Madhurantaka Devar, accompanied by his retinue and Vandiyathevan, entered the city of Pazhaiyarai. Their procession wound its way through the quarters where the warriors dwelled: the Arya Padai Veedu, the Pambai Padai Veedu, the Puthu Padai Veedu, the Mana Padai Veedu, and others. Then they passed through the bazaar streets, the neighborhoods where the common folk lived, the temples, and the sacred streets that encircled those temples. Here and there, a few people stood at their doorways and watched. But Vandiyathevan noticed there was no sign of excitement among the people.

The first time he had entered this city, it had been immersed in festivity. Now, the streets were deserted, almost as if Pazhaiyarai had become a forsaken city. It was glaringly obvious that the people of Pazhaiyarai did not place much faith in Madhurantaka Devar. In one sense, this was convenient for Vandiyathevan. If anyone who recognized his face happened to see him, there was little chance for trouble to arise.

As they neared the ancient palace street of the Chola kings, they saw another grand procession approaching from the opposite direction. At the center of that procession was an open palanquin. Though it was not clear who sat within, it was evident that he was a devotee of Shiva, and a young man at that. The crowd around the palanquin was dense, both before and behind. Some, holding cymbals in their hands, created a sweet jangling sound and sang as they walked alongside the palanquin.

From time to time, shouts of “Thiruchitrambalam!” and “Hara Hara Mahadeva!” rang out, mingled with cries of “Long live Thirunaraiyur Nambi!” and “Long live the blessed one of the mischievous Pillaiyar!”—the cheers soared up to the heavens.

Madhurantaka watched that procession with eyes full of envy. He turned to a soldier beside him and asked something. “Yes; the one in the palanquin is Thirunaraiyur Nambi!” came the reply.

“Still, what a display! In this town, not a soul pays heed to us! Yet, see how the people throng and make such a commotion around this Nambi?” said Madhurantaka Devar. That procession passed not far from where they stood. Among those who had come near the palanquin, Vandiyathevan recognized one as the Veera Saivite who had once quarreled with Azhwarkadiyan while crossing the Kollidam river by boat.

Madhurantaka Thevar and his attendants reached the palace street and arrived at the mansion of Sembiyan Madevi. At the palace entrance, the Periya Piratti herself stood waiting. It seemed she was prepared to welcome someone. Madhurantakan alighted from his chariot and approached his mother, bowing before her. The mother blessed the bowing Madhurantakan, placing her hand upon his head.

“My son! You have arrived at an auspicious moment! Thirunaraiyur Nambi is on his way. If necessary, refresh yourself quickly and come to the assembly hall without delay!” she said.

Vandiyathevan noticed the glow fade from Madhurantakan’s face. Poor man! He must have thought that the Periya Piratti was waiting at the palace entrance to welcome him. What a disappointment! When he realized that she was actually waiting to receive the Saivite devotee who followed in the palanquin procession, how natural it must be for Madhurantakan—who harbored hopes of ascending the Chola throne the very next day—to feel such bitter disillusionment!

They all proceeded to the quarters reserved for Madhurantakan in the palace. Madhurantakan took his time with changing his attire and other such matters. He did not seem particularly eager to go to the assembly hall. Messengers came one after another from his mother. At last, Madhurantakan set out. As he left, he asked, “Where is that soothsayer?”

Vandiyathevan, who was impatiently waiting to accompany him to the assembly hall, replied, “Here I am, ready.” Taking Vandiyathevan and a few others with him, Madhurantakan proceeded to the assembly hall.

The assembly had already gathered in the hall. On one side sat Sembiyan Madevi, Kundavai Piratti, and several other palace women. At the center of the assembly, on a raised dais, sat a young man. He was of youthful age, adorned with sacred ash and rudraksha beads, his handsome face radiant with grace. Several palm-leaf manuscripts lay before him; he held one in his hand as well. Beside him stood an elder, also adorned with sacred ash and rudraksha, who appeared deeply absorbed. The hall was filled with people. Vandiyathevan recognized that the young man was the one who had arrived in the palanquin, and that the man standing beside him was the same person he had seen before on the Kollidam ferry.

Though Vandiyathevan’s eyes wandered here and there about the assembly hall, in the end, they came to rest near the Periya Piratti.

Kundavai’s radiant face was the first to greet him. At their initial meeting, the Princess’s eyes showed a flicker of surprise. But after that, it seemed as if her gaze never once turned in his direction again. Vandiyathevan even began to wonder if perhaps she did not recognize him at all.

As Madurantakan entered the assembly hall, all except the women rose to pay their respects. Once Madurantakan had taken his seat upon the dais, the others too sat down in their respective places. Sembiyan Maadevi turned to Madurantakan and said,

“Prince! This young devotee hails from Thirunaraiyur. He has received the full grace of the famed Pillaiyar of that town. He has obtained certain Thevaram hymns that have not been found by anyone else until now. In a former age, a queen of our Chola dynasty became the Maharani of Pandima Nadu. At her invitation, the great child-saint Jnanasambandar journeyed to the mighty city of Madurai. There, he triumphed over the Jains in a battle of debate. Some of the hymns sung by Sambandar in Madurai at that time have come into this young man’s possession. In those hymns, Sambandar sings of our Chola queen as well. When I hear those songs, my whole body thrills with ecstasy. If your father had been here to listen, how happy he would have been!