Reblog If This Sight On Your Blog Makes You Smile And You Would Like Your Followers To Talk To You More.

Reblog if this sight on your blog makes you smile and you would like your followers to talk to you more. 

3- DEBT OF THE RED RICE

Parts 1, 2

Virudhukkalvetti

Ravidasan was relieved only when he saw some of his acquaintances among the new recruits. They too were surprised when they saw him. He didn't know whether it was their presence or the fact that they all are as clueless as him that soothed his anxiety. Their thalapathi, Menandros, really enjoyed their confusion and amazement.

"My boys, life is full of surprises. I was born in a place called Athenai. I no longer remember what the air smells like or sky looks like in my native. Similarly, we all go where this life takes us."

He peered into their eyes intently. "Now you are a group of 200 people. This is your last chance. If you just leave now, we will forget each other. But if you try to leave after joining us, you and your families will be annihilated. I will be back in an hour." Menandros himself opened the windows and doors of the hall they were seated in and left.

That one hour felt like one hundred years. If he leaves this place, he can easily get a job as a soldier, administrator or a priest in any part of this vast  bharatavarsham. What if this is his destiny? When a yavanan works so loyally for Veera Pandyan, is it right that a pandyan like himself is thinking like this? He looked around and saw that everyone is engaged in thoughts like him.

One hour must have been up as someone blew conchshells and closed the openings of the hall, except one. Menandros gave instructions to his attendants to go there or do this. They all rose up and bowed down as Veera Pandyan and Jatilavarman entered the hall. Veera Pandyan gestured them to sit down as he sat on a raised platform. Jatilan sat near Ravidasan.

The priests chanted prayers to Kotravai and some men danced with ecstasy. A woman placed a big banana leaf before him and served blood red rice on it. The king ate some of the rice and made a ball out of a handful of rice. Menandros gestured to Jatilan to go to his father. Tears were flowing from Veera Pandyan's eyes as he fed the rice ball to the young prince. Then one by one, he fed the rice to the old guards including Menandros. Ravidasan was the first one from the new batch to be fed. Though it was just one ball of rice, he felt energetic like he had a full feast.

°°°°°°°°°° Madurai

Ravidasan's heart beat rapidly as he approached his home. He didn't dare to imagine the reaction of his poor widowed mother. The mother and the motherland are both exalted than heaven. This is the right thing. He saw amma spreading chillies and dried turmeric on a mat. She too must have seen him as she was telling someone about his arrival. Looks like annan is home. Good.

"Ravi, it's been so long. You look so tired". Annan hugged him tightly. Anni complained to amma that she hasn't prepared anything special as she served the rice. He secretly mixed the mud he kept at hand in the rice.

"Everyone, please come here. I need to tell you something. You all should hear this with equanimity". He touched everyone's feet, placed his hands on his eyes and hardened his heart. He took out the pouch of gold coins and placed it at the feet of his mother.

"Here, I am submitting the money for your upkeep in my absence. I bear the debt of the red rice to our Emperor. Bless me and send me away".

"What have you done, Ravi?", Soman annan was babbling incoherently like a mad-man. Anni requested him not to shout but Amma just stared into the void with tearful eyes. Soman held Amma as if he feared that she is going to faint. He kept on ranting about Ravidasan's foolishness. What and who is he fighting for? Couldn't he have thought about their old mother? Amma wiped her tears and stood straight.

"Stop. Why did I give birth to sons if it isn't for our Emperor? Light an aarati, Kokile."

She placed her hands on Ravidasan's head and shivered like a possessed woman.

"May the swords raised against them stop on you. May the fire approaching them consume you. May the poison meant for them kill you. May the arrows aimed at them pierce you. May you be the fortress, weapon and shield of our Emperor. Go forth, kill and die for him". She circulated the aarti plate around his head and gave the plate to her daughter in law who repeated her actions and took the plate inside. She stared at him with an intense expression. "Did you mix dirt in the rice you ate from here?"

