On one of the small islands near the great island of Rameswaram, in an ancient mandapam, Aniruddha Brahmarayar was seated in council. The tools and implements necessary for his ministerial duties surrounded him. Accountants, scribes skilled in writing on palm leaves, and inner circle guards were all stationed at their respective places, ready and attentive.

After Aniruddha had disembarked from the boat and settled himself in the mandapam for a short while, he issued an order to summon those who had come to meet him. Five men entered first. At a glance, they appeared to be wealthy merchants, prosperous and dignified. On a platter, they offered a necklace of nine precious gems as a gift. Aniruddha Brahmarayar accepted it and handed it to the accountant, saying, “Record this as a donation for the temple renovations of Sembiyan Mahadevi.”

Then, turning to the newcomers, he asked, “Who are you?”

(This merchant guild with its long, illustrious name conducted trade with overseas lands under the Chola Empire.)

“We have come as representatives of the Nanadesa Tisai Ayirathu Aindhu Nooruvar,” one of them replied.

“Excellent. Your trade in the Pandya country is flourishing, I trust?”

“It prospers more with each passing day!”

“What do the people of Pandya Nadu say?”

“They say the rule of the Chola dynasty is far superior to that of the Pandya lineage. Above all, they praise the valor and generosity of Prince Arulmozhi Varman. News of all that transpires in Lanka has spread among the people here…”

“How is your maritime trade with the southern countries faring now?”

“Under the reign of Emperor Sundara Chola, there is not the slightest hindrance. All the ships we sent last year have returned safely; not a single one was lost.”

“There has been no trouble from sea pirates?”

“Not in the past year. Ever since the Chola navy destroyed the pirates near the island of Manakkavaram, there has been no fear of plunder in the southern seas.” “Very well; what arrangements have you made regarding the palm-leaf letter we sent?”

“We have done as ordered. We have brought to this Rameswaram island a thousand sacks of rice, five or six sacks of millet, and a hundred sacks of pigeon peas to be sent to the Lankan army. Arrangements must be made to send them across to Lanka.”

“Can you load them onto your own ships and send them?”

“If you command, we will do it. We wish to know when the war in Lanka will end.”

“Ah! Who can say that? Doesn’t your merchant guild have an astrologer? Ask him and let me know as well!”

“Brahma Rajar! Even we cannot believe everything our astrologer says.”

“Oh? What does he say?”

“He says that wherever Prince Arulmozhi Varman goes, only victory follows. He says that under his rule, the Chola navy will cross the seas to distant lands and conquer them. He says the tiger flag will fly in many far-off countries.”

“In that case, your fortunes are cause for celebration!”

“Yes; he has also said that our maritime trade will flourish and prosper even more.”

“Very good. If the grace of Sriranganatha is upon us, it will all come to pass. Until the war in Lanka is over, you must continue to send rice and other supplies like this once a month. Go now.”

“We shall do so. We take our leave.”

After the representatives of the Five Hundred Guild had departed, a guard came and announced, “The commanders of the Terinja Kaikkola regiment are waiting and wish to see you.”

“Send them in!” said Prime Minister Aniruddha.

Three imposing men entered. On their faces and in their bearing, the goddess of valor herself seemed to reside. At a glance, it was clear they were men of indomitable courage and manliness.

(Today, those who toil at the handloom in Tamil Nadu, struggling for want of thread, once belonged to a class of warriors renowned during the era of the great Chola Empire. From among these brave men, the Chola emperors would select and form the “Aga Parivara Padai”—the Imperial Household Regiment. This specially chosen force was known as the “Therinja Kaikkolar Padai”—the Chosen Regiment of the Handpicked Warriors. It was customary to prefix the reigning emperor’s or king’s name to the regiment’s title.)

“Are you not the Sundara Chola Therinja Kaikkolar soldiers?” Aniruddhar asked.

“Yes, sir! But to claim that title now fills us with shame.”

“Why is that?”

“For six months, we have been idling here, eating the emperor’s rice and wasting our days in vain.”

“How many hands—how many warriors—are there in your regiment?”

“Our army is made up of three divisions. This man is the commander of the left division; this one, of the right; I am the commander of the central division. Each division has two thousand warriors. All of us do nothing but eat and sleep. It seems as if we might forget the very art of war.”

“What is your request?”

“We ask to be sent to Lanka. We wish to join the army under Prince Arulmozhi Varman, who is now the commander there, and fight in the war!”

“Very well; once I reach Thanjavur, I shall seek the emperor’s permission and inform you.”

“Brahmaraja! What if, before that, the Lankan war is already over…?”

“You need not fear that. It does not seem likely that the war in Lanka will end so soon.”

“Are the Lankan warriors so formidable? Send us there. Let us have a try—just one division!”

“One division? Why, you will have all three! If the three divisions of the Therinja Kaikkolar enter the battlefield, do I need to tell you what will become of the enemy? The central division will pierce through the heart of the enemy’s ranks, while the left and right divisions will strike from either flank, falling upon the foe like thunderbolts…”

“That is how we struck and utterly destroyed the Pandya army; we shattered the Cheras as well.”

“The Pandyas and the Cheras stood and