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 child given to her for burial had not actually died, that Karuthiruman had shown her the child, that fearing what might happen if she returned to the palace, she had gone with Karuthiruman to Thirumuraikkaadu, and that after some time, when Karuthiruman left her and disappeared, she had returned to Pazhaiyarai.

When Sembiyan Maadevi learned that Sendhan Amudhan was indeed the child she had carried in her womb for ten months and given birth to, she was at once overwhelmed with boundless joy. Her whole body thrilled and surged with emotion. Tears streamed down her face. The urge arose within her to call out, “My son!” and embrace Sendhan Amudhan tightly. Yet, she restrained that longing. At the same time, she was filled with fear, thinking of the confusion that might arise if this truth were to come out. Because her heart had attained the lofty wisdom to consider, “Are not all children born into this world the children of God?” she was able to control the motherly affection that welled up for her own child. “What does it matter if he was raised in a palace or in a humble hut? Are not all the fleeting pleasures and luxuries of this unstable human life mere illusions? Is not the destiny that must be attained after renouncing worldly life the truly important thing? Since my husband renounced royal pleasures and lived a life of bliss in the shadow of Lord Shiva’s holy feet, it seems fitting that the child born to him should live in a hut and earn the grace of serving God!” Thus, she often strengthened her mind with such thoughts.

Nevertheless, knowing that Sendhan Amudhan was the son born from her own womb, the thought that she should not place Madurantakan, the prince she had raised, upon the Chola throne, grew stronger in her heart. She had already confessed to Kandaradithar the wrong she had done and had received his forgiveness. “What does it matter if he is the child born from your womb, or if he is the child of an orphaned woman? In the eyes of God, both are equal. Therefore, raise Madurantakan as your own son! But do not desire that he should ascend the Chola throne! Neither agree nor disagree to that! For the sake of the Chola lineage into which I was born—” It would be an act of treachery. If such a situation were ever to arise, do not hesitate to confess the truth!” Thus had Kandaradithar spoken to the queen, extracting such a promise from her. Periya Piratti Sembiyanmadevi had resolved, at all costs, to fulfill that promise.

Yet, without knowing that her own son was growing up in a humble hut as the child of Vani Ammai, that great soul had departed for the abode of Shiva. Had he known the truth, what would he have done? What orders would he have given regarding Sendhan Amudhan? Sembiyanmadevi had pondered this question countless times. “By the will of God, things