Born and brought up in Kodagu Nadu, Ponni Nadhi wanted to reach her husband, the king of the ocean, when she attained virginity. She hurried across the woods and hills, over rocks and hollows. As she got closer to the king of the ocean, her heart swelled with the excitement of seeing the hero. She went a little farther, and two arms formed to embrace her lover. She leapt forward with both arms outstretched. But two hands did not seem to suffice for the passion that overflowed in his heart; Her arms of desire grew to ten, twenty, a hundred. Stretching out all her hands eagerly, she approached the Ocean King. What adornments did the Chola nurse mothers make for the bride who went to get her husband in this way? Damn! How many beautiful green sarees did they wear? How many colourful flowers were presented? How did they sprinkle perfumes? Wow! How can we describe the beauty of the Punnai trees, Kadamba trees and gems that grew on both sides? Is the shower of flowers showered by the gods equal to this?
O Ponni River! Who cant be a virgin who doesn't rejoice at you? Who can be a woman who is not pleased with your bridal outfits?
Just as all the maidens of the village surround the bride of marriage, isn't it natural for women to flock to you?
One of the golden hands that Ponni stretches out to embrace her bridegroom is called Arisilaru! The beautiful river Arisilaru is situated very close to the south of the Kaveri. The existence of such a river should be known to those who come from a distance. The sweet trees that grow thickly on both sides obscure the river. Arisilaru may be said to be a royal maiden who has not left the harem since birth. There is no parable in this world for the beauty of that virgin river.
Right; Let the viewers forget the idea of a harem and come closer to Arisilaru with us. Let them penetrate among the trees that grew close together like an oasis! Damn what a cool sight this is? Isn't it like beautifying beauty and giving sweetness to nectar?
Who are these Vanithamani seated in a colourful boat shaped like a swan made in a strange way? Who among them is this Narimani with Gandhi, like a queen born to rule the seven worlds like the full moon among the stars? Who is Santhasundari sitting beside her with a veena in her hand? Who are these Gandharva women who sing music in melodious voices and make the river flood and the flood of songs multiply? One of them was Meenalosani; The other is Neellosani; One is a lotus-faced; The other is a lotus petal; Ah, she plucks the veena, her magnet-like fingers moving here and there on the strings of the veena.
What is the sweetness of the song they play? Even the flood of the river has stopped its sound to hear it. Even the parrots and cuckoos that live in the trees by the river are silent. Is it any wonder that those who are born as human beings, who are fortunate enough to hear, are delighted to hear that nectar? Let's hear what the women on the boat are singing:
The beetle is excellent,
Haven't we heard these nectar Tamil songs somewhere? Yes, these are the lyrics in Silappathikaram. However, when these women sing, they have an unprecedented charm and charm. They seem to be Ponni River's best friends! That is why they sing with such excitement and emotion. Damn! How does the song and the expression mingle and pour nectar from their voices? Sing, sing, sing, music! That's nothing. This is some magic art! A magic trick that drives everyone who sings and listens to it goes crazy!
The boat floats and comes to a halt in the pier where the trees give some space. Two women get off; One of them was a majestic woman who deserved to be the queen of the seven worlds. The other was a woman who ran her fingers on the strings of the veena and made a melody. Both were beautiful, but there was a marked difference between the beauty of one and the other. One has the majestic beauty of a red lotus flower. The other has the sweet beauty of Kumuda flower. One is the full moon; The other is the morning crescent. One is a dancing peacock; The other is a singing cuckoo. One was Indrani; The other is Cupid's girlfriend. One is the Ganga, the Vegavahini; The other is Kaveri.
Without leaving the reader in a state of further doubt, we will tell you who these two are. Kundavai, the daughter of King Sundara Chola, was the majestic looking Ganga. She is the sister of Arulmozhivarman who is famous as Rajaraja in history. Madarasi was revered by the people as Arasilankumari and the junior stateswoman. The great Tamil Selvi who laid the foundation for the glory of the Chola kingdom. She took Rajaraja's son Rajendra and brought him up and made him a brave warrior and king of kings. The other was a woman from the Kodumbalur chieftain tribe who had sought the privilege of being with Kundavai. In later years, she will be unparalleled in history. Today she is modest, sweet and calm.
The two ladies got out of the boat and went ashore. Kundavai looked at the other friends and said, "You stay here. We'll be back in an hour!" All those girls were princesses born in the palaces of many petty kings in divine Tamil Nadu. They had come to Pazhaiyarai palace considering it a privilege to be a friend of Kundavai Devi. Now when Kundavai came down to the shore with only one of them and said, 'I will go and come soon', there was disappointment and envy in their eyes.
On the shore was a chariot drawn by horses. "Vanathi! Get into the chariot!" said Kundavai looking at her friend. As soon as Vanathi got up, she also got into it. The chariot went fast.
"Sister! Where are we going? Can you tell me?" asked Vanathi.
"What's not to say? We are going to Kudanthai astrologer's house!" said Kundavai.
"Why are we going to the astrologer's house, Sister? To ask about what?"
"What else? Just to ask about you. Have you been delirious and emaciated for months? Just to ask when you will get out of your hallucinations and get well!"
"Sister! You are very pious; I'm not feeling well. Don't go to ask about me, let's go back!"
"No, Mother, no! Not to ask about you; I'm going to ask about myself."
"What are you going to ask about yourself? What are you going to find out by asking the astrologer?"
"Am I going to get married? Or will I remain a virgin to the end?"
"Sister! Why don't you go and ask the astrologer for this! Shouldn't they listen to their own minds? You just have to shake your head! Won't the kings of fifty-six countries from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin compete and run? Why, even from all over the lands! Which brave prince has the privilege of holding your hand? That's for you to decide!"
