Chapter 46 - The Whispers of the People

Azhvarkadiyan left for the junior stateswoman's palace from the presence of the Chola tribe. The sights he saw on the streets of Pazhaiyarai on the way gave him great enthusiasm. How joyfully do these people celebrate the birth of Krishna? There is no doubt that Vaishnavism is going to survive and spread in this Chola country. There are many reasons for the growing influence of Saivism here. For hundreds of years, the Chola kings have been building new Shiva temples all over the country. Thevaram hymns sung by the three saints are propagated through these temples. Car festivals are celebrated in Shiva temples. In spite of all this, there was no shortage of glory of Tirumal. Krishna, the ninth perfect incarnation of Vishnumurti, has captured the hearts of the people. The pastimes performed by emperumAn in Gokulam, Brindavanam and North Madurai have settled in their hearts. Mother! How many Bhagavata groups! How many street plays! How many different disguises! –Well yes; There were more now than we had seen before. There was also a great crowd and cheering from onlookers surrounding the groups. New drama troupes kept coming from the villages around Pazhaiyarai.

Vasudeva, Devaki, Krishna, Balarama and Kansa came in disguise in a drama troupe. Azhvarkadiyan paused and listened, as there was a lot of singing, dancing and talking of hypocrites. At that time Krishna and Kansa were having an argument. The man disguised as Krishna was a child. He told him about the crimes committed by Kansa and called out, "Come, fight with me!" Kansa said in a loud thunderous voice, "Oh! Krishna! All your magic will no longer work with me. Im going to kill you here. I am going to kill your brother Balarama also. I am going to kill your father Vasudeva also. There he stands, smearing sandalwood all over his body and applying it as his name – I am going to kill that brave Vaishnavan too!" and everyone around him started laughing at our Azhvarkadiyan. Even those dressed as Krishna and Balarama looked at him. Many people in the crowd came close to him and surrounded him and started laughing and joking 'Kekke Kekke'.

Thirumalai Nambi got very angry. He wanted to swing his stick and take a look at the crowd. Most importantly, he wanted to hit Kansa on the head. But there was no use in hitting Kansa on the head. For the Kamsa hunter had a false head made of wood with a grotesque moustache and canine teeth painted on it to cover his own face. On the whole, Thirumalai decided that it was not advisable to use a stick in such a large crowd and slipped away from the place. That Kansa's voice, though he shouted deliberately, seemed to Azhvarkadiyan to be a voice he had heard somewhere. He walked down the street, wondering where he had heard it.

There was a sudden change in the merriment of the people. As time went on, the enthusiasm of the people became apparent. What is this? Why this sudden change? Why are the crowds dispersing so quickly? The sound of music and dancing has stopped...! Instead, what whispers are people talking about in small groups on the roadside? Why do they hurry up after talking? Why are the doors of the house slammed?

Here's why. Even Kundavai's body trembled because of the drumming and the call to catch the spy. The beating of this drum spoiled the joy of the people who had gathered for the festival. The others stared at those who were going alone! They looked suspiciously at all the strange faces. Some even looked at Azhvarkadiyan with a suspicious look and hurried upstairs.

Thirumalai guessed the reason for this. And that's not all. He also guessed what small groups of people were talking about on the roadside. This was confirmed by a few words he heard. Those people were talking about the tyrannical rule of the Pazhuvertaraiyars. It is natural for the people of Pazhaiyarai town and the surrounding villagers to be angry with the Pazhuvertaraiyars.

"Pazhaiyarai Nagar Sundara Cholarai

Who's going to do this!"

