Chapter 7 - Laughter and Anger

When Vandhiyathevan heard Pazhuvertaraiyar's words about the kingship, he immediately came to a decision. What are they going to say about kingship? Who are these people to talk to? We must know what is going to happen at this meeting! You have to sit here. There is no more convenient place than this. Let Azhvarkadiyan go anyway, what do we care about him?

The thought had already occurred in Vandhiyathevan's mind that something mysterious was going to happen here today. Azhvarkadiyan's strange and meaningful words, the arrogant behaviour of the fort gatekeepers, Sambuvaraiyar's half-hearted welcome and the aggressive words of the madman who danced madly all these had aroused some doubts in him. Here is a divine opportunity to remove all those doubts and to know the truth; Why let it slip? Aha! Even Kanthamaran, whom he considered his best friend, did not tell him the truth. He had put himself to sleep and had come to this secret midnight meeting. I'll have to see him tomorrow.

By this time Pazhuvertaraiyar had started talking downstairs. Vandhiyathevan listened attentively.

"I have come to convey a very important message to all of you. That is why Sambuvaraiyar has called this meeting. Sundara Chola Maharaja's health is very serious. I inquired privately of the palace doctors. They said, 'There is no room for hope anymore; He won't live long.' So now we have to think about things that need to happen!" said Pazhuvertaraiyar and stopped.

"What do astrologers say?" someone in the crowd asked.

"Why go and ask the astrologers? A comet has been visible in the evening sky for a few days. Isn't that enough! Someone said.

Then Pazhuvertaraiyar said: "The astrologers have also been asked, they are postponing for some time; That's all. In any case, we have to think about who will be the next successor..."

"What's the point of thinking about it now? Athitha Karikalar was crowned prince two years ago!" said another hoarse voice.

"True, but I'd like to know if any of us were consulted before we were crowned princes. Each one of us present here belongs to a tribe that has worked for the greatness of the Chola kingdom for more than a hundred years, for four generations. My grandfather's father died in the battle of Thirupurambiyam. My grandfather died in the battle at Vellore. My father sacrificed his life in Thakkolam. In the same way, each one of your ancestors has sacrificed their lives to establish the greatness of this Chola kingdom. In each of our families, young children have died on the battlefield. Even today, the children of our tribe and family are fighting in Eezha Nadu. But the Maharaja did not ask for our opinion in deciding who should succeed him. Even Dasharatha convened a council to discuss the coronation of Rama. He consulted ministers, peacemakers, army commanders and petty kings. But Sundara Chola Maharaja did not think it necessary to listen to anyone's advice."

"It's right that we didn't ask for advice. But it is not correct for the divine god to say that he did not consult anyone. The advice of Chempian Mahadevi, the elder stateswoman and the advice of the junior stateswoman Kundavai Devi were heard. Can Pazhuvertaraiyar say no?" someone said in a mocking tone and a few people in the crowd laughed.

"Aha! You're laughing! I don't know how you want to laugh. My stomach burns when I think about it; The blood boils. Why should I live shamelessly with this life? Today, 'Thevaralan' came to Sannatham and danced and said that he would ask for sacrifice to Durga. He said: 'I want a human sacrifice of a thousand years of lineage'. Sacrifice me. My clan is more than a thousand years old. Each one of you stab me in the neck with your knife and sacrifice it. Maa Durga will be satisfied; May my soul rest in peace..."

Pazhuvertaraiyar stopped saying in a frenzied voice like a sannathakar.

There was silence for a while. There was a whirring sound of the west wind and the sound of the trees outside the fort wall swaying in that wind.

"The Pazhuvur king should tolerate the ridicule and the laughter that resulted. You are our unparalleled leader. All of us here are willing to carry out your command. We walk in the way you have shown us. Please forgive me!" said Sambuvaraiyar with emotion.

"I'm also a little impatient. You'll have to forgive me for that. Think of one thing. Exactly 100 years ago, Vijayalaya Cholar defeated the Mutharaiyars and captured Thanjavur. He helped the Pallava army in the battle of Thirupurambiyam and destroyed the army of Madurai Pandyas. Since then, the Chola kingdom has been expanding day by day. Even during the time of Karikal Valavar who landed on the banks of the river Kaveri, the Chola kingdom had never attained such greatness. Today, the Chola empire stretches from Cape Comorin in the south to Tungabhadra-Krishna in the north. Pandya Nadu, Nanjil Nadu, Chera Nadu, Tondaimandalam, Pagi Nadu, Gangapadi, Nolambapadi, Vaidumpa Nadu, Seedpuli Nadu, Perumpanapadi, Kodagu Nadu where the Ponni river originates – all these countries are paying tribute to the Chola empire. The tiger flag of our Chola Nadu is flying in all these countries. Eelam in the south and Twin mandalam and Vengi in the north should also have submitted to us by now. I need not give reasons for not submitting; You know them all...."

"Yes; Everyone knows; There are two reasons why Eelam, Irupadi, Vengi and Kalinga did not submit. One reason is Prince Athitha Karikalar, the hero of the North; Another reason is his younger brother Arulmozhivarmar, who is the commander of the southern army."

