Chereads /
Son of Ponni /
Chapter 21 - Chapter 21 - The Curtain Buzzed! Chapter 21 - Chapter 21 - The Curtain Buzzed!
Can two minds work within one person at the same time? Vandhiyathevan's experience that day showed that he could.
He was passing through the fertile region within the Chola kingdom. It was a time when the rivers were flooded with fresh water. Water gushed into the canals and fields through passes, sluices and sluices. There was water everywhere. How appropriate is it to call the Chola country as 'Valanadu' and the Chola king as 'Valavan'? As soon as he thought of this, he remembered the dangers that had befallen the Chola country and the Chola king. What was his duty in this situation? Should he just hand over the letter given by Prince Karikalar to the emperor and assume that his duty is over? Why should we interfere in this royal fever and conflict? What does it matter to us who comes to the throne of Chola Nadu? After all, aren't they the original enemies of our clan? Didn't the Cholas, Gangas and Vaidumpas join hands to destroy the kingdom of Vanakoppadi? Today, because Athitha Karikalar was kind to us, will all that injustice disappear?... Cheche! How can those past events be called injustice? If they are kings, it is natural to fight with each other. Similarly, success and failure are natural. What is the use of the losers being angry with the victors? When our ancestors were in good condition, didn't they also beat other kings? Didn't they try to destroy it completely? Aa! What song is that? Here's what I remember!
"Yam Mullakki Red Blood Reservoir
Anai Mithitha ArunchErEttil – Manaparan
Pavendar Thamventhan Vaanan plucked
Nattan, Moovendar, your hair!"
Our ancestors have done such terrible things on the battlefield. The fate of the losers on the battlefield is always the same. Can all kings be benevolent like Rama and Dharmaputra? That was why they went to the forest and suffered! Despite being brave men and with the help of soldiers, they suffered greatly. There should be no mercy in kingship. In fact, the Chola tribe is a little kind. They try to make friends with their enemies if they can. For this, they also marry from clan to clan. Didn't Sundara Cholar's father Arinjaya Cholar marry Vaidumparayan's daughter? Sundara Cholar and his people also excel in beauty because he is the son of that Kalyani who is famous for her beauty?... Aa! The girl from the city of Kudanthai is beautiful... I am reminded of the woman on the banks of the Arisilaru. The remembrance did not come from somewhere new. The memories that were ripening in his heart.
While Vandhiyathevan's outer mind was thinking about the natural resources of Cholanadu and the royal chaos, his inner mind was engaged in that girl. Now both the inner and the outer mind began to think openly about the girl. Then, whatever beautiful natural object I saw on the outside seemed to compare it to the limbs of the girl. The sight of the smooth bamboo reminded me of her shoulders. The vase flowers in the streams became a metaphor for her eyes. She wondered if the Pankaja flowers matched her golden face. Would it be right to equate the buzzing of the beetles in the trees by the river? Poets have taught all this, but where is all this really? Where is the beauty of that girl? When I saw her face, I was mesmerized! Even when I think about it now, my heart swells! The sight of these flowers and beetles is not such a thrill?.. Cheche! We have forgotten all the advice the elders taught us! There is no evil delusion in the life of women so wicked as the lust of women.
One who wants to succeed in life should not fall into the trap of women; If he falls, he is gone! It is the story of Kovalan that makes a rare point! What is Kovalan alone? Isn't that the reason why people make fun of the great Pazhuvertaraiyar who was a valiant warrior and had unparalleled influence in Chola Nadu on this day? But people don't know the truth. People don't know whom Pazhuvertaraiyar is bringing in a covered palanquin! Therefore they speak foolishly. But that Mathuranthaka Thevar need not insult himself so much. Cheechee! Shall we sit in a covered palanquin, hide in the place of Pazhuvertaraiyar's queen and go from place to place? Is this the beauty of manhood? Do you have to earn a kingdom in this way? Will he be able to save the kingdom he has earned in this way? Shouldn't we trust Pazhuvertaraiyar and others and rule the kingdom under them? What Sundara Chola emperor is doing in this regard is not very good! He should not have given so much power and influence to people like Pazhuvertaraiyar. Especially when there are two dear sons? When the whole country has a daughter of amazing knowledge and ability...? That girl, whom did she see in the astrologer's house, who spoke on the river bank – whose face did she signify?.. Could it be? – Insanity! It can never be like that! – Why can't it be? If that were the case, no one would be as foolish as we are! Not as unfortunate as we are! What a barbarian we have behaved like a barbarian to the female queen whose fame has spread from Lanka to the Vindhya mountain! It won't be like that! How could he go to her tomorrow with the princes letter and show her his face?
In this way, Vandhiyathevan came along the banks of Cauvery and reached Tiruvaiyaru, thinking of the sky and the earth together. The prosperity and beauty of the place captivated him. He asked and found out that it was Thiruvaiyaru. Everything he had heard about the glory of that wonderful place seemed a little less than true. The description in the Gnanasambandar Thevaram here is very realistic. Nothing has changed in three hundred years. How luxuriously the trees on the banks of Kaveri have grown! There are so many big jackfruit hanging from the jackfruit trees. You don't see anything like this anywhere in the throat zone. Monkeys come from nowhere for fertile places. How beautiful is it that they jump from branch to branch? What did Sambanda Peruman say? What do you remember?
