For several days now, Prime Minister Aniruddha Brahmarayar had been staying in the capital city. To see him, government officials, minor kings, commanders of the army, foreign envoys, representatives of merchant guilds, temple administrators, and scholars of both southern and northern languages were constantly coming and going. Thus, his mansion was always bustling with crowds, a steady stream of people flowing in and out.

Aniruddhar did not keep a private guard for himself. He maintained only a very small retinue. Because of this, there was never any reason for conflict to arise between him and the Pazhuvettarayar brothers. Nevertheless, the younger Pazhuvettarayar was grumbling to himself. Ever since the Prime Minister had begun residing in Thanjavur, security had become lax. Under the pretense of wishing to see the Prime Minister, all sorts of people were continually entering the fortress. Since the Prime Minister’s mansion was situated next to the Emperor’s palace, the crowds in the palace quarter had also increased. Many came there, invoking the Prime Minister’s name or displaying his seal, and were able to see him.

Chinna Pazhuvettarayar wished to bring some order to all this. But he did not have the courage to go directly to the Prime Minister and argue with him. If the elder Pazhuvettarayar had been present, the two of them could have discussed and taken some action. But at this time, the elder had gone to Kadambur, leaving the younger one, Kaalandhaka Kandar, feeling as though he had lost the use of one arm.

It was not enough that the crowds gathering inside the fortress were hindering the security arrangements; the Prime Minister, Aniruddhar, would often send requests to the younger Pazhuvettarayar, pretending to seek his assistance, but in fact issuing commands. A few days earlier, he had asked for some soldiers to be sent to Kodikkarai. Kaalandhaka Kandar had complied and provided the men. Then, just yesterday, he had sent word that a noblewoman needed to be brought from Thiruvaiyaru, and for that, he required a closed palanquin from the Pazhuvur palace and some bearers. The younger Pazhuvettarayar fulfilled this request as well. Yet in his heart, he thought, “This Brahmarayar is up to some scheme. What noblewoman is there who needs to be brought in a closed palanquin in this manner?” Who is that woman? Why is she coming here? I must find this out at any cost. At such a critical moment, why has my brother gone away and left me alone?’—thus did his mind become agitated.

There was another man, too, who was eager to discover who had arrived at the residence of Prime Minister Aniruddhar in a closed palanquin. That man was none other than Alwarkadiyan, the beloved disciple of Aniruddha Brahmarayar.

On the morning following that day of heavy rain, Aniruddha Brahmarayar completed his ablutions, prayers, meditations, and rituals, and came to the front portico of his mansion. He summoned his attendant and asked who had come and was waiting to see him. Upon learning that Alwarkadiyan