Lakshmi

Chapter 15 A prophet?

Karuppiah brought the other map showing the original area of the Nayak kings. The map was drawn on fine linen cloth. It was drawn with the help of the liquid from the washermen seeds. They saw the entire Tamilnadu, from the river North Pennar above the Thirumala hills. They saw many small and big rivers drawn beautifully and geographically from the south of Tirumala hills. 

They saw Palar, Coovum, Cauvery, Vaigai, the great Tamiraparani and the small Tamiraparani, all feeding their waters eastwards into the Bengal sea. They saw tiny rivers originating from the western hills passing into the west sea.They could see the stretch of east hills, passing through dense forests south westwards upto Namakkal hills, passing through the kolli hills and the Javvadu hills. They saw the western hills from Ganga country ending at the Kanyakumari sea. Lakshmi wondered at the hand with neat  expertise.

And they saw round dotted areas on the map showing the different territories. They could identify the Ramanathapuram territory. It was facing the Rameswaram island on its east. They could see the Mahibalan territory further east of the island, showing a large water area in between. It should be the eye drop island.

They saw the Gundar river beginning from the Theni hills, specifically from the Digambar Buddhist hills . It ran eastwards passing through the north of Madurai kingdom crossing the Tiruchuli forests, reaching the south gate of Kamuthi fort; then proceed further north towards Sayalgudi, and finally plunging the sea  water near the Mookkaiyur small port. From the map they understood that the territory beyond south Mookkaiyur was the Pandyan king territory.

 They also saw the Ambuli river originating in the Narthamalai Buddhist hills,  and pass through the south Chola territory joining at the estuary of the King's inn, dropping its flood into the Bengal sea. They saw the western territory as a series of hills from Narthamalai. From Narthamalai, the king road began to  pass through the Kodumbalur temple, then do an half circle on the Thuvarai hills, reaching the south of Natham hills, and proceed further to Pari hills and then turn southwards to touch the  Thirupuvanam  fort located on the banks of Vaigai river, and cross the river to reaching the Thiruchuli forests. 

While they were looking at the map, and trying to understand their kingdom, Lakshmi was able to pinpoint key places such as the Thulaiyanoor hills, Sivaganga, Thiruppullani temple and Avudayarkoil. She told that Avudayarkoil temple was enriched with underground treasures buried by Pandyan kings while they were in conflict with the Chola, even before the Nayak kings began their rule.

Karuppiah was amazed at her knowledge of interpreting the map. Lakshmi suddenly called Karuppiah to see the thin line connecting the Ayyanar Temple located outside the east gate of the fort  with the temple  of Perumal at the Thirumayam fort.  The line was so thin and too short, which Karuppiah found difficult to locate it. Lakshmi pointed out a small fading star in the fort, and the line was beginning from the star, crossing the fort wall near the east  gate, and then pass through the market area and finally touching the Ayyanar temple. Lakshmi told him, this could have been a secret passage for the kings to escape out of the fort at times of emergency.

Karuppiah in fact was shocked to hear the word 'star' from Lakshmi. He immediately started to roll back the map. He placed the map with the other map inside his chest box. He smiled at Lakshmi. He pulled her hands indicating that they should go immediately out of the room. He led her across the horse ground and made her to reach the stone stairs that were climbing up to the first floor of the fort. He signalled her to come and sit along with him on the top stone stairs. Lakshmi having no understanding of Karuppiah 's  intentions, obliged him,and sat with him, both facing now the western wall of the Perumal temple, the horse stable, and the horse ground. 

Immediately he pushed her face before his face as if he was trying to kiss her, but he amusingly locked his eyes with her, and slowly revealed the secret." Lakshmi. Do not look any where. After my two or three kisses on your lips, wipe out your lips. Then look at the west wall of the temple, and locate the fading star". Karuppia said firmly.

