Inside The Fort

The signet ring with the palmtree emblem had miraculous
powers like the magical rings in fairy tales!
In that morning hour, various people -- vendors of milk,
curds and other dairy products, fruit and vegetable sellers,
butchers, farmers, others engaged in various trades, clerks
and accountants, petty officials and others -- were trying to
enter the fort. The officious gatekeepers were letting them
in, one by one, through a small wicket gate placed on one
of the big doors. The guards stood around with cocky
insolence.
But, as soon as our young hero showed the palm tree
signet ring, they became very reverent; they even opened
one of the large doors to let him enter. Vandiya Devan
entered the fort of Tanjore.
Oh yes! We do not know the auspicious moment in which
he set foot in that great fort, but we do know that several
significant events followed that entry. We could even
consider that moment as one of the most important
moments in the history of South India!
For some time after entering that fort, Vandiya Devan was immersed in astonish-ment. Kanchi City (from where he
came) was the capital of the ancient Pallava Empire. It had
withstood the attack of several enemies. The buildings,
mansions and palaces in that city were now badly
maintained, dilapidated ruins. Of course many of them
were well sculpted, architecturally beautiful. But several
parts of that city were in ruins. After Aditya Karikala took
over, he had renovated some of the public buildings and
palaces. These new structures looked like isolated sprigs of
fresh shoots on a dying tree. In facts they made the
dilapidation more obvious. But this Tanjore!?
Tanjore was quite the opposite thing. Everything looked
new. New palaces, new buildings, new temples. The
white-washed mansions interspersed with buildings of
brick baked of red earth shone like some jewel, set with a
cluster of rubies enhanced by pearls and diamonds. Trees
in the gardens and by the roadside had grown luxuriously
tall, nourished by that fertile red-dust. Coconut and areca
nut palms; ashoka cypress, laurels, spreading banyan, fig
and sacred ficus; jack, mango and neem -- they painted a
picture of varying hues of emerald. That greenery was
pleasing to the eye and joyous to the heart. A new city
built by an architect of illusion. I feel new excitement
when I enter this new city; my heart fills with
unexplainable pride!
Vandiya Devan who had seen the fuss and fret in letting
people enter inside had surmised that the inner city would
be empty. But it was quite contrary: all the streets were
crowded with hustle and bustle. Horses, and chariots
yoked with horses rushed past noisily. Bells -- tied around
the necks of elephants which walked slowly, gracefully
like tiny, black, moving hillocks -- tinkled all around.
Vendors selling flowers, fruit, milk, fish and other edibles
called out their wares and raised a huge din. Huge drums
boomed and large bells tolled periodically announcing the
passing hours. The gentle breeze carried the melody of
musical instruments and voices of young men and women
raised in song. Everything was festive like one big
carnival.
This is a city! This is the capital of an empire that is
growing and spreading day by day! Vandiya Devan did not
wish to let anyone know that he was a newcomer to that
exquisite city. If he asked the way of anyone they would
look him up and down and ask arrogantly, "Are you new to
this town?" -- They may even think him to be an
uncivilized villager if he asked the way to the royal palace.
Therefore, he should somehow find his way without asking
anyone and reach the palace. It may not be difficult.
Wherever he looked he could see mansions festooned with
bunting and crowned by high flying pennants and flags.
The flags fought the swift breeze and raised a "Chat, pat"
noise. Tiger-flags and palmtree- flags were more profuse.
He saw one huge flag emblazoned with a rampant tiger,
flying sky high, rising above all the others. That must be the Emperor's palace, thought Vandiya Devan
Vallavarayan as he began walking in that direction. He
thought of what he must do next.
The first, important task is to present myself to the
Emperor and personally deliver the letter and the verbal
messages conveyed by Prince Aditya. It may not be
possible to see the Emperor without the Younger Lord
Pazluvoor's permission. How can I obtain that permission?
God helped me enter the fort. But, can I be complacent,
thinking that God's grace will aid me till the end? I must
connive something to manage entry into the palace to meet
the Emperor. What is the strategy to adopt? Oh my clever
brain! Descendant of generations of illustrious Vaanar's!
Think of something! Polish up your imagination. Get to
work! Imagination is essential; not just for writers and
poets. Fellows like me entangled in such political turmoil
also need plenty of imagination. Let me think...
He had already made sure that the Elder Lord Pazluvoor
had not returned to the fort. As soon as he come in he had
asked one of the gatekeepers, "Why man, has Lord
Pazluvoor come back?"
"Whom are you asking about, Thambi? The Younger Lord
is in the palace!"
"Don't I know that! I am asking about the Elder Lord who
had journeyed to the central provinces."
"Oh! Was it to the central provinces that the Elder Lord
went? I didn't know that! The Young-Queen's palanquin
returned last night. The Elder Lord has not returned yet.
We got word that he will probably return tonight," said the
gatekeeper.
That was good news. He must somehow meet the Emperor
before the Elder Lord Pazluvoor returns. How ...? An idea
occurred to him. The worry lines vanished immediately
and a mischievous smile and joy blossomed on his face.
He did not have to wander much to reach the Emperor's
palace. He kept walking in the direction of the large tigerflag.
Soon he reached the portals of the large palace. What
a wonderful building. A palace comparable to that of the
King of Gods; a palace like that of legendary Vikramaditya
of Ujjain! How exquisite is the carving on these portals?
The horses with raised forelegs, carved on the pillars, seem
to be ready to leap forward!
Several roads from all directions came to meet in a large
plaza in front of that palace. At the head of each of these
streets two horsemen and two footmen stood guard. People
walking about the streets turned back without coming near
them. Some persons stood near them to stare at the palace
portal and the big flag before they turned back. If the
people crowded around too long, the guards made signs to
disperse them. Even those who gathered in groups talked
softly, whispering to each other. Vandiya Devan did not
hesitate like these others. He walked forward with pride and confidence. As soon as he stepped into the plaza two
horsemen barred his way. The horses stood nose to nose
and long lances crossed in front of him. The footmen came
near him.
Vandiya Devan showed them his magic ring. That was it;
the lances parted and the horses moved away. But three
men examined the ring, one after the other. Finally the
man who seemed to be in charge said, "OK, let him in."
Vandiya Devan walked in cockily.
Now what? How many other guards like this? Where
would I find the Younger Lord Pazluvoor? Should I ask?
Whom shall I ask? -- Can I manage to see the Emperor
without his permission? Where would I find the Emperor
on his sick bed in this huge mansion! ...
Catching sight of a group of men behind him, he turned
around. Yes; about ten to fifteen men came in a group to
hesitate in front of the guards. Those men wore scarves of
rich silken cloth. They were dressed in pearl necklaces,
golden anklets and eardrops. Some had adorned their
forehead with horizontal ashen lines. Others wore marks of
sandal paste, red kumkum powder or aromatic civet spots.
Oh! Don't these men look like poets and bards! Yes they
were a group of bards!
One of the guards, their leader, was saying, "The bards and
poet kings have come; let them enter." He then ordered
one of the footmen: "Lead these people to the audience
chamber of the Younger Lord Pazluvoor."
"Masters! Poets! if you receive any presents or rewards
please come back this way -- and remember me! If you do
not get any awards you can leave by the other gate!"
Everybody laughed at these words of the guard.
Vandiya Devan who had hesitated on the steps to listen to
this conversation felt "The fruit has slipped into the
cream!" He decided to follow the poets and get to the
presence of the Younger Lord Pazluvoor. He did not have
to ask anyone. Then comes my cleverness; my goodluck
will surely help, he thought. He quietly mingled into that
group of poets.