Among the many rivers that enriched the land of Thirumunaippadi with their bountiful waters, the Kedilam was one. On its banks stood the sacred Thiruvathigai Veeratthaanam, where the Lord who claimed Appar as his own had manifested. Not far from this river was Thirunavalur, the abode of the Lord who drew Sundaramurthi into his fold. Between these two holy shrines, in those days, ran the royal highway that connected Thondai Nadu to Nadu Nadu and Chola Nadu.

The ferry crossing at the Kedilam river on this royal road was always bustling with activity. The calls and songs of birds in the riverside trees, the rustle of their wings, filled the air. Travelers, having unyoked their bullocks from the carts, would sit by the bank to eat their packed rice. As they ate, the crows would swoop down and snatch away the rice balls tossed playfully into the air. Watching these antics, the children would clap their hands and shout in excitement, exclaiming “Aahu!” in wonder, laughing and cheering in delight.

At the beginning of the month of Aippasi, the Kedilam was in spate, its floodwaters higher than usual. At midday, the noise of travelers who had stopped to eat their meals was louder than ever. Suddenly, a great commotion arose a little distance away on the road—a tumult so loud that it drowned out all other sounds and made the travelers look up in surprise. Some climbed up the bank to see what was happening. At first, they saw only a cloud of dust. Then, shapes emerged—elephants, horses, palanquins, attendants bearing parasols and royal insignia. As the procession drew nearer, the shouts of the heralds rang out clearly.

“Here comes the warrior who entered the battlefield at the age of twelve, the bravest of the brave, the slayer of Veerapandiyan, Kopparakesari, the lion who haunts the dreams of the lords of the twin realms, the ruler of Thondai Mandalam, the lord who shines in the northern direction, the son of Sundara Chola Chakravarthi, master of the three worlds—Aditya Karikala Chola Maharaja approaches! Make way!”

At this thunderous proclamation, which echoed in all directions, everyone at the Kedilam ferry hurried up the bank. Eager to catch a glimpse of such a mighty hero, they cleared a path in the middle and stood respectfully on either side. The heralds, the conch-blowers, and the standard-bearers came first and reached the riverbank. Behind the retinue, three horses approached side by side, and astride each horse sat a young warrior. Even from a distance, the people began to point them out and whisper among themselves, trying to guess their identities.

"The one riding the horse in the middle—that is Aditya Karikalan! Can’t you tell just by looking at the golden crown? See how it gleams in the sunlight!" said one.

"You call that a crown? You should see the jeweled diadem that Karikala Valavan used to wear! If he were to bear that upon his head, it would dazzle the eyes like the radiance of