Those who have traveled through the Chola country would have noticed a peculiar feature in its natural landscape. During the floods that swell the rivers which make Chola Nadu a land of abundant rice, the water level in the rivers rises far above the level of the surrounding land on either side. It is precisely because of this that the floodwaters can be channeled through canals into the paddy fields.

In such a situation, is it not a most difficult task to keep the floodwaters within the riverbeds? Strong embankments must be built on both sides of the rivers. Otherwise, instead of the water flowing along the river, it would spill out in all directions like rainwater, turning Chola Nadu into a waterlogged marsh, rendering it utterly useless.

Bearing this in mind, from ancient times, the Chola kings paid great attention to the construction of embankments along the Kaveri and its tributaries. Readers may know the story that Karikala Valavan, after defeating the people of Eelam in war, brought them as captives and set them to work on building the embankments of the Kaveri.

To ensure that water flowed at a good height in the tributaries of the Kaveri, the Chola kings built the Grand Anicut (Kallanai) a katha’s distance east of Srirangam. Because of that dam, the water level rose further, and plenty of water could be diverted into the branch rivers.

Thus, through a combination of natural features and unceasing human effort, Chola Nadu became, even in ancient days, a land unrivaled in its water resources. Yet, just as nature bestowed these special blessings on the fertile Chola land, at times it also brought grave dangers.

To the east of the Chola country, along the coast, cyclonic storms and hurricanes frequently arise in the sea. Sometimes these winds sweep northwards along the shore, entering the deltas of the Krishna and Godavari or the land of Kalinga, bringing torrential rains and causing great destruction. At other times, they enter directly into Chola Nadu itself, rushing westward. Between Kodikkarai and the mouth of the Kollidam, it is in this region that such cyclones most often penetrate inland. This is an event that has occurred many times throughout history. Sometimes, those cyclonic winds, taking on a terrifying and dreadful form, cause the very sea to swell and rise, destroying the villages along the shore!

The tale that the sea consumed Kaveripattinam, known as Poompuhar, is not a mere legend; it is a true event that can be proven by historical evidence. When there is an excessive flood in the rivers, sometimes the banks break. Since the land around the rivers is lower than the water level of the rivers themselves, when a breach occurs, the surrounding area becomes a vast sheet of water. The villages near the rivers are submerged. In such times, the temples in the vicinity have served as a refuge for people to save their lives.

History tells us that Aditya Chola, son of Vijayalaya Chola, constructed one hundred and eight temples along the course of the great river, from its source in the Sahasya hills to the place where it merges with the sea. Just as temples are used for worshipping the gods in ordinary times, perhaps Aditya Chola’s intention was that, during times of great flood and breaches, people might climb onto the temple mandapams and use them to save their lives.

Because of breaches in the riverbanks, sometimes the very course of the rivers changes. From ancient records, we learn that rivers like Arisilaaru and Kudamurutti have changed their course and direction many times in this manner.

Now, let us return to the time in which our story takes place. When Parthibendran’s ship was coming from the island of Lanka to Chola Nadu, a cyclone arose, and after making Vandiyathevan and Prince Arulmozhi jump into the sea, it traveled along the coast, reached Kalinga, and then vanished.

But the cyclone that arose while Arulmozhi Varman was staying at the Chudamani Vihara in Nagapattinam entered Chola Nadu itself, wreaked havoc in many places, and moved westward. In a single night, it played its games on both banks of the Kaveri, and by the next day, it reached Kongu Nadu and faded away. Everywhere it traveled, it not only caused great destruction, but also brought heavy rains in its wake. The further west it went, the heavier the rain became. Thus, from the next day onwards, the Kaveri, the Kollidam, and all their tributaries were flooded beyond measure. Many rivers broke their banks. Because of the rain and the breaches, the entire Chola country became a land of floods.

But all these natural calamities did not terrify the people of Chola Nadu into helplessness or inaction. Since such events occurred often, the people knew exactly what to do in such circumstances. At such times, they would climb onto the temple mandapams or other high places to save their lives. The floods would recede as swiftly as they had come. Those who lost their homes would, with the help of their neighbors, immediately rebuild their houses. They would not sit down with their heads in their hands, lamenting, “Alas! All is lost!”

The people who lived in Chola Nadu in those days were self-reliant, tireless, and full of confidence. Otherwise, could they have achieved the marvels that astonish the world even today?

When Vanathi, instead of climbing onto the temple mandapam, slipped and fell into the water, those who had already reached the top of the mandapam were at first alarmed. But that anxiety quickly faded. Seeing Vanathi clinging to the astrologer’s rooftop gave them courage. The Young Princess even felt a certain delight. There was always a thrill for Kundavai Devi in placing Vanathi in perilous situations and watching how she would handle them. The Young Princess was determined that the bride of her valiant brother should be a courageous and resolute woman. To nurture such resolve in Vanathi’s heart, Kundavai had employed many strategies and subtle