"Yes."

"I would have broken your skull if you hadn't. You aren't my son or his brother anymore. You belong to the emperor and the empire. If I had known this, I would have washed these feet and welcomed you. I am so glad and proud".

Soman occasionally opened his mouth to ask some things but he couldn't attend vocalise anything. Ravidasan understood that he is trying to ask about their plans. Unfortunately that can't be shared with others, not even his mother's other son.

"Soman anne, Kokila akka, I can tell you only one thing. Take good care of this Amma".

"I gave birth to him, yet I am not crying. Why are you men crying as if I died? Kokila, ask your husband and brother-in-law to stop this drama".

Helpless Kolika didn't know whether to snap at her mother-in-law, scold the brother-in-law or console her husband. Ravidasan touched their feet again and left their home without any tarrying further.  The whole Pandya country is his home and mother. His brothers are the people who partook in the debt of the red rice with him. He is a walking sacrifice.

@willkatfanfromasia @celestesinsight @harinishivaa @favcolourvibgior @sampigehoovu @whippersnappersbookworm @sakhiiii @sambaridli

6- SHOORPANAKHA

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Anuradhapura

The welcome accorded to the Pandya envoy was as grand as usual. Honestly, they weren't expecting such a marvelous welcome due to their downfall. Ravidasan was worried about Udayan breaking the protocol to greet and hug him. What will the crown prince and his advisors think?

They all looked very impressed and the only thing Jatilan was a bit miffed about was the king refusing to show him the ancient crown jewels of Pandyas. Jatilan's great-grandfather Maravarman Rajasimhan had entrusted them to his counterpart in Anuradhapuram before he fled to Chera mandalam and no one has seen them since then.

Though he too really wanted to see the renowned crown jewels, Ravidasan consoled the young prince that such loyalty is commendable. Perhaps they even thought that this is Veera Pandyan's secret test. By refusing to show the crown jewels to anyone except the Thennavan himself, they have passed the test in flying colours. If Kotravai wills it, Jatilan himself might get to wear the necklace of Devendran when he marries Uma Maheshwari or ascends the throne wearing the ancient studded crown!!!

Lankans were very receptive to the plan to fight Cholas when they are already engaged in another war. He talked to the Chief Commander when the Prince and his advisors conducted discussions with the royals. An intuition told him that they were already making preparations for this and their arrival was highly anticipated. The Commander tasked a General with explaining their plans and Udayan joined them.

It was Udayan who revealed what really conspired behind the scenes. The splendour of Paranthakan's youngest grandson's beauty has reached the anthapuram of Anuradhapuram. His cousin, the King's daughter Hemalata declared that she accepted him in her heart and she will fast untill death if he their marriage isn't conducted soon. The king was overjoyed since he saw it as an end to his endless troubles. Needless to say, Cholas refused to entertain this proposal.

Though he told himself that these people aren't as trustworthy as their demonstrations indicated, Ravidasan was really moved by this one-sided love story. "Poor princess! It is a pity that she loved a man enough to die for him though he doesn't care that she exists."

"Hi hi hi. Your sense of humour is intact, anne. Now no one is more determined than our Hema to destroy the clan and reign of Cholas. We will get her married to Jatilavarmar in a heartbeat if his father allows it."

"Really! I thought the princess is older than him."

"She is, but who cares about such trivial matters when a lot is at stake? My uncle, I mean the king, is not going to embarrass himself again. But in case your advisors get such ideas, which is definitely going to happen after today's meeting, you should encourage it."

He was reminded of the words of his teachers: "A passionate woman, like a female snake, terrible from the condensed poison she accumulates within, will never, if injured, neglect to wreak vengeance."* Do they really need such a treacherous and toxic alliance? If Jatilan's sisters were unmarried, at least one of them could have been married to Udayan, Senan or little Mahindan. But who is he to make such decisions? It is indeed a good thing that he joined aabathudaivigal and became a brahmachari. He won't have to deal with such women.

