Before Vandiyathevan, having endured many hardships and escaped countless dangers, arrives at the city of Pazhayarai, let us invite our readers to accompany us on a visit to that ancient capital.

Let us stand on the southern bank of the Arisil River and gaze upon the city. Ah! Is this merely a city? Does it not gleam like an ornament hanging upon the beautiful forehead of Mother Tamil herself? Does it not shine like a forehead jewel set with green emeralds, red rubies, and blue sapphires?

Rivers, streams, tanks, and fields brim with fresh, sparkling water. In them bloom flowers of every hue. Coconut and punnai trees spread their cool, verdant shade. Amidst all this, here and there, the golden domes of towering mansions and the gilded stupas atop temple gopurams flash in the sunlight.

Oh, what a marvel! Within this great city of Pazhayarai, how many smaller towns nestle? Nandhipura Vinnagaram, Thiruchathimuttam, Pattiiswaram, Arichandrapuram, and their temples—all these are encompassed within Pazhayarai, the capital of the Cholas. In each of the four directions of Pazhayarai stand four Shiva temples: Vadathali, Keezhthali, Metrali, and Then-thali. The Aryapadai quarters, Pudupadai quarters, Manapadai quarters, and Pampapadai quarters—four neighborhoods where the warrior clans dwell—are also found here.

And at the very heart of all this stands the Chola Palace. But is it a single palace? Before the time of Vijayalaya Chola, it was but one mansion. Later, for each prince and princess, new palaces were built adjoining the old Chola palace. To behold this spectacle, a thousand eyes would not suffice; to describe it, the imagination of ten thousand poets would not be enough.

Two hundred years later, the great Sekkizhar would sing: “On streets where chariots thronged, shining with jewels, Glorious among the cities of the world—Pazhayarai.”

If he thus described it, imagine how splendid, how vibrant this city must have been in the days of Sundara Chola! Even so, when we first set foot in this ancient capital, we could not behold it in all its former grandeur and festive splendor.

We were not granted the fortune to witness the city in the days when Sundara Chola Chakravarthi sat enthroned in the Chola palace here, governing his vast empire.

After the Emperor fell ill and moved to the great city of Thanjavur, the stream of petty kings, royal envoys, chief ministers, and commanders who once came here from foreign lands ceased altogether. The throngs of attendants and retinues who customarily accompanied them dwindled as well.

Of the brave warriors who once filled the four military quarters, half now upheld the valor of the Tamils on the battlefields of Eelam. Among the rest, some were stationed on the northern frontiers, while others were in Madurai.

Thus, in the military quarters, one now saw mostly the elderly, women, and children.

The Velakkara soldiers who had lived in Mazhavarpaadi had departed with their families to Thanjai, leaving that part of the city deserted, its houses locked and forlorn.

The ministers, feudatories, and officials who managed the affairs of the state had all moved with their families to Thanjavur.

Yet, despite all this, the streets of Pazhaiyarai had not lost their crowds and their bustle. Now, the thoroughfares teemed mostly with temple architects, sculptors, Saivite devotees, Devaram chanters, palace servants, temple workers, and pilgrims who had come from distant towns to worship at the shrines and witness the temple festivals.

Today, the city seemed to be in the midst of some grand festival. Men, women, boys, and girls, all dressed in beautiful garments and ornaments, strolled through the streets. At every street corner, groups of people gathered. In the midst of these crowds, performers in various costumes sang and danced! Let us look a little closer. Ah! Are they not dressed as Krishna and the cowherds? In the center of one group, a Krishna stands holding aloft a mountain, while Indra, the king of the gods, comes and bows before him! In another group, Brahma, with his four faces, approaches Krishna... He bows down in worship! Ah! Now I understand. Today is Srijayanthi—the birthday of Kannan. That is the festival the people are celebrating with such exuberance. Here and there, the festival of breaking the hanging pot is taking place. They are pouring and splashing turmeric water everywhere.

Around the great temple of Perumal at Nandhipura Vinnagaram, these festival celebrations are being conducted with particular fervor. But what is this?

“Seen, seen, seen! I have seen the one dear to my eyes!”

Who is singing thus? That voice sounds familiar! Look, our old friend Azhwarkkadiyan Nambi stands revealed before us! He stands there singing. A crowd is gathering around him. Some listen with devotion and reverence. Others begin to clap in rhythm. We fear whose head might suffer damage from Azhwarkkadiyan’s staff.

At the entrance of the Vinnagara temple, there is a commotion. The chariots and palanquins that were parked by the roadside are approaching the temple gate. From within the temple, some noble ladies are coming out. These women must surely be of high birth.

Yes, yes! They are the queens and princesses who dwell in the palaces of Pazhaiyarai.

First among all comes Sembiyan Maadevi, whom the entire land reveres as the ‘Periya Piratti’. She is the daughter of the Malavarayar clan; the chief queen of Kandaradithar, the lord of divine wisdom. Though she appears in the garb of an aged widow, what radiance shines forth from her face! Behind her comes Queen Kalyani, the daughter of the Vaidhumba royal line, wife of Arinjaya Chozhar. Ah! How can one describe her beauty! Even in this advanced age, her face glows with such freshness! What must she have been like in her youth? Is it any wonder that her son, Sundara Chozhar, is famed for his handsome bearing?

Following her comes Paranthakan Devi, daughter of the Cheraman, another wife of Sundara Chozhar.

Further behind, like divine maidens descended straight from the heavens, come Princess Kundavai, Vanathi, and the other royal women we saw on