Velaikara Battalion Of Velirs

First, the outer screens emblazoned with the palmtree
symbol parted; next the silken inner curtains were pushed
aside. The golden hand seen by Vallavarayan once before,
the hand which had stunned him, could be seen once again.
Thinking that it was no longer polite to be seated on his
horse, Vandiya Devan climbed down.
He ran up to the palanquin saying "Prince! Prince! Your
bearers ..." and looked inside. He looked again; he blinked
his eyelids and looked once again! His eyes were dazzled!
His tongue tied itself into knots! Suddenly his throat felt
parched. "No. No! Princess! Princess of Pazluvoor! ...
Your Ladyship, Princess of Pazluvoor! ... Your bearers and
their horses dashed against my palanquin ..." came the
flustered blabberings.
All this happened within the blink of an eyelid! By now
the guards carrying the long spears ran up and surrounded
Vandiya Devan. He realized that the men were around
him; his hand automatically reached for his sword. But he
could not take his eyes off the dazzling face of that
enchantress behind the curtains!
Yes; unlike his expectations, this time he unquestionably
saw the beautiful figure of a young girl seated inside the
palanquin! Girl means what a girl! Vandiya Devan hadn't
known that such beauty, which could madden those who
beheld it, could exist in this world.
Fortunately, some nerve in his brain became active at that
moment. An amazing idea rose in his mind. He decided to
make use of that idea. He made a tremendous effort and
cleared his throat, bringing back speech to his tongue. "I
beg pardon! My Lady, aren't you the Young-Queen of
Pazluvoor? I came this far to make thy acquaintance!"
spoke his tongue.
A smile blossomed on the gentle face of the Young-Queen
of Pazluvoor. A lotus bud, which was closed shut till that
moment, opened slightly to reveal a string of tiny pearls.
The radiance of that smile mesmerized our young warrior
and absolutely bewildered him.
The footmen surrounding him seemed to wait for the
commands of their mistress. The Lady made a sign with
her finger; they moved away a little and stood apart. Two
men caught hold of the horse and waited.
That jewel among women, seated in the palanquin, looked
at Vandiya Devan. Two sharp spear-points pierced his
heart!
"Yes! I am the Young-Queen of Pazluvoor," said that
Lady. What is that intoxicating stuff mixed into her voice?
Why is my head spinning with such dizziness upon hearing
her speak?
"What did you say just now? You appealed to me about
something? About my bearers?"
Can the softness of Benaras silk, the intoxication of
country liquor, the sweetness of forest honey and the flash
of monsoon lightning blend like this into the voice of a
young maid? It seems quite possible here...
"You said they dashed my palanquin against your horse?"
The mocking smile playing upon her coral red lips
indicated that she was enjoying the joke. Vandiya Devan
gained some courage because of it.
"Yes. Great Queen! These men did that; my horse was
petrified."
"You also look petrified! Go to the priest at the temple of
Goddess Durga and ask him to exorcise you! You will
overcome this terror!"
By now, Vandiya Devan had overcome his fear and even
laughter came back! The Pazluvoor Queen's expression
had now changed: a smiling full-moon turned into blazing
anger!
"Stop jesting. Tell the truth. Why did you push your horse
against my palanquin and stop me?"
He had to give a plausible answer. If not... Luckily he had
already concocted a story. In a soft voice, a deliberately
soft voice, he spoke as if he did not wish others to hear his
words: "My Lady! Madam Nandini Devi! He... Mr.
Azlvar-adiyan, that is ... Mr. Thirumalai, he ... he asked me
to meet you! That is why I connived this strategy. Please
forgive me. I beg pardon!"
As he said the words he examined her face carefully. He
waited anxiously, to see the effect of his reply. It was like
throwing a stone at a fruit tree. Will a ripe fruit fall? Or,
would it be raw? Or, will the stone fall back on him? Or,
will some unexpected thunder descend?
The dark brows of the Pazluvoor Queen shot up -- surprise
and fear filled her intoxicating eyes. The next instant, she
seemed to have come to some decision.
