Arulmozli Varma

About a thousand and more years ago, the best of kings,
Paranthaka Sundara Chozla (AD 957-973), ruled as an
Emperor without equal in South India. He had ascended
the Chozla throne several years before the times of our
story. For the past several hundred years Chozla power had
been growing. Chozla Territories were spreading in all
directions. Even so, when Sundara Chozla ascended the
throne, his enemies in the south and north were powerful.
Gandara Aditya who had ruled before him, was immersed
in devotion to God Shiva; he had merited the title
Gandara-aditya who had knowledge of (knew) Shiva. He
did not show much interest in expanding his territories.
After Gandara Aditya, his brother Arinjaya, who ascended
the throne, ruled for a short year. After Arinjaya's death at
Atrur, his son Paranthaka Sundara Chozla came to power.
Sundara Chozla had all the qualities essential for a great
king. Being skilled in war, he led a campaign to the
southern region in the very beginning of his reign. A great
battle took place between the Chozla and Pandiya armies
at a place called Chevoor. Mahinda, the King of Lanka,
had sent a large battalion to help his friend Veera-pandiya,
who ruled at that time from Madurai City. The large
Chozla armies defeated the combined forces of the
Pandiyas and the Lankans at Chevoor. Veera-pandiya who
lost his armies, lost his crown, lost his friends, saved his
life and ran from the battlefield to escape into hiding. He
hid himself in the rocky caves of a desert and bided his
time.
Most of the Lankan army was destroyed in the Chevoor
battle. Some soldiers who survived, abandoned their fame
and bravery and escaped to Lanka with their lives.
It had been the practice of the Lankan kings to send their
men in support of the Pandiya kings, in the clashes
between the Chozlas and Pandiyas. Sundara Chozla
wished to put an end to this practice. He decided to send a
Chozla contingent to land in Lanka and teach the island
king a lesson. He sent a large army to Lanka under the
command of a chieftain of Kodumbalur, known as
Paranthaka the Younger Lord of Velir. Unfortunately the
Chozla army did not land in Lanka all at one time. They
did not have adequate shipping facilities for that.
The battalions which had landed first started advancing
without any forethought. Mahinda's Lankan army led by
Commander Sena came out and surrounded the Chozla
forces in a surprise move. A terrible battle was fought. In
that engagement, the Chozla Commander lost his life.
Stone inscriptions (deciphered in recent years) refer to him
as the Younger Lord of Velir who fell in Lanka.
When Veera-pandiya who was hiding in the desert caves,
heard this news, he gathered courage once again and
emerged. Again he assembled a large army and entered the
battlefield. This time, the Pandiya legion was completely
destroyed. Veera-pandiya also lost his life. Aditya
Karikala, the elder son of Sundara Chozla, took part in this
final battle and performed various heroic deeds. He also
acquired the title `The Valiant Prince who wrung the head
of Veera-pandiya.'
In spite of all this, the Chozla Emperor and all his generals,
advisors, ministers and soldiers, did not forget their wish to
teach the Singhala King Mahinda of Lanka a lesson. A
large force was gathered in readiness for the campaign.
The question "Who should lead this legion?" arose. The
Crown Prince Aditya Karikala - Sundara Chozla's elder
son -- was at that time busy with his troops in the northern
border. He had captured the ancient city of Kanchi, after
routing the armies of the Rashtrakutas who had occupied
the Thiru-munai-padi and Thondai Territories. He was
making preparations to lead his armies further north.
In this situation, a fierce competition rose among the other
generals in the Chozla nation for the privilege of leading
the Lankan campaign. Jealousy and accusations resulted
from such rivalry. It was very rare to find someone who
did not wish to enter the battlefield in that ancient Tamil
land! The competition was about who should go to the
war-front. Enmity and envy would often result from such
competition.
There was fierce rivalry amongst the Chozla generals
about who should lead the Lankan campaign and establish
the Chozla fame by destroying the pride of the Singhala
Kings. Prince Arulmozli Varma, the younger son of
Emperor Sundara Chozla, came forward to put an end to
this rivalry. "Father! I have spent enough time in the
luxury of the Pazlayarai Palace, as the darling child of my
aunts, grandmothers and mothers. Please appoint me as the
Commander of the Southern Armies. I shall go to Lanka
and lead the Lankan campaign," said the young Prince.
