The art of singing and dancing was very flourishing in the Cola country at that time. Dance and drama had grown together. Tanjore produced many special dramatists. Karuvur Thevar alias Sivanesa Selvar who lived in those days has mentioned about Thanjavur city in his poems.
"Lightning eyebrows
In the theater of the wild, where nature thrives,
The stage is set, where life's drama arrives.
Amidst the jungle's dance, where shadows play,
In the heart of the forest, night turns to day.
(*Ginger Castle Wall)
That's what one of his songs describes. There were many theatres in Tanjore which bear testimony to the flourishing of the art of drama. The best of these theatres was within the emperors palace.
There lived in Tanjore a group of artistes who could invent and compose new plays. Earlier, it was customary to enact dramas based on stories from mythological epics, but for some time the Tanjore dramatists had succeeded in concentrating on other fields. They staged the histories of legendary heroes. They also dramatized the heroic stories of those who were a little earlier than their time. Where else are such warriors like those born in the Chola dynasty? Therefore, they enacted the histories of Chola kings like Karikal Valavar, Vijayalaya Cholar and Parantaka Thevar.
On the Navarathiri day, the heroic drama of the Chola kings was staged for three days in the emperor's palace. Thousands of people had gathered in the courtyard of the palace opposite the strange theatre to watch the plays. A separate place for the ladies of the palace was arranged under a canopy of blue silk with pearls-inlaid pires. Under it sat the queens, princesses, and their intimate companions, watching the play. At that time Nandhini came and sat near Kundavai Devi. Some of the other women did not like it, but they could do nothing but keep it to themselves. Who would dare to incur the wrath of the elder Pazhuvertaraiyar and Pazhuvur Ilayarani? When the junior stateswoman herself respects that proud woman so much, what about the others?
Of the three plays on the Chola kings, the third Parantaka Thevar was the best. That was the day a stir developed among the people who had seen the play.
Sundara Cholar's grandfather Kop Parakesari Paranthakar was one of the Chola kings who ruled the Chola country till then. He ruled for about forty-six years. The Chola empire expanded during his time. His command went from Eezha Nadu to the Tungabhadra river. Many battles were fought; It was a great success. He earned the title 'Kop Parakesari Varma' of Madurai and Eelam. Thillai Chidambaram became famous for painting Chittambalam with gold. At the end of his life, there were some failures and the kingdom shrunk. But his heroic reputation did not diminish. The final great battle took place at Thakkolam with King Kannaradeva who had come from the twin mandalams in the north with a huge army like the sea. In this battle Parantaka's eldest son, Rajaditya, the bravest warrior ever seen in this Bharatha continent, was at the head of the army. After defeating the army of Kannaradeva, he died on an elephant and attained the heaven of heroes. The soldier's arrow-ridden corpse was brought back to the town. They brought him to the palace. Emperor Paranthaka and his consorts placed the body of the brave man who had sacrificed his life to protect the country and shed tears. From behind the scenes, the bodily voice shouted, "Sorry! Sorry! Prince Rajaditya did not die; He has a temple in the hearts of every Chola Nadu people!" The play ended with this final scene.
The people enjoyed this drama of heroic events from the generation that preceded it. The reason for the uproar in the assembly was that in the great wars that took place during the time of Paranthaka Thevar, two petty kings stood by him. One was a Kodumbalur chieftain; The other was a Pazhuvur chieftain. These two were bound by kinship with the Chola dynasty. Those who bought brides. Both of them were helping Paranthakar like two hands. It was impossible to tell who was right-handed and who was left-handed. Paranthaka Cholar supported both of them like his two eyes and rewarded them. You can't tell which of the two eyes is superior and which is inferior, can you? The great father of the Pazhuvertaraiyars, who was now in power, helped Paranthakar. His name was Pazhuvertaraiyar Kandan Amuthanar. The Kodumbalur chieftain who helped Paranthaka Thevar was the father (i.e. Vanathi's grandfather) of Kodumbalur Siriya Vellalar who died in Eelam.
The performers of Parantaka Thevar's drama had carefully rehearsed without any distinction between the above two feudatories. The heroic glory of both of them was well shown. Parantaka Thevar rewarded the two warriors equally.
It soon emerged, however, that the audience had no such equanimity. Some of them were from Kodumbalur party and some from Pazhuvur party. When the heroic act of the Kodumbalur chief was shown on the stage, a section of the assembly cheered. When Pazhuvur Veeran came to the stage, some others cheered. At first the competition was small; It grew bigger and bigger. In the middle of the play, the chorus of "Novello!" reverberated in all four directions.
(*On this day, it was customary to shout "Novel, novel!" as if people were shouting to show enthusiasm and support.)
Kundavai Devi was encouraged by these competing slogans in the assembly. When the slogan of the Kodumbalur party grew louder, he provoked the Kodumbalur princess who was nearby and said, "See, Vaanathi! Your party is strong now!" The innocent Vaanathi will also express her happiness over it. When the Pazhuvur party's slogan grew louder, the junior stateswoman looked at Nandhini and said, "Rani! Now your party is strong!" But Nandhini's expression showed that this did not cheer her up. When such a competition took place, people were openly involved in it and shouting slogans, the junior stateswoman was provoking it further, and that insignificant girl was making fun of Vanathi and herself by putting them on an equal footing, Nandhini's heart grew manifold. Several times I thought of getting up and going away. Pazhuvur Rani was grinding her teeth thinking that if she did so, she would have made the match a grand and conceded defeat.
