From ancient times, people in many lands have striven to know the events of the future. Just as the poor and unlettered common folk have sought to pierce the veil of what is to come, so too have kings and nobles, and the most learned of scholars. Astrologers, soothsayers, omen-readers, augurers, palmists, and the like have flourished in societies advanced in both knowledge and civilization. Likewise, there have always been those who doubted the truth of astrology and condemned the art itself.

Such a struggle often arose in the heart of the jewel among wise women, the young princess Kundavai. Yet, whenever anxiety for the future of the Chola Empire weighed upon her, that worry would drive Kundavai Devi to seek out the astrologer’s house.

By all rights, Kundavai’s heart should now have attained the peace that Emperor Sundara Chola himself possessed. Unexpected events had unfolded, and it was now certain that Arulmozhi Varman would ascend the Chola throne and be crowned. We know well the boundless longing Kundavai had cherished for her younger brother since their childhood. In her heart, there had always been a firm faith that Arulmozhi, born with the auspicious marks of the conch and discus upon his palms, would lead the Chola Empire to its greatest glory. The incident where he fell into the flood of the Kaveri and was saved by a woman who appeared as a goddess, and many other such events, only served to strengthen her faith. The time for that faith to be fulfilled was now drawing near. Yet, what was it that still denied peace to the heart of that royal maiden?

Just as many spoke of Arulmozhi Varman’s destiny, so too did many speak of the horoscope of Princess Vanathi of Kodumbalur. Whether they truly studied the stars and planets to divine the future, or simply wished to comfort Kundavai Devi at that time, none could say. Yet, we often see that when many voices unite in a single prediction, it sometimes comes to pass in wondrous ways. In the words of some, there is a peculiar force—their utterances come true as they are spoken.

From Kumbakonam, those who had migrated to Thiruvaiyaru... The astrologer, recalling that day as the sacred Thiruvathirai of the month of Margazhi, declared with some emphasis, “It is an auspicious day that shall bring great glory to the Chola dynasty!”

Two years later, on that very Margazhi Thiruvathirai, a male child was born into the Chola clan. When that child grew to the proper age, he shone as an emperor to be compared with Chandragupta, Ashoka, Vikramaditya, and Harshavardhana. He received the coronation name Rajendra, and from Lanka to the Ganges, from the Lakshadweep islands to the island of Sri Avijaya, he conquered and ruled with authority.

The words spoken by the astrologer thus came to pass in a most wondrous manner. But on that day, when he uttered them, Kundavai did not feel complete faith in his prediction. For Vanathi, the astrologer’s words