Arulmozli Varma was barely nineteen years old at that
time. He was Sundara Chozla's cherished younger son; he
was the beloved child of all the queens who lived at the
Pazlayarai Palace; he was the darling of the Chozla nation.
Sundara Chozla was possessed of a handsome
countenance. His father Arinjaya had fallen in love with
her beauty and married Kalyani, Princess of the enemy
kings of Vaithumba. The son born to Arinjaya and Kalyani
was named Paranthaka; however, the citizens and
countrymen of the Chozla nation who saw the handsome
face of the Prince called him Sundara Chozla (sundara
meaning beautiful.) He came to be known by this name.
All the children born to this handsome Prince were
attractive and beautiful. But the youngest child, Arulmozli,
surpassed all others in beauty. The charm of his handsome
face was not of this world; it seemed to be divine! When he was a baby, the queens of the Chozla palace would
repeatedly kiss his cheeks and make them flush. More than
any other person, his elder sister Kundavai cherished him.
Though she was barely two years older to him, Kundavai
felt that the responsibility of rearing this divine child was
hers! In his turn, Arulmozli returned all the love and
adoration that his sister showered upon him. The brother
would not cross the line drawn by his elder sister. The
Younger Pirati had to merely utter one word; even if all the
three great Gods - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva came
together and said something against that, Arulmozli would
not consider their words. The elder sister's words were
gospel to the younger brother.
The sister would often peer into her darling brother's face.
Not just when he was awake; she would gaze upon the face
of her sleeping brother for hours together. There is some
divine grace in this boy; It is my duty to bring it to the
forefront and make it shine! thought the young Princess.
When her brother slept, she would often pick up his hands
and study the lines on his palms. To her, those lines would
appear to have the sign of the Conch and Discus. Aha! He
is born to rule this world! He will bring the whole world
under one rule, she would think. But, there was no
possibility of his ascending the Chozla throne. Princes
elder to him -- eligible to ascend the throne -- there were
two others before him. Then, how could he acquire a
kingdom? On which throne could he sit? Who knows
divine intentions? The world is big; several kingdoms and
territories exist on this earth. Have we not heard of princes
and kings who ventured into alien lands and by their
prowess acquired kingdoms? Have we not read of such
happenings in novels and epics? That ancient prince who
was thrown out of his kingdoms on the banks of the
Ganga, did he not sail the seas to reach Lanka and
establish a mighty nation? Didn't his Singhala Dynasty rule
firmly in Lanka for a thousand years?
Kundavai thought of such things constantly. In the end she
came to the conclusion that her younger brother was the
appropriate commander to lead the Lankan campaign.
She said, "Thambi, my darling brother Arulmozli! It will
be difficult for me to part from you for even one second.
However, the time has come for me to send you on your
way. You must lead the Lankan campaign and leave for
the island."
Arulmozli agreed joyously. He had waited for the day -- to
escape from the life of luxury and the smothering love of
the maids and queens in the palace. His beloved sister had
now ordered him to do so. What other worry could he
have? What other impediment?
If Kundavai had made up her mind, there was nothing that
would not take place in the Chozla nation. The Emperor
loved his beloved daughter to that extant! He trusted her
implicitly!
Prince Arulmozli was appointed the Commander of the
Southern Armies. He led his men into Lanka, and
conducted the campaign for some time. But the war would
not end easily. There was a difference in his method of
campaigning and that of others. Supplies and support
requested by him did not come from his native land.
Therefore, once in the midst of all his endeavors he came
back to Tanjore. He spoke to his father and arranged
matters to his satisfaction. He prepared to depart for Lanka
once again.
Kundavai had arranged for several auspicious ceremonies
at the main palace in Pazlayarai, to bid farewell to her
darling brother. When Arulmozli stepped out, the victory
drums in the palace courtyard boomed; conches were
blown; kettle-drums beaten loudly. Cheering shouts rose
sky-high.
All the royal ladies of the Chozla clan blessed their
beloved Prince; they anointed his forehead with holy
ashes, and warding off evil eyes, sent him on his victorious
journey.