"Fine! It is not safe to stop in the middle of a road and talk.
Come to my palace tomorrow. You can explain everything
there."
Vandiya Devan's heart filled with bliss. His intentions
were about to be fulfilled, but there was no use in leaping
across three fourths of an open well! He must leap across
the remaining quarter.
"Madam! My Lady! They will not let me come inside the
fortress! Neither will they let me enter the palace! What
shall I do?" he asked with some agitation.
The Young-Queen of Pazluvoor instantly turned aside and
picked up a silken purse lying next to her. She opened the
bag and took out an ivory signet ring. Saying, "If you show
this they will let you into the fort and permit you to enter
my palace," she gave him the ring. Vandiya Devan
received it eagerly. For a second, he glanced at the ring
with the sign of the palm tree. Then, he looked up to thank
the lady. But, the screens were pulled shut once again.
Ah! An eclipse swallows the full-moon slowly, bit by bit.
But these silken screens have covered that eloquent
radiance in one moment!
"Do not follow me anymore. It may be dangerous. Wait
and come later," said that silken voice from inside the
drapes.
The palanquin moved on. The guards walked ahead,
around it like before. Vandiya Devan stood by the
roadside, holding the reins of his horse. His eyes noted that
the Pazluvoor footman who had stopped to talk to him
looked back several times; the message reached his inner
brain. His outer brain revolved around the enchanting face
of the Young-Queen of Pazluvoor. Did all this truly
happen? Was everything a pleasing dream? Can there be
such beauty, such a ravishing form on this earth?
Myth and fable talk of divine maidens -- heavenly beauties
called Ramba, Urvasi and Menaka. There are tales about
how those beautiful maidens disturbed the penance of
ascetics who foreswore all worldly pleasures. But in
reality! ... There must be truth in the rumor about the Elder
Lord Pazluvoor being a bonded slave to this ravishing
lady. There is no surprise if it is true. What contrast
between Lord Pazluvoor -- old and grey, with a body
disfigured by scars of several battle wounds -- and this
soft, gentle, dazzling maiden? What deeds will that old
man perform, to obtain one smile from her?
He waited for a long time by the roadside, mulling over
such thoughts. Finally, he mounted his horse and slowly
rode towards the gates of Tanjore.
By sunset, he neared the main entrance to the city fort. The
city extended for some distance before the fortress walls
and gates. Market streets offering several kinds of goods
for sale, residential streets of people engaged in various
trades -- these successively surrounded the outer
boundaries of the fort. All the streets were busy with the
hustle and bustle of a large town: people going hither and
thither, merchants haggling over the price of goods they sold, carts and wagons drawn by hefty, well fed bullocks,
horse drawn chariots, palanquins and litters filled the
streets.
Vandiya Devan was eager to enter those streets and
experience the sights and sounds of the new capital of the
Chozlas; he wished to make the acquaintance of these city
folk and become familiar with their ways. But, there was
no time for all that now. He must first complete the
assignment on which he had journeyed so far. Sightseeing
must wait. With this determination he neared the main
gates of Tanjore.
The massive doors of the main gateway were closed shut
at that time. The guards and gatekeepers outside were
trying to maneuver the people making them stand in an
orderly fashion on both sides of the street. The people
complied and stood aside. Yes; instead of going about their
own business they stood by the roadside as if in
anticipation of some procession or parade. Men, Women,
children and elderly -- everybody waited.
For a short distance the street in front of the gateway was
empty. The guards stood near the doorway. Vandiya
Devan wished to find out what was happening. He did not
wish to entangle himself with the gatekeepers when
everyone else stood aside. Unnecessary dispute and trouble
might come of it. The job on hand was more important
than a joust. It was not the time to pick an unwanted
quarrel.
Therefore, he stood to one side at a spot where he could
keep an eye on the gateway. The heady fragrance of
flowers rose by his side. He looked around. A youth,
wearing the symbols of a Saiva devotee, such as rudraksha
beads around his neck and ashen marks on his forehead,
stood by his side carrying two large baskets of flowers in
both his hands.