Didn't they take the emperor who was praised by the poets from Pazhaiyarai to Thanjai? Since then, isn't the significance of Pazhaiyarai decreasing day by day? Today, on this Krishna Jayanthi festival, if only the emperor were in this city, how much more excitement would it be? Wouldn't all the drama troupes that were playing the role of Kannans story roam the streets of the city and assemble in the courtyard of the emperors palace? Won't the emperor reward actors, musicians, bards, singers and poets? Wouldn't the crowd have gathered to say that Chola Nadu has come to Pazhaiyarai? Wouldn't the business in the shops have been a hundred times more than that? When Venugopala Swami leaves the Nandipura Vinnagara temple at night and goes around the streets, how many drums, cymbals, dances, songs, silambam games and sword fights will be performed?

All that has been lost to these Pazhuvertaraiyars. Apart from this, there was another great problem in the hearts of the people of Pazhaiyarai. Prince Arulmozhivarmar, who is their eye, is going across the sea and fighting in the island of Ilankai. Ten thousand soldiers from the four army houses of Pazhaiyarai have gone to Eelanadu under the leadership of the prince. They are fighting to establish the honour and heroism of Tamilnadu in that forest and mountainous country. Didn't Kodumbalur Ilango invade that Eezham Nadu, stand in front of the battlefield, carry a spear on his chest and die? Didn't all the remaining Chola soldiers fight till the end and die? Prince Arulmozhi Thevar has gone to establish the victory of the tiger flag again in that Eelam island so that the spirits of the dead can be pacified. Don't these Pazhuvertaraiyars refuse to send food, clothes, money and weapons to our soldiers fighting under his leadership? What injustice is this? Is this the case? Aren't the granaries in the Thanjavur fort filled with paddy in plenty? What's all that for? What is the use of money that has accumulated in palace treasures for hundreds of years? What is the use of grain and grain that is of no use to our soldiers at this time? What are these Pazhuvertaraiyars going to do with everything? Are they going to take them with them to Yamaloka when they die...?

Thirumalai Nambi knew that the people of Chola Nadu had been grumbling like this for some time. It is natural that the people of Pazhaiyarai are very angry about this. Aren't the wives, children and kith and kin of the 10,000 soldiers who have gone to the battlefield of Eelanadu still living in this city?

Therefore, the people of Pazhaiyarai did not like the drumming of drums against the guilty spy at the behest of the Pazhuvertaraiyars. That became a reason to talk about their grievances against the Pazhuvertaraiyars. A spy, a spy! From what country is the spy going to come here? The tiger flag is flying from Kanyakumari to Vada Pennai! Who is so strong that a foreign king can send a spy? If there is anyone these Pazhuvertaraiyars don't like, they will accuse him of being a spy and get the job done! Or they will be thrown into the dungeon.... But what do we have to worry about? The power is in their hands! They will do whatever it takes, whether it is fair or unjust! If you give him the title of a spy, you don't even have to ask the village panchayats, will you?

Azhvarkadiyan knew through his ears and inference what the Pazhaiyarai people were thinking in their minds, whispering with their mouths and whispering to each other in low voices.

Thinking about where the dissatisfaction that is simmering in the minds of the people is going to end up, he reached Kundavai Devi's palace.

The junior stateswoman was always fond of talking to Azhvarkadiyan about the world happenings. He would go all over the country, telling me about the happenings. The queen was curious to know all this. The junior stateswoman was also fond of listening to the Azhwar hymns that he sought out and sang. Therefore, whenever Thirumalai Nambi comes, she welcomes him with enthusiasm. With a smile on her face, she would ask him about the welfare of yoga.

But today Azhvarkadiyan noticed a slight change in the princess's expression and speech. Facial expression showing that the mind is engaged somewhere or something; There was an unnatural excitement in the talk; A little glittering.

"Thirumalai! What's so special? Where did you come?" asked Kundavai.

"Nothing special, madam! As usual, I thought you had asked me to come to inquire about the world. I'm sorry, I'm leaving."

"No, no! Stay a little and go! I asked you to come..."

"Mother! I forgot to tell you! Just a while ago I was in the presence of the elder stateswoman. They wanted to tell you something important and asked me to ask you to come..."

"So be it; I intend to go, too. Where have you been on this journey? Tell me that!"

