Chapter 23: The Chinese Traveller
As days passed, the ignominy Sivakami felt on account of being made to dance at the Vatapi street junctions diminished. The prisoners from Tamizhagam found suitable jobs and settled down in Vatapi with their families. Some of them used to visit Sivakami occasionally. Sivakami observed that her visitors bore no anger or hatred. She understood that it was her naivety that prompted her to undertake such an oath and that it was foolish not to have left Vatapi with Mamallar and to have sent him back.
Nevertheless, as is characteristic of women, Sivakami blamed Mamallar for her mistakes. “No matter what, I was an ignorant girl! Humiliation and anger caused me to undertake such an oath. Shouldn’t a man and a wise one like him have forcibly abducted me from here? Didn’t Commander Paranjyothi ask him to act thus; why didn’t he listen?” she often thought.
As years passed, Sivakami gradually lost hope that Mamallar would return to fulfill her oath and to take her back. She understood that it was a colossal task that required monumental effort. Sometimes she thought of sending a message to Mamallar stating, “The oath I had undertaken was erroneous. I had asked you to carry out such an impossible mission out of ignorance. You need not heed it. Please somehow take me back from this place!” But Naganandi’s taunting words prevented her from putting that thought into action.
When the dagger Sivakami had flung found its mark on Naganandi’s back, that crafty masquerader had said, “Ah! What have you done? I wanted to send you back with them!” Hence, Sivakami’s anger towards Naganandi dissipated. She regretted her action and felt sympathetic for the bikshu. Naganandi secretly exulted that his deceitful words had the desired impact. He took full advantage of the sympathy Sivakami felt for him. A few days after that incident he claimed that he himself would escort Sivakami back to Kanchi. Sivakami not only declined his offer but also reminded him of the oath she had undertaken. Naganandi had smiled sarcastically and had asked, “Will any one undertake such an oath that will never ever be fulfilled?!” Sivakami had boldly said, “Why don’t you wait and watch!”
Sivakami, who was in a self-imposed imprisonment in a far-off country where she knew no one, found solace in her occasional conversations with Naganandi. Conversing with the bikshu, who had traveled across the country and was well-versed in several arts, was an invigorating past time. Sometimes, Naganandi enticed her saying, “It’s fine if you don’t want to return to Kanchi. I will take you to Ajantha. You can learn first hand about the indelible dyes your father was eager to know about!” Sivakami used to respond saying, “I will not leave this city without my oath being fulfilled!”
Sivakami had felt ecstatic three years ago when the rumours of an impending Pallava invasion were rife. When it turned out to be false, Naganandi’s taunts had hurt her. Nevertheless she had not revealed her feelings and had tried to uphold Mamallar’s prestige by saying, “Please be patient! Adigal, please be patient! The Pallava army will invade the next year, if not this year! Wait and watch!” Three years had passed since she spoke so proudly. “Is there any point in continuing to be hopeful? How long can I deceive myself and live this sorrowful life? Enough, enough! Nine years have passed. The well beside the pavazhamalli tree in the muttram of Sivakami’s house persuasively beckoned her, ‘Come! Come! Attain refuge in me!”
It was in this situation that Naganandi visited Sivakami one day, accompanied by a Chinese traveller named Hiuen Tsang. He had travelled across several countries and had visited several kingdoms. After visiting one of the three renowned kingdoms in Bharata Kandam – Harsha’s empire, he had come to Vatapi. After visiting Ajantha in the Chalukya kingdom and the Nagarjuna Mountain in Vengi, he intended visiting the Pallava kingdom. Naganandi, who came to know of this, had brought him along saying, “The daughter of the most illustrious sculptor of Pallava Nadu resides here. Her expertise in Bharata Natyam is unparalleled. Let’s visit her”.
