Vandiyathevan already had the idea that some mysterious event was going to take place here today.

 

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Chapter 7 

  Laughter and Fury 

Vandiyathevan immediately came to a conclusion after hearing the words of Paluvetaraya about the statehood. What are they going to say about statehood? Who are they to talk to? Be aware of what is going to happen in this meeting! You have to sit here. There is no better place than this. Alwarkadian let him go somehow, what do we have to do with him?

Vandiyathevan already had the idea that some mysterious event was going to take place here today. Alwarkadiyan's perversely meaningful words, the impetuous behavior of the fort gatekeepers, the half-hearted reception of Sambuvariyar, the furious language of the maddened ascetic, all these created some doubts in him. Here is an ungodly opportunity to clear all those doubts and know the truth, why let it slip away? Aha! Even Kandhamaran, whom he considered as his life-long friend, did not tell him the truth. He has put himself to sleep and has come to this secret midnight meeting. I have to see him tomorrow.

By this time, the janitor below had started talking. Vandiyadeva gave his ear and listened carefully.

"I have come to announce a very important message to all of you. That is why Sambuvariyar has called this meeting. Sundarashola Maharaja's health is very serious. I have consulted the palace doctors privately. They have said that 'there is no hope anymore; he will not live much longer'. Therefore, we must now think about the things that should happen from now on!" Saying that, Pulvetaraiyar stopped.

"What do the Josiahs say?" asked one of the crowd.

"Shall I go and ask the soothsayers? A comet has been visible in the evening sky for some days! Isn't that enough!" said one.

Then the reaper said: 'The astrologers have also been heard to delay for some time; That's it. Anyway, we have to wonder who deserves the title next…”

Laughter and Fury

"What's the point of thinking about it anymore? Aditha Karikalar was crowned prince two years ago!" Said another gruff voice.

True, but I'd like to know if any of us have been consulted before making such a princely crown. Each one of us gathered here belongs to a tribe that has fought for the supremacy of the Chola kingdom for more than a hundred years, in four generations. My patanar's father died in Tirupurambiam war. My father died in the battle at Vellore. My father sacrificed his life in Thakolam. This is how each and every one of your forefathers gave their lives to uphold the supremacy of this Chola country. In each of our families, young children have died on the battlefield. Even today, the children of our clan and family are fighting in the country of Eelah. But the Maharaja did not listen to our opinion in deciding who should come next for the title, and Dasaratha even convened a Mandirayosana council to think about building a title for Rama. He consulted ministers, vassals, army chiefs and princes. But Sundara Chola Maharaja did not consider it necessary to listen to anyone's opinion."

"It is right that we did not ask for our ideas, but it is not right for God to say that he did not ask anyone's ideas. The idea of the great pratiya Sembian Mahadevi and the idea of the youngest pratiya Kundavai Devi were heard. Can you say no?" said one in a mocking tone. A few in the crowd laughed.

"Aha! You are laughing! Just as you seem to laugh, I feel sick to my stomach to think that I do not know; my blood boils. Why should I live with this life? I feel ashamed. Today, the 'God' who came and danced said that he was asking for the sacrifice of Turk. He said, 'I want a human sacrifice born in a royal dynasty for a thousand years. Give me my sacrifice.' The clan is more than a thousand years old, each one of you put a knife on my neck and sacrifice it. Mother Turk will be satisfied and my soul will be at peace

In this way, like a maddened ascetic, the priest stopped by speaking in a frenzied voice.

There was silence for a while. The sound of the west wind blowing 'vir' was heard, and the trees outside the fort wall swayed in that wind, making a murmuring sound.

"The King of Pazhuvur must forgive the sarcastic remark you made without any knowledge and the laughter that resulted from it. You are our unparalleled leader. All of us here are ready to carry out your orders. We are following the path you have shown us. Please forgive us!" said Sambuvarayar with emotion.

"I too have lost some patience. You must forgive me for that. Consider one thing. Exactly a hundred years ago today, Vijayalaya Chola defeated the Mutharaiyars and captured Thanjavur. He supported the Pallava army in the battle of Thirupuram and annihilated the Madurai Pandyas' army. Since then, the Chola kingdom has been growing and expanding day by day. Even during the time of Karikavalavar, who settled on the banks of the Kaveri River, the Chola kingdom had not achieved such greatness. Today, the Chola empire is spread out from the tip of Kumari in the south to the Tungabhadra-Krishnai in the north. The Pandya country, Nanjil country, the Chera country that has never been worshipped by anyone, Thondai Mandalam, Bagi country, Gangapadi, Nulambabadi, Vaidumbara country, Sidpuli country, Perumpanappadi, and the country of Kodagu, where the Ponni River originates. So many countries are submitting to the Chola Empire and paying tribute. In so many countries, the tiger flag of our Chola nation flies. Even Eelam in the south and Dwat Mandal and Vengi in the north should have submitted to us by now. I don't need to tell you the reasons for not submitting: you know all of them!..."