"I went from South Kumari to North Venkatam."

"What are people talking about?"

"They talk about the greatness of the Chola tribe kings. They say that in a few days the Chola empire will extend up to the Ganga River and Himodgiri in the north...

"And then?"

"They also praise the valour of the Pazhuvertaraiyars. The Chola empire attained such a high position because of the Pazhuvur chieftains....."

"Enough, what more do they say?"

"They talk fondly of their two brothers. Most importantly, the love and support of the citizens for Prince Arulmozhivarmar cannot be described."

"That's not surprising! Is there any more talk?"

"They are talking about why the Chola emperor's Thirukumari is not married yet. A lot of people even asked me...."

"What did you answer?"

"I told you that a prince worthy of marrying our junior stateswoman has not yet been born on this earth....

"It's beautiful! From now on such a man must be born! Ill be an old grandmother before he is born and old enough to marry! Let it be my matter, Thirumalai! Is there anything else to talk about?"

"Why not? Many people are surprised that Thevar, who was saying that he was going to be Sivagnana Yogeeswarar, got married suddenly..."

"Your dear sister... You were saying that you are going to become a devotee like Andal... How is she now?"

"What does she lack, madam! She is ruling as a dictator in the elder Pazhuvertaraiyar's palace..."

"Only in Pazhuvertaraiyar's palace? Didn't I hear that she is the dictator of this Chola kingdom..!"

"Some people are talking like that, madam! But get away from her. What is her talk about on this fine day? Since you mentioned the name 'Andal', I am reminded of something. I went to Srivilliputhur. I came to know some of the songs of Pattar Pran Vishnu Siddhar. Listen to this, Mom! Song about Kannan's birthday:

'Surrounded by colourful niches

Kannan Kesavan Nambi Piranthinil

Oil Lime vs. Counter Sprinkle

Kannan's courtyard is mixed!

He will run, he will fall, he will fall

Where is the Nambiran who seeks

Those who sing stand with their teeth

They're going to dance!"

Today, our Pazhaiyarai town is as merry as Ayarpadi, mother!"

"It's all right; But a little while ago, another kind of drum was beaten, what is it, Thirumalai?"

Azhvarkadiyan was waiting for this question.

"Someone's a spy! He escaped! They will reward those who catch him! What have I found about all that, madam?"

"Don't you know anything? Isn't there even a doubt about who it is?"

"There's a doubt in my mind, but it's dangerous to talk about it. As I walked down the street, some people even stared at me. What if someone catches me and puts me in the dungeon....?"

"You must have horns on your head to catch you! If you can tell me what is on your mind, tell me! You don't think I'll betray you?"

"Krishna! Krishna! Nothing of the sort. I saw a brave young man in Veeranarayanapuram. He said he was going to Thanjavur. I didn't say why. He asked me a lot of questions....."

Kundavai excitedly asked, "How was he?"

"He looked like he was born into a great clan. His face was weary. I knew I was motivated and in pain..."

"What did he ask you?"

"He asked about the emperor's health. He asked about the next successor. He asked about the prince who had gone to Ilankai and later I came to know that Kudanthai had asked the astrologer the same questions..."

"Aha! Did he come to Kudanthai astrologer's house?"

"Now I remember. When you were in the astrologer's house, he came in with a bang..... Luckily he didn't know you...!"

"I was right..."

"What did you think?"

'I thought that the rude young man might soon be in danger...

"You were right. I suspect he is a spy. It seems that the Pazhuvertaraiyars have boasted of rewarding him just to catch him."

"Thirumalai! Will you do me a favor?"

"Command me, madam!"

"If you ever see that young man..."

"Shall I take the prize?"

"Don't, don't! Bring it to me! I have something important to do with him."

Azhvarkadiyan stood looking at Kundavai stateswoman for a while as if surprised. Then he said, "There will be no need for that, madam! I wont have to go looking for him. He will come looking for you!"