Sivakami’s conversation with the Chinese traveler reminded her of her old aspirations and rendered her rapturous. Hiuen Tsang described at length the countries he had visited and the scenic spots and artistic wonders therein. He also enquired Sivakami about the art of sculpture that flourished in Tamizhagam. When Naganandi mentioned that Sivakami’s father, Aayanar, had sculpted indestructible statues of Sivakami in various dance postures, Hiuen Tsang expressed boundless amazement. He earnestly requested Sivakami to demonstrate some of those dance postures. After nine years, Sivakami felt genuine passion to perform the art she had assiduously learnt. She demonstrated a few dance postures and abhinayams to the Chinese traveller. Hiuen Tsang was amazed watching her dance. Naganandi lost self-consciousness and was elated.
When Hiuen Tsang enquired about Sivakami, Naganandi informed him about the circumstances that led to her imprisonment and the oath she had undertaken. “I told her several times that I will escort her back to Kanchi after obtaining the Emperor’s approval. She did not heed me. It pains me that her wonderful art is incarcerated in this house. Sometimes, I think that I myself should set Vatapi ablaze for the sole purpose of freeing her!” said Naganandi.
Hiuen Tsang closed his ears and then said, “May Buddha Bhagavan prevent such a calamity from occurring!” Then that elderly soul sermonized about the greatness of mercy and ill-effects of war. He narrated the story of Buddha Bhagavan stopping a ceremony to save the life of a goat. He highlighted the just rule of Emperor Ashoka. He said that Harsha Chakravarthy’s reign in the current times was also just and that he had banned cruelty inflicted on animals in his kingdom. Sivakami interjected saying, “But, Adigal! You are unaware of the atrocities committed by the Vatapi Emperor’s soldiers in Tamizhagam. That’s why you sermonize thus!” The Chinese bikshu responded as follows:
“Thaye! I am aware that men are transformed into beasts during war! Atrocities of a much larger scale than what you had witnessed may have occurred. But if one kept seeking revenge, there will be no end to violence. To avenge the Chalukya Emperor’s invasion, the Kanchi Chakravarthy will invade Vatapi. The scions of the Chalukya dynasty will invade Kanchi again to seek revenge. Just like a tree growing from a seed and seed-bearing fruit growing in a tree, the cycle of evil in this world will be never-ending. Someone must forget and forgive for the sake of this world’s well-being. Thaye, no matter what, please do not wish that your horrific oath should be fulfilled! No one will be benefited by that. Ah! There are thousands of households in this vast city. Lakhs of people reside here. Amongst them are the aged, children and helpless women like you. If this city is ablaze, won’t all these innocent people suffer untold misery? Think about it!”
Listening to Hiuen Tsang, Sivakami’s confusion heightened. Naganandi Adigal then interjected saying, “Sivakami! Didn’t you hear what this great soul had to say? It’s futile to dwell on events that have transpired. How is being vengeful beneficial? Isn’t it enough that you’ve performed a penance for nine years? In two days, this Chinese elder and the Vatapi Emperor are leaving for Ajantha; I am accompanying them. Please come with us. At Ajantha, you will witness wonders that cannot be witnessed elsewhere in this world!”
Sivakami’s artistic soul was tempted for an instant. She felt like saying, “So be it, Swami! I will come!” But her lips refused to utter those words. A voice from the deep recesses of her heart said, “Sivakami! Why are you thinking treacherously? After refusing to accompany Mamallar when he had called you, will you go with this bikshu? Won’t Mamallar be anguished if he were to come here when you are visiting Ajantha?”
Sivakami strengthened her steadfast heart and said, “Respected bikshus! I am thankful for your deep concern for this orphaned maiden. But I am not fortunate to view the wonders at the Ajantha Mountain. I do accept what this Chinese elder had said. I will henceforth not wish that my oath be fulfilled. May the city of Vatapi and its citizens flourish and not experience sorrow! I hope no harm befalls them on account of me. But, I will spend my life only in this house. I will not consent to leave this city under any circumstance!”