The shrewd Lakshmi obeyed him. Minutes passed. To others in the fort, they were appearing as young couple trying to play intimate activities. Lakshmi on the other hand, rotated her eyes all around the fort area opposite to her.  She carefully made her eyes to locate the star on the wall. The shade from the tree nearby was allowing the evening sun light, at regular intervals. At each interval Lakshmi could see the star appearing, then disappearing and appearing, and then disappearing like a Cheshire cat. Her pupils enlarged. Her eye brows rised. A smile appeared slowly on her lips. Winding up their business, the couple walked slowly towards the stable to have a talk.

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The evening twilight was fast approaching. The young couple got out of their bed, and prepared themselves to meet the king. In a few minutes, the soldier in charge for lighting the flames for the nights would come to the stable. He must be knowing the need for more fire torches this evening on the upper room, so was the contemplation of Karuppiah. 

Lakshmi helped him to organize the fort map, the brass box of his grandfather, and the bundle that the monks gave to Karuppiah. She spread out a big silken cloth. On which she placed all these items,  and gave it a nice pack. She wantonly kept the Nayak king territory map in her chest box, instead at  Karuppiah's,  hiding it underneath  her clothes. She rechecked the jewel chest that she used to have. The chest had been adding new gold coins and fresh jewels that had been contributed by the king.

They heard the door knocked. They opened and found Devi standing outside the door. Karuppiah at once organized a comfortable chair for her. Devi said that for this evening meeting, fruits and  payasam were ready. She said they were  in the temple kitchen. She further said that she would bring them and keep in the veranda kitchen. She also told that she would be inside veranda kitchen  till the meeting would get completed. Having said this, she looked at Lakshmi, to check whether the couple would approve of it.Lakshmi embrazed her deeply with a long kiss on the cheek of her mother. Devi looked at Karuppiah and smiled.

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The king was in two moods. Celebrating the lord who would be taking up the procession. The political turmoil in his kingdom.

The king was sitting in a comfortable chair near a large round table. Kattayya was in another chair. Sasivarnam on the other hand preferred to listen to the king. He was standing. Bit a distance away, both Karuppiah and Lakshmi were sitting in their chairs. The king was an unusual man, who preferred none of his workers stand in any meeting. He was aware when to order and command, and when to be friends with his soldiers. Though the soldiers and officials of his kingdom knew of his friendship, they were also having fear because the king had supreme power.

All of them at the room  saw  the priest coming into the upper room, and they also saw Devi bringing fruits in a platter. The priest offered vermillion powder as gift from the goddess. The priest after few minutes left. Devi went back into the veranda kitchen.

The king told, in a more pleasing smile," Friends, listen carefully. I received messages from the spies, that our enemies, the illegitimate claimers of the throne are organising mercenaries from our western territory and from the territory of Pandyas. They are planning to attack us in three months, probably on a full moon day. On the month of Ani. Personally I do not prefer any fight. I am afraid many of our soldiers would die. Instead I want Kattayya and Sasivarnam seek refuge under the Tanjore king"

He took a banana, peeled it and said, "Before that I want both the marriages of Kattayya and Sasivarnam get completed at Ramanathapuram. Both Ahilandam and Sethu, I mean of Kattayya's wife, also can take refuge at Tanjore. I am planning to hide myself at any one of the northern islands in the eye drop island. I would take up a small boat and sail across the Ramar waters which would lead me in the north eastern direction to the Yalppanam group of islands. You know those islands, around hundred and more, full of dense forests. My Buddhist friends living among the elephants and tigers,  will receive me  and take me safely to their forest vihars"

The king continued: " Before that I would like Lakshmi and Karuppiah see the hidden cave and calculate personally how much we have stored. Since Lakshmi was trained at Kumbakonam in valuing gold and diamonds, from her friend Yamuna and her father Rathnasamy, I feel it would not be difficult for her to estimate our wealth, and design a better plan of revenue, once we recapture the territory. I know that the presence of Karuppiah and the goddess Lakshmi would protect the life of Lakshmi, my adapted daughter"

The king stopped his speech now. He heard some one walking on the horse ground. Two soldiers appeared soon on the upper room. They told that a get together with the king and others was arranged tomorrow at the Krishna Achari house at noon. By that time, Lakshmi was bringing payasam in jugs. She poured it in few glasses. The king was happy to drink it.

