Six hundred years before the time in which this story takes place, apart from the three crowned kings of Tamilakam, there were seven minor chieftains who shone with fame. They were known by the title of “Vallals”—the Generous Ones. Among these seven was Ori, the lord of Kolli Hills. He was renowned as a matchless hero in the art of archery. It was said that when he bent his mighty bow, strung it, and let fly an arrow, just as Rama’s arrow pierced through seven trees, Ori’s arrow would first strike down a tiger, then a deer, then a wild boar, and finally a hare, all in one shot. Thus, poets sang of his skill in archery, and from this he came to be known as “Valvil Ori”—Ori of the Strong Bow.

In those days, the Chera king, who had grown powerful, bore enmity towards Valvil Ori of Kolli Hills. To attack him, the lord of Thirukovalur, Malayaman Thirumudikkari, sought the Chera’s alliance. Kari’s valor was in no way less than Ori’s, and in addition, Malayaman Kari commanded a larger army. Malayaman marched his forces upon Kolli Hills, slew Valvil Ori, and utterly destroyed his hill fortress.

At that same time, in the region adjoining Kolli Hills, there ruled a minor king named Athikaman Neduman Anji. He was a friend and ally of Valvil Ori. When Malayaman Kari slew Ori, Athikaman longed to avenge his friend’s death. Realizing he could not do so alone, he sought the aid of the Chola king, Killi Valavan. Killi Valavan too was angered by the growing might of Malayaman and his alliance with the Chera. Thus, Killi Valavan of the Cholas and Athikaman of Thagadoor joined forces and attacked Malayaman of Thirukovalur. Malayaman attained the hero’s heaven on the battlefield. The Chola warriors captured Malayaman’s two young sons and brought them back as prisoners.

Athikaman and Killi Valavan, determined to destroy Malayaman’s lineage entirely, ordered that the children be buried up to their necks in the earth and trampled to death beneath the feet of elephants. At that moment, a poet who had known Malayaman’s generosity and benefited from it arrived there. He pleaded with the Chola king for the lives of Malayaman’s children. “O King! Look there! Look at the faces of those children buried up to their necks! See the smiles that play upon those faces! Even as they watch the elephant approaching to trample them underfoot, even as they see its trunk swinging, those children think it is some kind of game and laugh. Are you truly going to kill such innocent children? What sin have those children committed? Is it just to punish children for the crimes of their father?” said the poet.

Hearing this, the Chola king’s heart changed. He immediately revoked his order. He had the children lifted from the ground. When the eldest among them came of age, he restored to him the kingdom of Thirukovalur.

From that time onwards, for centuries, the Malaiyaman clan of Thirukovalur