Book Five – The Pinnacle of Sacrifice

Sembiyan Maadevi, born into the Mazhavar clan and the consort of the wise and noble Kandaraditha Chozhar, is referred to in the inscriptions of her time as “the illustrious lady who bore in her sacred womb Sri Madhurandhaka Devar, the Uttama Chozha Devar.” Ordinarily, mothers bear their children in their womb for ten months before bringing them into the world. Yet, there are some mothers who raise children born of other women as their own. Because Sembiyan Maadevi had, for a long time, brought up another child as her own, it seems that someone who knew this truth made special mention in the inscription, stating that “she bore Uttama Chozhar in her sacred womb.”

When Uttama Chozhar was a boy of five, Sembiyan Maadevi happened to meet him and Vaani Ammaiyar. Many years later, when she met Vaani Ammaiyar again, Sembiyan Maadevi inquired with affection about her well-being. Naturally, the old queen’s heart overflowed with love for Sendhan Amudhan, whom she believed to be Vaani’s child. When she asked about the child, she noticed a look of shock and fear on Vaani Ammaiyar’s face. At first, she thought there might be other reasons for this. Since Vaani could not speak, it was impossible to learn anything definite from her. Nevertheless, remembering the help Vaani Ammaiyar had once rendered her, and moved by the affection she felt for the child, Sembiyan Maadevi ensured that both mother and child lived without want or worry. She arranged for them to reside near the city of Thanjavur and granted them land so that they could serve in the Thalikulathar temple by offering flowers.

Sendhan Amudhan grew up excelling in learning, virtue, and devotion to Shiva. He eagerly assisted his mother in the floral offerings to the temple. The more Sembiyan Maadevi saw this, the more her natural affection for the boy grew. One day, a strange suspicion arose in her mind. It brought her, all at once, joy, pain, and an inexplicable fear. Try as she might, she could not rid herself of this doubt. The memory of her own child, who had died a few days after birth, often came to her, disturbing her peace of mind.

At last, she resolved that one day she would ask Vaani Ammaiyar directly and learn the truth. She summoned Vaani to her in private. She told her to take her dead child and, without anyone’s knowledge, bury it somewhere… Isn’t it so? He said that a temple should be built at the place where the child was buried, as a memorial, and asked her to show the location. The very memory of these old events brought him pain. Since Vani was both deaf and mute, he had to ask all this through sign language. That caused him an even deeper, unspeakable anguish.

Vani hesitated greatly to answer his questions. At last, unable to disobey the orders of the Princess, she revealed the truth. She explained in detail that the