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Chapter Eight Bhuvana Mahadevi
 

         Mamallar passed through Moon Yard as his father said and as he neared the inner gate, dismounted from his horse.  The servants who were waiting there took hold of the horse and took it beyond. Then Mamallar entered the spacious and beautiful palace, walkin that the lamp-bearers could hardly keep up with him. 

         New entrants into the palace would find it impossible to find their way through the crisscrossing corridors.  Narasimha went winding through those paths and reached the Zenana of the palace.  When he approached a gate decorated with sculptures, "Child! Is it you?" said a voice from inside.

        Bhuvana Mahadevi, an empress of the Pallava Empire, came and stood at the doorway of Zenana.  Her stately appearance and matured-beautiful face made it perfectly fitting for the subjects of the Pallava Empire to celebrate her as "Empress of the three worlds". 

       "Mother!'  Mamallar said 
The Queen embraced the son with both hands and said, "Child! today..."

         Mamallar stopped her and said, "Mom!  I am begging you to give me a boon!"

         Bhuvanamagadevi smiled.  "A boon! Well, ask! I'll give it, and I'll ask for a boon in return, and you must give it!"  said in a loving voice. 

           Mamallar said, "It is fair for a child to ask for a boon from his mother. Is there any place for a mother to ask for a boon from a child? It is impossible!"  

          Then the smile disappeared from the face of Bhuvana Mahadevi.  Both went inside.

         Narasimmar took off his headdress and ornaments and cleaned his hands and feet.  Then both of them entered the Pooja Hall.  There, in the middle, the idol of Nataraja Murthy appeared with divine decorations.  On the back walls, many forms of Lord Shiva and the divine plays of Lord Krishna were beautifully depicted in colors.

         As all the puja was over, mother and son worshiped the idol and came out and entered the dining hall. 

          When they sat down to eat, Bhuvanamagadevi said, "Child! Some important news has arrived! All the castle gates are closed. The palace is in shambles. I am the only one who knows nothing. Are you going to tell me? Or do you also think that women are inferior and they don't need to know anything?"

         Mamallar looked at the servants who were serving the food and said to Mother, “Mother! After the meal, we are going to upstairs and I tell you all the details. But I will ask you only one thing right now. ”

To be continued....