°°°°°°

"Jatila, Jatila, kumaraya", Hemalata caressed the prince's forehead and hair as her attendants sprinkled water on his face. Ravidasan felt chills as he saw the princess who looked like bhadrakali. Isn't this the same girl who declared that Sundara Cholan is dearer to her than her own life? Who can guess what transpires in the deep recesses of women's minds!

Jatilan slowly opened his eyes, jumped up from the bed and stood up, seeing all the women surrounding him. Ugravikraman and Ravidasan caught him before he fainted again due to strain. The prince had been unwell since he got on the ship. Though they thought that this is normal sea-sickness, his continued bouts of fainting and shortness of breath were alarming. The royal physicians of Anuradhapuram too couldn't find anything wrong with the young prince's health, except fatigue.

Ugran asked their translator to convey to the ladies to leave them alone. Jatilan peered through the slits of his eyes and started giggling as the girls left the room. They heaved a sigh of relief. Poor Ugran's thoughts have gone from jumping into the sea to slitting his own throat in an instant when he saw Jatilan lying still.

"Ilavarase, are you alright? Please don't laugh and over-exert yourself".

"I am alright. Anna, please don't tell Uma that this Shoorpanakha akka touched my hair."

"Someone is going to be very displeased if she knows that she was called akka and Shoorpanakha".

"What will they do if Sundaresan deposited all the beauty in the world on Paranthakan's one grandson? He should have divided it and given a bit to all of us."

They stopped Jatilan from talking further and massaged his feet. Who knows whether they will emerge as Raman or Ravanan from this ordeal!

Thennavan - The Lord of the South, a title of the Pandya King

* Indian version of "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned", from Kathasaritsagara.

Sundaresan - Lord Siva, Madurai Meenakshi's consort

@celestesinsight @whippersnappersbookworm @sambaridli @harinishivaa @sakhiiiiiii @sampigehoovu, @willkatfanfromasia @favcolourrvibgior

4- THE FIRST STEP

Part 1, 2, 3

Pazhayarai

"Madurayum Eezamum Konda Ko-Parakesari Parantaka Chozhare vanangidunnen". Veera Pandyan bowed before the Chola king showing great pretension of reverence and humility. The old king smiled arrogantly but he too pretended to be very gracious as he hugged Veera Pandyan and enquired about the welfare of his family.

A scribe read out the royal charter detailing the terms of surrender and the tax to be submitted to the Chola treasury. They have reviewed and conducted several rounds of deliberations in the presence of Chera vassals. Though they have no plans to follow it strictly, Cholas and Cheras don't need to know that.

Menandros pointed out the Pallava chieftain to Ravidasan. Fate is indeed a strange thing. Aditha Cholan once stood with his spine bent in the court of Aparajita Varman. Then he took his head. Now the irumudi adorns his son's head and Aparajita Pallavan's and Rajasimha Pandyan's grandsons worship his feet.

But this compromise didn't come out of nowhere, did it? Everyone knew about Aditha Cholan's fight with his father-in-law Kannara Devan. Parantakan wouldn't have agreed to this arrangement if most of his forces weren't engaged at Thirumunaipadi. That was their hope too. Only Menandros and a few trusted lieutenants escaped with the royals last time. If these upstarts suffer a crushing setback in the hands of Rashtrakutas, it won't be impossible to declare independence.

Read about Chola - Rashtrakuta problem

They moved to the dining hall to feast and rejoice and Menandros quitely introduced some other vassals to him. Though much was left unsaid, Ravidasan understood the implications of his words.

Some were elevated by marriage alliances and other allowances, like Periya Pazhuvettaraiyan Kandan Amudhan. Some like Miladudaiyan Malayaman were allowed to keep their possessions, but they are not sufficiently rewarded with higher responsibilities. To be frank, he seemed happier than the highly decorated chieftains. After a round of alcohol, he and his companions started singing folk songs and dancing. Cholan's grandson too joined them. No wonder he is called Sundaran. He glowed as if he is made of pure gold.

Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyan Tappilidharman's two sons who looked like Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyakshan stared at them. Ravidasan and Menandros stared back with equal intensity.

°°°°°°°°°°

Madurai

"Who won?"

"We won, ilavarase. Those two pebble eyed demons had to concede defeat".

"Is it true that young Pazhavoor princes are seven feet tall and can bend a sword with plain hands?"

"No, they are almost as tall as me. Definitely not seven feet tall. What do you say, Ravidasa?"

Ravidasan was planning to take it up directly with Veera Pandyan. If those Pazhuvoor men are any indication, Chola Velakkara Padai is insanely strong. He had gathered that the elder brother used to lead them but now the younger brother has taken up that position and the older one is with his family's forces now.

"Definitely not seven feet tall. No sword bending either. But they can snap the neck of a grown man easily. Thalapathi, shouldn't we intensify the training program of our forces?"

"We are allowed only minimal autonomy. Haven't we divided the forces into smaller units and train them individually? We will have to wait till they are confirmed to be occupied elsewhere."

"I got an intelligence report that Kodumbaloor Irunkovelan and Sambuvarayan marched to Kanchi even before you left Pazhayarai". Jatilan sounded extremely proud about the confidential information he managed to secure.

"Ilavarase, I heard that the younger Pazhavoor prince was summoned by Kondandaraman (Rajadithan). If they are moving the Velakkara Padai, their situation is more precarious than we thought. That's the only thing that gives me some peace of mind."

"Paatta, how is appa's new recruit? Is this guy learning everything?"

"Absolutely. Also if everything happens as Ravi says, we can start mobilising our forces soon".

"Let me test him. Anna, tell me the names of the chieftains who were present there".

Ravidasan recounted the names- Pazhuvettaraiyan, Pallavan, Miladudaiyan, Sambuvarayan, Irunkovelan, Vanangamudi . . . Menandros started giggling like a teenager. "Jatila, your dream father-in-law wasn't invited".

Some chieftains like Mazhavarayar who lost their lands and titles are relegated to the background and don't get invited to events like this. He has a mad daughter - Uma Maheshwari. The girl spends the whole day dancing and praying before Natarajan. Ever since Jatilan met her, he hasn't stopped dreaming about her.

The prince didn't like Menandros' teasing. Uma Maheshwari and Jatilavarman. They are made for each other. Ravidasan and Menandros had to agree to that logic. Jatilan too might as well learn some dance from Malayaman. He walked away, blushing and complaining that no one has any regard for him.

Aha! Troubles of a teenage heart. Today was a pleasant day indeed.

Bonus: Uma Maheshwari's dance

Is there no place for this thumba flower(symbolising Parvati) in your sacred matted hair decorated by the crescent moon?

In this bountiful nature that produces the sound of om, this flower blooms with the nectarine offerings of love.

Won't Haran (Siva)'s eyes caress the petals of this humble flower?

Can you guess who is Mazhappadi Uma Maheshwari?

Who are Chinna Pazhuvettaraiyan Tappilidharman's two sons?

@celestesinsight @whippersnappersbookworm @sambaridli @harinishivaa @sakhiiii @sampigehoovu @willkatfanfromasia @favcolourvibgior

sOoOo tell me, if you saw a person laughing their heart out, would you stop them from laughing! Would you say "Oh my god enough, don't laugh so much"? Would you? Then why would you ask me to stop crying my heart out while watching the Nandhini-Aditha sequence? Huh? WHY?

JUST LET ME CRY IT OUT IN PEACE!!!!!

smh smh smh.....

To Him.

Falling for a man, out of reach. So far that the stars seem closer. As i live in a delusion of holding his hand, he lives his life not knowing me. And as i weep at night longing for him, he lives in satisfied bliss.

-Mithra