Women dance in the street corner halls of Thiruvaiyaru. The song is accompanied by the sound of drums. Hearing the roar, the monkeys, thinking it was the roar of the clouds, climbed the topmost branches of the tall trees and looked up at the sky for rain! Damn! How relevant it is today! Monkeys climb high branches of tall trees! Is that all? The melodious sounds of dance and song also come from within the town. The sound of yazh, flute, drum and water is accompanied by the sound of sadanga. The dancers here are not Kuravai Koothars like those who danced in Kadampoor Sambuvaraiyar's palace. Aha! It is a gentle and sweet song to hear here. The sound of the dancers of Bharatanatyam is an artistic excellence. There, too, comes the sound of the dancing teachers holding sticks in their hands.
Aha! Sambanda Swamigal was a great devotee of Lord Shiva; A better fan than that! This Thiruvaiyaru is still as he described it that day! One should stay in such a place for a day, see the wonders of dance, song and dance, and then go after having the darshan of Aiyarappar and Nayaki Amman, the virtuous Nayaki Amman! How many devotees are sitting on the banks of Cauvery? How weary is it that they are wearing thiruneeru strip by band? Sometimes, the sound of the 'Nama Shivaya' mantra is heard while the sounds of dance and song are drowned. Why? Isn't that someone singing Sambandar's Thevaram in a sweet voice? It is as if this is the place where God has ordained for music and art! You must stay in this town for a day and then leave! What is the use of going to Thanjavur in a hurry? Is it possible to enter the fortress? Even if he did, would he get an interview with the Maharaja? They are keeping the Maharaja as if the two Pazhuvertaraiyars together are keeping him in prison...? We have to go to the northern bank of Cauvery!
Just as Vandhiyathevan had come to this conclusion, an incident occurred. A palanquin came from the west along the banks of Cauvery. Some guards came in front of and behind the palanquin. Vandhiyathevan had a doubt. He stood there and waited until the palanquin came near; It was just as he thought. On the outer curtain that covered the palanquin was the emblem of a palm tree. Wow! This is the palanquin coming from Kadampoor! We are coming through Kudanthai and they have come in another way! But Pazhuvertaraiyar is missing! He must have stopped on the way somewhere else.
The palanquin turned towards south where Thanjavur was. That's all, Vandhiyathevan gave up the idea of staying in Thiruvaiyaru. He decided to follow the palanquin. For what purpose he had made up his mind, he himself did not know it at the time. He was sure that it was Mathuranthaka Thevar sitting in the palanquin. The disgust for him grew a little more. But if the palanquin is followed a little, there may be a good opportunity. The bearers of the palanquin may put it down and Prince Mathuranthakar may come out for one reason or another. You can get acquainted with him at that time. It can be used to enter the Thanjavur fort and see the emperor. If you talk a little bit about it, it will be enough. If you don't use tricks, you won't be able to do it, right? Especially in diplomatic matters?
So Vandhiyathevan kept going a little behind, letting the palanquin and entourage go ahead. But the opportunity he had hoped for did not come. It has crossed four more rivers between Cauvery and Thanjavur. Even then the palanquin was not placed down; It was going in one breath. The walls and gates of the Thanjavur fort were visible at a distance. If the palanquin goes into the fortress, then his idea will not be fulfilled. By then something had to be done boldly and boldly. What will come? Will the head go away? Isn't that the way it goes? What is the use of going back alive without completing what you have taken? Vandhiyathevan was angry with Mathuranthaka Thevar on the basis of all this. He wanted to tear off the veil of the palanquin and reveal that it was not a woman but a boy with a moustache; His heart throbbed.
While he was seriously thinking about the way to do this, one of the entourage with the palanquin stayed a little behind and looked at Vandhiyathevan.
"Who are you, Dad! Why are you following us from Thiruvaiyaru?"
"I did not follow you, sir! I am going to Thanjavur! This is the road that leads to Thanjavur!" said Vandhiyathevan.
"This road leads to Thanjavur, but only important people can go on it; Others have a different road!" said the soldier.
"Really? But I am also a very, very important man!" said Vandhiyathevan.
Hearing that, the soldier smiled and asked, "Why are you going to Thanjai?"
"My uncle is in Thanjai; I am going to find out if he is ill," said Vandhiyathevan.
"What is your uncle doing in Thanjai? Is he working in the palace?"
"No, no; He is a bellman in the inn!"
"Oh! Is it! Well, why don't you go ahead of us? Why are you following behind?"
"The horse is tired, sir! That's why! Otherwise, what satisfaction do I have in looking at your back?"
While talking like this, Vandhiyathevan came near the palanquin. Instantly the trick of trying to chase his brain became apparent. He pressed his horse with his legs, pulled at the muzzle, and launched it at those who carried the back of the palanquin. They looked back in fear.
Vandhiyathevan immediately said, "Maharaja! Maharaja! The palanquin bearers are hitting my horse! Alas! Alas!" he shouted. The curtain covering the palanquin rustled.