In ancient Tamil Nadu, it was customary to erect a hero stone and build a temple in memory of the great warriors who laid down their lives on the battlefield. If only a bare stone was planted for remembrance, it was called a “Nadukal Temple.” If, along with that, an idol of some deity was also consecrated and a shrine built, it was known as a “Pallippadai.”

Half a league northwest of the city of Kudanthai, near the village of Thiruppurambiyam on the northern bank of the river Manni, there stood such a Pallippadai temple. This was built in memory of the Ganga king Prithiveepathi, who lost his life in a great battle fought in that region.

Those familiar with world history know that certain battles—like the Battle of Waterloo, the Battle of Panipat, and the Battle of Plassey—changed the very course of history. For Tamil Nadu, the Battle of Thiruppurambiyam holds such significance. That battle took place about a hundred years before the time in which our story unfolds. It is essential that all Tamil people know its history.

After the reign of illustrious Chola kings like Karikala Valavan, Perunarkilli, Ilanchetchenni, and Thodithot Sembiyan, who ruled the Chola land with glory and distinction, the fame of the Chola dynasty waned for nearly five or six centuries. To the south, the Pandyas, and to the north, the Pallavas, grew powerful and pressed hard upon the Cholas. At last, unable to bear the harassment of the Pandyas, the Chola dynasty was forced to abandon their ancient capital, Uraiyur. Those who moved settled in the city of Pazhaiyarai, near Kudanthai. Yet, they did not relinquish their claim to Uraiyur as their capital, nor did they give up the title “Kozhi Vendhar”—the Kings of the Cock.

Among the Chola kings of Pazhaiyarai, Vijayalaya Chola was renowned for his unparalleled valor. He stood at the forefront of many battlefields and bore ninety-six wounds upon his body. Later court poets sang of him as “the victorious lord who, beyond the eight wounds, bore ninety-six more,” and “the one who wore as ornaments upon his sacred body a hundred wounds, ninety-six and more.” His son, Aditya Chola, shone as a great warrior equal to his father, earning fame in many battles.

Vijayalaya Chola, having reached old age, crowned his son and retired. At that time, enmity between the Pandyas and the Pallavas had intensified, and battles broke out frequently. During that period, the Pandya king... The name was Varaguna Varman; the Pallava king was called Aparajita Varman. Most of the battles between these two great emperors took place in Chola country. Like the rooster caught between two clashing elephants, the Chola land suffered in the midst of their wars. The people of Chola Nadu endured much hardship. Yet, Vijayalaya Chola managed to turn these wars to his own advantage. In every battle, he would join one side or the other with his small army. Though victories and defeats alternated, the spirit of war grew ever stronger