All the maids-of-honor in Kundavai's court stood on the
palace steps carrying golden patters laden with a lighted
lamp. These maids were no ordinary folk. They were from
the famous noble families of the south. They had come to
Pazlayarai, considering it a great opportunity, to serve the
Elder Pirati Sembiyan Madevi and to become companions
to Kundavai Pirati. Vanathi, a daughter of the Kodumbalur
chieftain, the Younger Lord of Velir, was one among
them.
When those girls saw the Prince coming down the palace
steps, all of them felt a certain agitation in their hearts.
When the Prince came closer, they waved their platters
with the lighted lamp before him (to ward off the evil eye).
At that moment Vanathi felt her whole body shiver.
The golden platter in her hands slipped and fell with a
"clang" to the ground. The thought, "Oh dear! What is this
ill omen!" rose in every mind. But when they saw the
wick burning bright even if the lamp had fallen, they felt it
was after all a good omen. The elders assured them, "This
is a good sign."
Prince Arulmozli smiled at the girl who had dropped the
plate for no apparent reason and continued his descent
down the steps. As soon as he moved ahead, Vanathi fell
down in a swoon. She had fainted with the mortification of
having committed such an impropriety. Upon the orders of
Kundavai, the serving maids carried her into the palace.
Kundavai hurried inside, without even waiting to see her
beloved brother mount his horse and depart; she went in, to
revive her friend.
Holding the reins of his horse, the Prince who had seen the
girl faint, sent his footman inside to find out "How is the
girl who fainted?"
Kundavai sent the footman back with the words "Tell the
Prince to come back here for a minute." The brother who
had never crossed the commands of his sister, came back
accordingly. The sight of his sister trying to revive the
young girl lying on her lap touched his heart.
"Akka! Who is this girl? What is her name?" he asked.
"She is the daughter of the Younger Lord Velir of
Kodumbalur. Her name is Vanathi; of a timid disposition."
"Oh! Now I understand why she fainted. Was it not her
father who led the earlier campaign to Lanka? Didn't he
die in the battlefront over there? Perhaps she remembered
that."
"Maybe. But don't worry about her. I can look after her. I
called you back to wish you well. Go to Lanka and come
back victorious and soon. Send me news as often as you
can!" said the Younger Pirati.
"Fine! You too send me news if anything happens here."
By now, Vanathi was regaining consciousness; perhaps
due to the pleasant sound of Prince Arulmozli's voice! Her
eyelids opened softly. Upon glimpsing the Prince, her eyes
opened wider. Her face gained some color and revived;
coral red lips smiled; cheeks dimpled.
Along with her senses a shyness also returned. She sat up
quickly. She was mortified upon seeing the Princess
behind her. She recalled everything that happened. "Oh!
What have I done Akka?" she asked with remorse.
Before Kundavai could reply, the Prince intervened, "Don't
worry about that Vanathi! Anyone can make a mistake.
You have every reason to be agitated. I was explaining it
to my sister."
Vanathi wondered if she was dreaming or if it was real.
The Prince who never looked at any woman was talking to
her. He is consoling me and cheering me up! How can I
bear this fortune? - Look, how my whole body shivers, I
am dizzy again....
"Akka, my men are waiting. Permit me to leave. When you
send me news from here, let me know how this girl feels.
Look after this orphan girl carefully." He then departed.
The other maids and companions were watching all these
happenings from the windows and balconies. The flame of
jealousy began to glow in their hearts.
From that day onwards Kundavai showered a special
affection upon Vanathi. She kept her by her side
constantly. She had her personal tutors teach her all the
arts and learning she had. She took Vanathi along
wherever she went. She led her into the garden and talked
secrets. She shared all her dreams about her younger brother with her new friend. Vanathi listened to everything
carefully.
After the above incidents took place, Vanathi fell into
fainting fits four or five times. Kundavai would revive her
and soothe her. When Vanathi would sit up, with her chest
heaving with sobs, Kundavai would console her with
words such as "My dear foolish girl! Why are you crying
like this?"
"I don't know Akka! Please forgive me," Vanathi would
reply. Kundavai would embrace her and comfort her.
All these activities further enraged the other maidens in the
palace.
Therefore, was it not natural for those girls to talk in that
fashion, when the two friends had gone away in the chariot
towards Kudanthai?