"Yes; everyone knows; there are two reasons why Eelam, Dwettapadi, Vengi and Shulingam did not work. One reason was Prince Aditha Karikalar, the leader of the northern army; the other reason was his younger brother Arulmozhivarmar, the leader of the southern army.

"I agree with the reason given by Mazhavarayar. For the past hundred years, the tradition of appointing commanders has been rooted in this Chola country. Only brave warriors who have participated in many wars and gained experience are appointed as army leaders and Matanda Nayakas. But what has happened now? The senior prince is the commander of the northern army, what is he doing? He has not invaded the double world and the Vengi country. He is sitting in Kanchipuram and building a golden palace. I ask you, brave warriors born in the great family of warriors. Before this, no king in Tamil Nadu had a place to live.

Twilight 

 The Heat and the Fury

Did he build a palace made of gold? Even the Parantaka emperor, who is famous all over the world and now lives in Kaila, who ruled Madurai and Eelam, did not build a palace of gold for himself. He only built a golden roof for the small palace of Thillai. But Prince Aditha Karikalar is building a golden palace in Kanchipuram for himself! The palaces where the Pallava emperors lived and ruled for generations are not enough for his status. He is building a palace made of gold. He is embedding gems and sapphires in the walls of that golden palace. He has not yet sent a single copper coin from the goods he conquered and brought back from the countries of Gangapadi, Nullambadi, Kodagu, etc. to the treasury in the capital."

"Is the Golden Mansion finished?"

"Yes, I learned from my confidential informants that it was over. In addition, letters were also received from his noble eldest son, Sundara Chola Maharaja. He said that Sundara Chola Maharaja should come and stay for some time in the newly built Golden Palace."

"Is the Maharaja going to Kanchi?" someone asked in a worried voice.

"You don't need to worry. I am here to see that nothing like that happens; my brother, who is the guard of the Thanjavur Fort, is also there. No one can enter the Thanjavur Fort without the permission of Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyan. No one can interview the Maharaja without my knowledge; no one can give a letter. I have stopped the letters that have come two or three times so far."

"Long live Pazhuvettaraiyar!" "Long live the clever strategy of the Pazhuvur king!", "Long live his bravery!" were chanted.

"Listen again, the actions of Prince Arulmozhi Varma, who has gone to fight in Eelam, are much more strange than the actions of the Crown Prince. What do we know about the Dharma of war? What have our ancestors practiced for hundreds of years? If our country's armies wage war against other countries, we should earn the food for our troops in those other countries. We should pay the soldiers with the goods we capture in those countries. We should send the vast amount of money to the government treasury in the capital. But do you know what Prince Arulmozhi Varma is doing? Our war in Eelam

"We need to send food from here to the soldiers on ships! I have sent food on many ships ten times in the past year."

"Strange! Strange!", "This injustice is unacceptable!", "I've never heard of anything like this!" were the voices raised.

"Listen to Prince Arulmozhi Varma's reason for this amazing act. If we were to earn the food needed for our soldiers in the country we invaded, we would incur the discontent of the citizens there. We have no conflict with the people of Eelam, except with the royal family. Therefore, we should not cause them any hardship! After fighting and winning against the royal family, we should rule with the sincere will of the people. Therefore, money and food should be sent from here!"

At this point, someone in the crowd said, "We should not ask anything of the people of the countries we have invaded; we have never heard of the war religion of bowing down at their feet!"

"Listen to the consequences. Due to the joint actions of the two princes, the treasury and grain reserves of the Thanjavur palace are often greatly depleted. I am forced to collect heavy taxes from all of you. This is why I have been appointed as a divine officer! If I had not considered the greatness of the Chola country to be important, I would have long since resigned from this position."

"Ah! No way! Your being in this position is a great protection for all of us. Didn't you tell the Maharaja about these illegal activities?"

"What is not said! It has been said many times. Every time ask the elder Prati; ask the younger Prati!" is the only response we get. As I have said before, the Maharaja has lost the power of independent thought now! He does not even ask for our advice on important matters. The word of his elder sister Sembiya Madhavi is his only authority; next, he asks him to ask for advice from his wealthy daughter Kundavaiprati. I, who have grown gray in royal service, and the other ministers, should go to that little girl, a woman who has not gone north of Kollidam and south of Kudamurutti, to ask for advice from that little girl; what is the story! Since the beginning of this Chola kingdom, women have not been involved in royal affairs in this way

Laughter and Fury

We have never heard of any interference! How long can we endure such humiliation? Or if you all say so in unison, I will leave this royal responsibility and the trouble of taxing and filling the treasury and stay with my native town..."

"No! No! The Lord of Pazhuvoor should not abandon us like that. The Chola Empire, which was established with great effort and the blood of thousands of warriors for four generations, will crumble to pieces in an instant," said Sambuvarayar.

"Then you should give me advice on what to do in this situation. You should tell me what the solution is for this kingdom of women, which has become worse than the kingdom of Alli," said the King of Pazhuvur.