"Vaanathi, even if what you say is true, there is a barrier to it. If I marry a prince of any country, I will have to go to his country. I don't want to go to another country from Chola Nadu through which the Ponni river flows! I have taken a vow not to go to another country..."
"That's not an obstacle; Any prince who marries you will be a slave lying prostrate at your feet. He has to stay here, but he's going to stay."
"Aha! Do you want to keep the prince of another country in our own town like a rat is caught and tied in his lap? Do you know what trouble it will cause?"
"After all, those who are born as women have to get married one day, right?"
"It has not been said in any scripture, Vaanathi! Look at Avvaiyar! Has she not lived for a long time as a virgin immortal?"
"Avvaiyar became an old woman at a young age by the grace of God, have you not become like that?"
"Well, if I decide to get married like that, I will marry an orphan Chola Nadu soldier. There will be no kingdom for such a person. He won't say that I have to go to another country. He will stay here in Chola Nadu..."
"Sister! In that case, you won't leave this Chola Nadu?"
'I will never go, even if you promise to make me queen of heaven.'
"I was relieved to smell today."
"What's that?"
"If you go to another country, I must go with you. I cant stay away from you. At the same time, I don't want to part with this Chola kingdom."
"Marriage but you have to separate, right?"
"I'm not going to get married, Sister!"
"Aiya! Where has all the advice you taught me gone?"
"Am I like you?"
"Hit me! I know everything. Do you think you can throw sand in my eyes? You have no love for Chola Nadu. Isn't the Chola Nadu you desire to fight for Eelanadu with swords and spears? Did you think I didn't know your privacy?"
"Sister! Elder sister! Am I that stupid? Where is the sun? Where is the morning dew? Of what use is it if the dew desires the friendship of the sun?"
"The dew is small! The sun is big and bright! But does the dew imprison such a sun or not?"
Vanathi said in a voice full of enthusiasm and curiosity, "You say so! Are you saying that even a drop of dew can reach the sun?" Then, suddenly, depression set in. "The dew is desirous; It also captures the sun. But what is the payoff? After a while, the right punishment is meted out. It dries up in the sun and disappears!"
"That's wrong, Vaanathi! Seeing the desire of the dewdrop, the sun unites the dew with him. He didn't want his dewdrop girl to be seen by other men. When night comes, he lets it out again. Doesn't the dew that disappeared come and rise again?"
"Sister! You're saying all this to comfort me."
"Then tell me you have a flaw in your mind. Have you been saying 'no' for so long? That's why I'm going to Kudanthai astrologer."
"If I have a grievance in my mind, what is the use of going to an astrologer to ask about it?" said Vanathi and sighed.
The house of the Kudanthai astrologer was in a secluded place near the Kali temple in a corner of the city. Without entering Kudanthai town, the chariot went around the city and reached the house. The way the charioteer drove the chariot there freely, it seemed that he must have driven there many times before.
The astrologer and one of his disciples were waiting at the door. The astrologer received the visitors with great reverence and hospitality.
"Grandma! Mother Kalaimagal and Thirumagal came together! Welcome! Welcome! This poor man's hut is a blessing, and once again you came in search of this hut!"
"Astrologer! No one else will come here looking for you at this time, will they?" said Kundavai.
"They won't come, madam! Not many people come looking for me these days. When there are more difficulties in the world, more people will come in search of astrologers. Now under the rule of your holy father Sundara Cholar, there is no difficulty for the subjects. Everyone lives happily with all the comforts and all the wealth. Why are they coming looking for me?" asked the astrologer.
"அப்படியானால் எனக்கு ஏதோ கஷ்டம் வந்திருப்பதனால் தான் உம்மைத் தேடி வந்திருக்கிறேன் என்று சொல்லுகிறீராக்கும்!"
"No, Grandma! Not at all! What blind man would say that the daughter of the rich and prosperous Pazhaiyarai king was in trouble! Since there is no trouble for the people in the world, this poor astrologer alone has come to trouble; He's not the only one who cares. Therefore, you have come like Ambica to solve this poor man's trouble. Mother! Come into the hut. It is a sacrilege of me to keep you here!" said the astrologer evenly.
Kundavai looked at the charioteer and said, "Take the chariot near the temple and park it under the shade of the banyan tree!"
Then the astrologer led the guide and Kundavai and Vanathi went inside the house.
The astrologer looked at his disciple and said, "Appan! Stand carefully at the door; Even if someone escapes, don't let them in!"
The astrologers hall was decorated to welcome the princess. A niche on the wall had a picture of Ambica decorated. Two pedestals were ready for seating. The lamp was lit and the kolams were lit here and there. Boards and scrolls with zodiac wheels were strewn all around.
After the two ladies were seated on the pedestals, the astrologer also sat down.
"Mother! Please tell me what you have come for!"
"Astrologer! Can't you see that in your astrology and find out?" said Kundavai.
"Yes, Mother!" said the astrologer, closing his eyes and chanting some mantra for some time.
Then he opened his eyes and said, "Countess, you have come today mainly to ask about the horoscope of this maiden. Is it true that the grace of Devi Parasakthi says so?"
"Wow! Excellent! What do you call your power? Yes, astrologer! I came to ask about this girl. A year ago she came to Pazhaiyarai palace. For eight months she was very happy. She was the laughter, playful, and lively of my friends. Something has happened to her for four months. She often gets tired. She is delusional; She forgot about her laughter. She says she's okay. If her parents come tomorrow and ask, I don't know what to say ..."
"Mother! Isn't she the daughter of the Countess of Kodumbalur? Her name is Vaanathi, isn't she?" said the astrologer.
"Yes; You know everything!"
"I even have the horoscope of this princess. I've got it together! Wait a bit!" and the astrologer opened an old box nearby and flipped it over for a while. Then he took out a horoscope and looked at it carefully.