"Thambi, why has everybody moved to one side of the
road? Is some procession or something coming this way?"
asked Vandiya Devan.
"Are you not from these parts, Sir?"
"No. I come from the Thondai Territories."
"That's why you asked! It may be better if you also
dismount and stand aside."
Vandiya Devan jumped off his horse, thinking it would be
easier to converse with that youth. "Thambi why did you
ask me to dismount?"
"All these people are standing aside because the Velaikara
Battalion of Velirs is about to emerge from the fort after
presenting arms to the Emperor."
"Just to watch?"
"Yes."
"Why shouldn't I watch while sitting upon my horse?"
"You can. But, it is dangerous if the men of the Velaikara
Battalion see you."
"What danger? Will they abduct my horse?"
"They will abduct the horse; even carry away men!
Wicked fellows!"
"Will they be allowed to carry away horse or man?"
"What can one do but allow it? The word of those men of
the Velaikara Battalion is law in this city. There is none to
question them. Even the men of Pazluvoor do not interfere
in the affairs of the Velaikara Battalion of Velirs."
At that time, a loud commotion and noise could be heard
inside the fort. The sound of kettle-drums, blowing
conches, pipes being played, horns being blown and
marching drums being beaten mingled with loud, cheering,
shouts raised by hundreds of men.
Vandiya Devan had heard much about the brave warriors
of the Velaikara Battalion. It was an important
organization in the ancient Tamil nations, particularly in
Chozla dominions. `Velaikaras' were the personal
bodyguards of the ruling monarch. But there was an
important difference between them and ordinary
bodyguards. The men of this battalion had taken individual
oaths to "Personally guard the life and person of the king,
giving up their own life if the need arises." If something
untoward happened to the king or his life, because of their
carelessness or in spite of their guard, they had sworn to
cut off their heads with their own sword and offer
themselves as a sacrifice to the Goddess Durga. It was
natural that such men, who had sworn such terrible oaths,
were given ceratin privileges.
The two large doors of the gateway opened with a loud
noise. Two horsemen emerged first. In their right hands
they held aloft two narrow pennants flying high. They
were curious in design. The red cloth of the banner was
painted with a leaping tiger and a shining crown below it;
underneath the crown was a sacrificial alter with a severed
head on it and a huge sacrificial sword lay next to it. The
pennant was quite terrifying to behold.
A huge bull, carrying two immense war-drums followed
behind the horsemen. Two men walking by its sides beat
the reverberating drums. About fifty men in formation
followed the bull; they carried small and large kettledrums,
cymbals, bells and chimes -- beating them and
banging then loudly.
Fifty others followed them, blowing "Boom, boom, boam"
upon long curved horns and pipes. About a thousand soldiers followed these men. They raised the following
cries and cheers as they marched out:
"Long live Emperor Paranthaka of the blessed earth."
"Praise to him! Long life! Long life!"
"Long live Sundara Chozla!"
"Long life! Long life!"
"Long life to the Rooster King!"
"Long life! Long life!"
"Lord of Tanjore!"
"Long life! Long life!"
"Long life to the Lord who vanquished Veera-pandiya!"
"Long life! Long life!"
"Long life to the Monarch who took Madurai, Lanka and
Thondai!"
"Long life! Long life!"
"May the clan of Karikala Valava live long with fame!"
"Long life! Long life!"
"Victory to Goddess Durga, the Greatest, the all
powerful!"
"Victory! Victory!"
"Let the brave tiger-flag fly worldwide and win!"
"Victory! Victory!"
"Victory to our spears!"
"Victory to the brave spears!"
The loud cheers raised by hundreds of strong voices,
hypnotized those who heard them. While the shouts rose
near the fortress gateway, they echoed and thundered in all
directions. Many of the people standing on both sides of
the road joined the cheering.
Thus, everything was one big commotion while the men of
the Velaikara Battalion of Velirs emerged from the
gateway, marched past the long street and disappeared in
the distance.