The king further said, carefully," Spies have already informed the Tanjore king, about your arrival at Tanjore soon. I also wish Kattayya to take both Karuppiah and Lakshmi to Tanjore till we sort out problems and defeat the illegitimate claimers. Lakshmi is a light to all of us. Hence listen to her at critical times", advised the king. Lakshmi was immersed now  in pure humility and blush. Karuppiah thanked his deceased grandfather to made his life with Lakshmi. He wanted to know her childhood, the times she had discussions with his grandfather. He was proudly looking at Lakshmi 

Now the king keenly watched Karuppiah and said," Lakshmi, go and bring the pack you have made to show me. Lakshmi was startled. 'What a man the king is? A prophet? Karuppiah's eyes did not blink. He was astounded. Lakshmi saw the pack now kept before the king.

After smiling at Karuppiah, the king  guffawed. He further continued:" Kattayya and Sasivarnam. From today take care of the bundle that the monks have given to Karuppiah. They are ancient liteatures of our ethics. Kindly hand it over to the British man who is now frequently visiting Tanjore. He would in turn give it to the medicine man at Madarasapatnam. I heard from my spies, a printing machine is available near Rome. The current Chinese wood  block printing might not help our Literatures get published. I fore see that the Britishers, who are now in the fort near to the Coovum river would bring a printing machine ".

Lakshmi began to imagine a new Tamil world with books and libraries at every hamlet. She wanted one big library at Lakshmipuram. She foresaw huge number of books in the territory.

She turned her eyes towards the king and placed a gracious loving smile on him. The king said," Lakshmi and friends. Lakshmi is wondering at my foreseen thoughts. Many of you do not know, that with the permission from my late mother, I lived as a real monk at the Theni hills Dighambar vihar for nine months, and another three months at Narthamalai. These two places besides so many in Tamilnadu are still places of learning. My thinking go far ahead of you because of my reading". He coughed a little, and drank another glass of payasam.

The king said, " But forces who wanted Tamils not to learn started to wipe out these Buddhist places in the name of piety. Though the piety context brought in many honorable  poems on both Shiva and lord Perumal,from the early Cholas to late Pandyas, it purposefully eliminated the poor from learning Tamil, and sent away many Buddhists from this holy land. Most of our kings are unlearned. They know to fight, booze and womanize, but not equipped themselves as learned persons. My wish therefore is that Lakshmi begin the work of learning by all, besides a better revenue administration in our territory as a model for others".

The king now unpacked the bundle. She saw the fort map. He also looked at the bundle having palmyra leaves of Tamil literature. He also saw the brass box. 

He handed over the bundle of literatures to Kattayya, and the brass box to Sasivarnam. He unrolled the map of the fort, saw it for few minutes, and returned it to Karuppiah. He said to Karuppiah". " I am aware you have another map of the Nayak kingdom  showing our territory. Until I require of it, safely keep it", he smiled at Lakshmi. Lakshmi was in amazement. " The king is Perumal himself", she confirmed. 

The king now turned to Sasivarnam. " My son, the brass box has another good literature called four lines poem. It was written by around one hundred Jain saints, while they quitted the kingdom of Pandyas, when faced oppositions from the piety group. You take it and teach its contents to Ahilandam". Sasivarnam was infact in astonishment to see the wisdom of his father in law.

The king now got up from his chair. He tried to look at the sky to see anything difference. He confirmed that  the sky was clear. The moon light was in its brightness, as the full moon was on the next day. He patted Lakshmi and Karuppiah on their shoulders. And said to all: " We leave for Krishna Achari house earliest of the morning tomorrow at the sound of the first rooster we hear. Prepare." The king walked towards the horse stable and began to talk to the horses.