Kundavai was watching all this. She could see Nandhini's mood from the look on her face as if she was looking at it in a mirror. But there was another mystery that the junior stateswoman did not know. The defeat of the Pandya king in the war, his surrender to the Ilankai king, the flight to Chera Nadu leaving the jewel crown and gem necklace there without the help of the Ilankai king, etc., were shown in the drama, the entire audience showed immense enthusiasm. But Nandhini's face reflected a lot of heartache at that time. The junior stateswoman wondered the reason for this. Thinking of giving a little talk, he said, "The emperor is also not able to watch this wonderful drama with us. Didn't he achieve these things in his time as his grandfather? If only my father would get better?...." She said.
"The body heals itself. His daughter has also come here. If the herbs from Ilankai also arrive soon, the emperor will surely be cured," said Nandhini.
"Do herbs come from Ilankai? What is that?" said Kundavai.
"You ask as if you don't know! Hasn't the doctor sent someone from Pazhaiyarai to bring herbs from Ilankai? Haven't I heard that you helped him? Is that a lie?"
Kundavai bit her lip with her teeth. The teeth were as beautiful as jasmine buds, but the bitten lips ached. Fortunately, the talk was interrupted by a loud uproar of "Novel, novel!"
*
The play ended by wishing Sundara Cholar a long life and a long life. The congregation dispersed and went home, dancing with joy. The ladies of the petty kings also went with their retinue. Then the empress Vanamadevi and the other ladies of the palace left for the temple of Goddess Durga, the Goddess of the Chola family.
Malaiamman's daughter observed many fasts for the health of Sundara Cholar. He used to visit the Durga temple frequently and offer prayers. Special pujas were performed to Goddess Durga on all the nine nights of Navarathiri. Sacrifices were offered for the emperor's health. It was customary for the Maharani to go to the temple every night and return after the Arthajama Puja. Many of the senior ladies of the palace accompany the queen to the temple.
It is not customary to take young girls to the shrine of Durga. Sometimes, the priests would come and dance violently. They tell stories of curses. Young girls don't take them for fear of being afraid. But who has the courage to stop telling the junior stateswoman, "You will be afraid!" During those nine days, Kundavai along with her mothers used to go to the Durga temple and offer prayers to the Goddess. During these times, Vanathi had to be alone in the palace.
On the night of Paranthaka Thevar's play, Vanathi's heart was filled with excitement. She was proud to see the heroic deeds of her ancestors on the stage. With that was added the memory of Sri Lanka. The memory of his father who died in the Eelam war and the prince who had gone to avenge his father's death arose incessantly. Sleep did not come at all. His eyelids refused to close. If the junior stateswoman comes back from the temple and talks to him for a while about the day's drama, then she can fall asleep; Certainly not before that.
I thought I would rather take a stroll on the balcony of the palace than just lie down and roll over. The entire view of Thanjavur city can be seen from the balcony. You can even see the Durga temple – thinking this she got up from the bed and left. Vanathi was new to that palace. But it wouldn't be so difficult to find the dome courtyard. What is the difficulty when there are long paths, pillars on both sides, and lamps that do not sleep?
The paths went round and round. Many of the lights that had shone like the light of the night had gone out. Some were enveloped in smoke and gave a dim light. Here and there in the crannies of the aisles the nurses were sleeping and reclining. Vanathi went further, not wanting to wake them up and ask for directions. There seemed to be no end to the palace passages.
Suddenly I heard a voice. It sounded like a voice of anguish. Vanathi was enraged; His body trembled. Her legs stayed where they stood.
Again the cry was:
"Is there no one to save me?"
Aha! Isn't it like the voice of the emperor? I don't know what the danger is! Is the body a disorder of disease? Or is there something else? The empress and other senior women have gone to the temple. Will there be no one beside the emperor? But let's go and see.
Vanathi walked a few more steps slowly on her trembling legs. The voice seemed to come from below. The track ended at that point. Looking down, he saw a spacious hall below. Aha! Isn't this the emperor's reclining planet? Well yes; There lies the emperor; He is lying alone. And something he is moaning about; Let's ask what.
"Poor fellow! It's true! It is true that I have killed you! I didn't kill you on purpose, but I am responsible for your death. What do you want me to do about it? The year is twenty-five. Are you still hanging around me? Is there no peace for your soul? Will you not give me peace? Tell me what penance you have to make! I will do it accordingly. Leave me alone... Alas! Is there no one who can deliver me from her cruelty? Everyone is looking for a cure for my physical ailment! Is there no one who can cure my mental illness... Go! Go! Get away! No, don't go! Stand! Tell me what to do! Dont torture me with such silence! Open your mouth and say something!"
These words fell on Vanathi's ears like boiling iron. It shook from her scalp to the soles of her feet. Involuntarily she looked down. She looked all over the hall as far as her gaze could reach.
A figure was standing in front of the emperor at a distance. It was only half of a woman's figure. The other half was hidden in the shadows of the pillar and the smoke. As far as I know, the figure... Aa! Isn't it like Pazhuvur Ilayarani? What a dream this is! Paranoid? No! It's true! Who is hiding behind that pillar? Isn't it the elder Pazhuvertaraiyar? No doubt! That's them! Has the emperor spoken like that after seeing Pazhuvur Ilayarani? What did he mean when he screamed, "It is true that I killed you"?
Suddenly, Vanathi felt as if she was going to faint and her head began to spin. No, the palace itself began to spin. Cheechee! Don't faint here. Not at all.
Vanathi gritted her teeth and left. But the road back was a road that would never be lost. The room in which she lay seemed to never come. No, it can't happen anymore; You can't stand.
When Kundavai came back from the temple, she saw Vanathi lying unconscious on the pavement at a distance from her room.