgusted and went to Pandya Nadu."

"Why did the emperor from Pazhaiyarai come to Thanjavur? Do you know, brother!"

"I will tell you what I have heard; Three years ago, Veera Pandiyan died in the war. It is heard that the Chola armies committed some atrocities in the Pandya country at that time. Isn't that what war is all about? Madurai came under the Chola kingdom. But some people close to Veera Pandiyan are conspiring to take revenge somehow. The Pazhuvertaraiyars brought him to Thanjai because they could not protect the king if he was in Pazhaiyarai. Here the fortress is strong; The doctors said that Thanjavur was better for the emperor's health than Pazhaiyarai.

"Everyone says about Sundara Cholar's body. But no one knows what the disease is."

"Don't you know? The emperor had a stroke and both legs were paralyzed."

"Oh no! Is that why he can't walk?"

"It can't happen; You can't ride an elephant or a horse; It's a bed. You have to put it in a palanquin and take it from place to place, and it is very painful. So the emperor never leaves the palace. They also say that the mind has not been so active for some time."

"Wow! What a pity!"

"Don't even say pity, brother! The Pazhuvertaraiyars will punish that too as blasphemy."

Pazhuvertaraiyar! Pazhuvertaraiyar! – Wherever and to whomever you talk about, talk about the Pazhuvertaraiyars! How mighty they were! His treasure; The emperor should not have allowed the granary, the Thanjai city police and the spies to be in their possession. Isn't it because they have given up so much power that they have begun to plot against the emperor? How far will their plot work? We must do our best to ensure that it does not work. If the opportunity arises, the emperor should also be warned... By this time the fort gate had arrived. Senthan Amuthan left his new friend and went towards the Thalikulathtar temple. Vandhiyathevan approached the fort gate with many fortresses in his mind.