Chapter 2

Seated inside the carriage, Karthikeya gazed at the scroll displaying the map of his recently acquired kingdom. As he contemplated, his mind wandered back through the events of the past seventeen years since his rebirth into this world, reminiscent of an ancient era that bore striking similarities to the past life he once knew.

He reminisced about his former life as an ordinary art student in Bharat, his days filled with the joys of campus life, adventures watching movies, and immersive gaming sessions, interspersed with sporadic bouts of studying for upcoming exams and subsequent moments of frustration.

Regrettably, his life was cut short by a tragic incident, as he found himself merely a bystander caught between two conflicting religious groups. Without warning, a blow to the back abruptly ended his existence, leaving him to grapple with an unresolved demise.

Upon awakening in a lavish room, under the care of a beautiful woman with a striking South Indian appearance, he gradually unraveled the circumstances of his rebirth. He discovered his true identity as the sixth son of the revered Chola King Rajaraja Chola I, also known as Arulmoli Varman, a pivotal figure in the Golden Age of the Chola dynasty.

Born to Queen Vanavan Mahadevi, also known as Tribhuvana Mahadevi, who was also the mother to the future king Rajendra Chola I, Karthikeya discovered solace in the harmonious dynamics of his family. Unlike the royal intrigues depicted in various fictional works in his previous life, his siblings shared a genuine and affectionate bond, readily resolving any conflicts that arose.

In this life, due to the absence of the distractions posed by smartphones, he developed a keen interest in studies. From a young age, he spent the majority of his time in the royal library, which gradually revealed to Karthikeya that the world wasn't exactly the same.

He discovered numerous differences compared to his previous world, in areas such as history, geography, and more. However, he remained relatively unaware of the territories outside the Indian peninsula and its immediate surroundings.

In terms of geographical changes, the territory of Pandya and Chola, which in his past life corresponded to Tamil Nadu, featured an additional river named Savitri flowing through it. A mountain range known as Kuruinji lay to the northeast of Thanjavur.

Another notable difference was the presence of a small island to the east of the Indian peninsula, positioned centrally in the Bay of Bengal. Sri Lanka was surrounded by a chain of ten islands to its south, and the island was more closely connected to the mainland by a land bridge that was significantly larger and wider compared to his previous world.

Regarding the historical trajectory, the Chola, Pandya, and Chera dynasties to the south remained unchanged, but the Ay dynasty did not exist in this world's history. The island of Sri Lanka only covered the northern side, with the southern dry and wet lands left uninhabited due to various natural disasters. Another significant alteration was observed in the realm of religion.

According to records, it all began with a confrontation between a king of a southern dynasty and a religious preacher. The exact nature of the religion in question and the events that unfolded remain somewhat obscure. However, the conflict was ultimately won by the king, who subsequently prohibited the spread of other religions within the southern territory. This policy was adopted by subsequent empires and kingdoms that later came to rule these lands.

Although people of other religions were allowed to trade and pray within the kingdom, they were strictly prohibited from preaching and converting others. Consequently, the southern region of the Indian peninsula remained untouched by various religions such as Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and others.

As Karthikeya progressed through the Gurukul system, initially brimming with confidence regarding his ability to share insights from his modern era, he was humbled by the profound depth of knowledge possessed by these ancient scholars, particularly in the fields of mathematics and spirituality.

The teachings he received were rich and intricate, presented in a manner that encouraged deep comprehension. The scholars employed vivid illustrations and precise explanations, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subjects at hand.

Karthikeya found himself both amazed and perplexed upon discovering that ancient civilizations possessed extensive scientific knowledge and an incredible capacity for memorizing this information. They comprehended that the Earth was round and demonstrated an understanding of its internal composition.

Moreover, their teachings included knowledge about celestial bodies, the solar system, continents, weather patterns, and more, showcasing a sophisticated understanding of science comparable to that of future generations.

The question always puzzled him: how could the modern world seemingly have lost such an extensive depth of knowledge, necessitating centuries of scientific exploration to rediscover what had once been known? Initially, he attributed this to the disparity between the two worlds.

However, his quest for understanding unveiled a world that transcended the constraints of isolated knowledge. It revealed a global network of trade, academic discourse, and knowledge dissemination reminiscent of the modern era.

The fruits of these exchanges were meticulously documented in books, serving as a vital bridge between various Gurukuls, universities, and centers of learning. These records ensured the widespread dissemination of new insights and discoveries. Alongside his scholarly pursuits, he marveled at the richness of diverse social customs, traditions, and cultures, each bound by common principles yet thriving uniquely in their own distinct ways.

Graduating from the Gurukul system at the tender age of sixteen, Karthikeya attributed his intellectual prowess not only to the rigorous academic curriculum but also to the numerous spiritual exercises, yoga, and meditation embedded within the educational framework. These practices facilitated enhanced memory retention, sharpened focus, amplified comprehension, and nurtured the growth of creative intellects, contributing to the era's legacy of exceptional talents and thinkers.

Upon his return to the kingdom, Karthikeya learned about the recent natural disaster and the impact it had on the progress of the world. While the disaster inflicted significant losses and suffering upon the Kingdoms of Anuradhapuram, Pandya Chera, and the Western Chalukyas, situated to the west of the peninsula, it proved to be a boon for the Chola Kingdom. This was particularly true as they were in the midst of expanding their territory under his father, Rajaraja Chola I.