For story continuity, please check my previous blogs.

Chapter Five -Pet Child.   

        There was a village called Chengatankudi in the east Chola country, where the Ponni River enriched it with its thousands of hands.

        Paranjothi was born in this village in a tribe named as Mamathirar.  In the old days when the entire Chola nation was under the rule of the Chola kings, Paranjothi's ancestors were in royal service and were army leaders.  When the Chola dynasty lost its glory and the Pallavars came to power, the Mamathirar tribe also lost their glory. For the past few generations, the Mamathirar had given up the profession of war and border guarding and started farming.

        Born in such a tribe, Paranjothi lost his father in childhood and grew up as his mother's beloved child.  He was known as 'Rogue' and 'Wicked' in the neighbourhood.  Fighting was like milk and sugar for him.  His intellect was naturally drawn to the weapons of war.  The heroic blood of his forefathers, who were renowed as warriors, flowed in the veins of Paranjothi.  He quickly mastered in Silambam (Silambam is a well-known martial art style that is practised with specialised weapons, typically bamboo sticks), knife fight, wrestling, and javelin throw.

         Paranjothi's mother Vadivazhagi loved her son very much.  However, Paranjothi's rogue activities worried her greatly.  The old woman was born into a family who worships God Shiva and the arts.  Her brother was a famous residential Physician in Thiruvenkattupathi and was devoted to Shiva.  He was well-studied in Tamil and was also proficient in Sanskrit.  He was proficient in the art of medicine and skilled in curing diseases.

          The eldest daughter of that Shiva devotee was named Umaiyal.  She excelled in education and devotion to Shiva as she excelled in beauty and character.  Paranjothi's mother was secretly wishing that this Thiruvenkattu girl to be married to her son.  But doubts and worries about whether it would be fulfilled were dwelling in her mind.  Will her uncle, who is very knowledgeable in many fields, give his beautiful girl to this savage man?

          Paranjothi's mother tried her best to make him proficient in academic matters, but all the Teachers who tried to educate Paranjothi failed.  Not even one of them lasted.  After trying for short time, everyone came to the old woman and said, "Mother! Your son is very intelligent. If he pays attention to any matter and listens once, he will immediately understand very well. But it is not easy for us to make him listen even once. We don’t have strength to teach him” and left.  

         A couple of the teachers tried to use a punitive strategy in the case of Paranjothi.  As a result, they had to leave the town without telling his mother!

           Paranjothi's mother was very worried about all this.  One year Paranjothi and Vadivazhagi Amma went to Thiruvenkattu for the Pongal festival.  There Paranjothi saw Umayyal.  He hears talk about Umayyal's marriage.  He also overheard his uncle and mother talking about him with sorrow and concern.  He put it all together and got a sense of the situation.

To be continued....