"I agree with the reason given by Mazhavaraiyar. For the last hundred years, the tradition of appointing a commander in chief in this Chola country was different. The commanders and heroes of the army are the brave soldiers who have had the experience of many battles. But what has happened now? The eldest prince is the commander-in-chief of the Northern Army; What is he doing? They did not invade the Twin Zone and the Vengi country. He is sitting in Kanchipuram and building a golden palace. I ask you brave warriors born in the great warriors. Has any king in Tamilnadu ever built a palace made of gold for him to live in? Even emperor Paranthaka of Madurai and Eelam, who has spread fame all over the world and is now a resident of Kailas, did not build a golden palace for him to live in. He made a golden roof for Thillai Chittambalam. But Prince Athitha Karikalar is building a golden palace in Kanchipuram for him to live in! The palaces where the Pallava emperors lived and ruled for generations were not enough for his stature. He builds a palace of gold. He puts gems and sapphires on the walls of the palace of gold. He has not yet sent a single copper coin to the treasury in the capital city of the property he captured after winning victories in Gangapadi, Nolambapadi, Kodagu and other countries."

"பொன் மாளிகை கட்டி முடிந்து விட்டதா?"

"ஆம், முடிந்து விட்டது என்று என்னுடைய அந்தரங்க ஒற்றர்கள் மூலம் அறிந்தேன். அத்துடன் சுந்தர சோழ மகாராஜாவுக்கு அவருடைய அருமை மூத்த புதல்வரிடமிருந்து கடிதங்களும் வந்தன. புதிதாக நிர்மாணித்திருக்கும் பொன் மாளிகையில் வந்து சுந்தர சோழ மகாராஜா சில காலம் தங்கியிருக்க வேண்டும் என்று."

"மகாராஜா காஞ்சிக்குப் போகப் போகிறாரா?" என்று ஒருவர் கவலை ததும்பிய குரலில் கேட்டார்.

"You don't need to worry like that, I'm here to see that nothing like that happens; My brother, who is the guard of the Thanjai fortress, is also there. No one can enter the Thanjai fortress without the permission of the younger Pazhuvertarayan. No one can interview the Maharaja without my knowledge; You can't give a letter. I've stopped the two or three times so far."

"Long live Pazhuvertaraiyar!", "Long live Pazhuvur King's Chanakya Tantra!", "Long live his bravery!"

"Listen, Prince Arulmozhivarmar's actions in Eelam are far stranger than what the crown prince is doing. What do we know about the dharma of war? What have our ancestors practiced for hundreds of years? If our armies invade other countries, we must earn food for our troops in those countries. In those countries, players have to be paid with the material captured. The excess must be sent to the royal treasury in the capital. But do you know what Prince Arulmozhivarmar is doing? We want to send food in ships from here to all our soldiers in Eezha Nadu! For a year, I too have sent food on several ships ten times."

"Strange! Strange!", "This injustice cannot be tolerated!", "Never heard of such a thing!"

"Listen to the reason given by Prince Arulmozhivarmar for this wonderful thing. To earn food for our soldiers in an invaded country would incur the displeasure of its citizens. We have no quarrel with the Eezham people but with the Eezham royals. Therefore they should not be troubled in any way! After winning the battle with the royal family, he should rule with the will of the people. So we have to send money and food from here!"

At this time someone in the crowd said, "Don't ask anything of the people in the invaded countries; Till now we have never heard the dharma of war to fall at their feet and pray!"

"Listen to the catastrophe that results. The Tanjore palace often dwindles its treasure and grain stores because of the work done by the two princes. I am compelled to charge you all more taxes. That is why I have been appointed as a priest of God! If I had not considered the greatness of Chola Nadu to be important, I would have resigned from this post long ago."

"Ah! Not at all! Your presence in this position is a great security for all of us. Didn't you tell the Maharaja about these irregularities?"

"What's not to say! It has been said many times. Ask the elder stateswoman every time; Ask the junior stateswoman!' is the reply. As I said earlier, the Maharaja has no power to think independently! Nor do they listen to our thoughts on important matters. The word of his great mother Chempian Madevi was the word of the Scripture for him; Next, he asks him to consult his daughter Kundavai Pratti. I and the other ministers, whose hair has turned grey in the service of the kingdom, should go to that little girl to seek advice from a girl who has not been to the north of Kollidam and south of Kudamurutti; How is the story! Since the beginning of this Chola kingdom, we have not heard of women interfering in the affairs of the kingdom like this! How long can we endure such humiliation? Or, if all of you unanimously say, I will leave this royal responsibility and the trouble of taxing and filling the treasury and stay with my native place ..."

"Don't! Don't! Pazhuvur Thevar should not abandon us like that. The Chola empire established by thousands of soldiers by shedding their blood for four generations will be shattered in a second," said Sambuvaraiyar.

"Then you must advise me what to do in this situation. Only you should tell me what is the remedy for this woman's kingdom which has become worse than Alli Rajyam," said the Pazhuvur king.