Chapter 26: The Rise of Neelakesi
Sivakami felt tumultuous emotions after Gundodharan’s visit. Thoughts akin to mountain-high waves rose and lashed fiercely within her. Time hung heavily on her; every moment seemed to be an unending eon. She repeatedly recollected every word uttered by Gundodharan. She frequently wondered if she had spoken to him appropriately. She also often worried about what he would relate to Mamallar. Whenever Sivakami recollected Gundodharan cautioning her not to divulge Mamallar’s impending invasion, a smile appeared on her sorrowful face. But, she was soon to realize how crucial that word of caution was.
Three days after Gundodharan’s visit, exuberant chaos prevailed in Vatapi. Sivakami came to know that the Emperor Pulikesi was leaving for the Ajantha Art Festival on that day and that his procession would pass through the highway that ran close to her house. She knew that she could watch the procession from one of the windows in her house. Finally, the Emperor’s procession passed by in the third jaamam of the afternoon. Emperor Pulikesi was majestically seated on the Royal Mount (the elephant). Naganandi Bikshu and the Chinese traveller followed him in a palanquin.
The Emperor’s three young sons were seated in a beautiful golden chariot. Travelling ahead of and behind the Emperor in several carriages were the kingdom’s senior ministers, feudal lords and army chiefs. The euphoric cheering of the citizens accompanied by the sound of musical instruments had a deafening impact. Seeing this, Sivakami was reminded of Mahendra Pallavar leaving for the Mamallapuram Art Festival. Ah! Previously Pulikesi was completely devoid of artistic sensibility! He has now undergone a complete transformation! Was he influenced by his visit to Kanchi?
Whenever Sivakami thought about that procession, she was irritated. She consoled herself thinking Pulikesi’s ostentatious ways and arrogance was soon to come to an end. It was possible that Mamallar reached Vatapi before they could return from Ajantha. Wouldn’t they be terror-stricken when they come to know about this? Sivakami then felt that it was wrong on her part to have told Gundodharan that there was no need for a war. There was another reason that heightened her fury. It seemed that the bikshu who was seated in the palanquin had turned around and looked at Sivakami’s house for a moment. Her expectation that Naganandi would come again to bid farewell before he embarked on the voyage was not fulfilled. She thought, “How arrogant the fake bikshu is!” This thought served to fan her fury further.
That evening, when Naganandi rode to her house on horseback and entered her house, Sivakami was very surprised. “Swami! What is this! I thought you were en route to Ajantha! Aren’t you going?” she asked. “I’m definitely going, Sivakami! I have an important chore to perform at Ajantha; you’re connected with it. I rushed back because I wanted to tell you about it. Tonight itself, I will reach the place where the Emperor is camping!” Without allowing Sivakami to speak, Naganandi Bikshu asked, “Did you watch this afternoon’s procession?” “Yes, I did. I was reminded of Mahendra Chakravarthy leaving for Mamallapuram from Kanchi for the Art Festival. It seems that Emperor Pulikesi will outshine even Mahendra Pallavar,” said Sivakami. “There is no doubt he will outshine Mahendra Pallavar. The Vatapi Emperor is not the blood thirsty Pulikesi of old. He is the new Pulikesi who is passionate about and appreciative of arts,” said Naganandi. “In that case, the Ajantha Art Festival will be a lavish event,” said Sivakami.
“There’s no doubt about that too. The bikshus at Ajantha have made the necessary arrangements to welcome and host the Chakravarthy appropriately. It seems that acharyas from Nalanda, Sri Parvatham and several other seats of Buddhism have come to participate in the festivities. You must be aware that it was the Ajantha Sangramam that had given refuge to the Vatapi Emperor and had protected him during his youth. Despite this, the Emperor had not extended any assistance to the Ajantha Sangramam for long. The Jain monks did not allow that. They insisted that all state assistance must be extended only to Jain monasteries and temples. But now the Emperor has had a change of heart. He is awarding state grants to exponents of sculptures and paintings irrespective of their faith – Samanam, Buddhism, Saivism, Vaishnavism and Sakthar. Hence, in all of Bharata it is in the Chalukya Kingdom that arts flourish best. Vatapi has overtaken Kanyakubhaj and Kanchi!” When Naganandi proudly spoke thus, Sivakami listened with genuine interest. Naganandi asked, “Sivakami! Do you know who is responsible for the Vatapi Emperor’s change of heart?” Sivakami promptly responded saying, “There’s no doubt it was the exponent and connoisseur of all arts – Naganandi Adigal!”
Naganandi’s face was far more genteel than it had been nine years ago. The cruelty that was evident in his face previously had now disappeared. Sivakami’s response caused him to smile and further enhanced the glow of his face. He smiled as he looked at Sivakami with his gentle and captivating eyes and said, “Kalaivani[i]! You stated the truth. It was I who converted the blood-thirsty warmonger Pulikesi into a connoisseur of arts. But before that can you guess who had transformed me into someone who was obsessed with arts?” asked Naganandi Adigal.
Sivakami thought that the bikshu was referring to her. Nevertheless, she asked, “How would I know, Swami?” “Yes; you would not know. I have not told you thus far. Aren’t you aware that there are several divine paintings on the walls of the Ajantha Caves painted with indelible dyes? Amongst those paintings, is a portrait of a maiden performing Bharata Natyam. It was that portrait that ignited the spark of artistic appreciation in me. Sivakami! You must see that wonderful painting one day…” “I don’t harbour futile desires. In this birth, I will never ever be fortunate enough to view the wonders in Ajantha!” said Sivakami. “Don’t speak thus! In a certain sense, I am satisfied that you’re not accompanying us this time. That’s because neither you nor I will be at peace should you come with us. But change is the only permanent phenomenon in life. There will be a change soon.”
Sivakami was startled when Naganandi spoke thus. She observed Naganandi cautiously when she asked, “How and in what manner will there be a change?” “The time may come for you to be liberated from this cage and freely travel across the cosmos, singing joyously!” “That day will never come,” said Sivakami and heaved a deep sigh. “In that case, aren’t you hopeful that your oath will be fulfilled?,” asked Naganandi.
Sivakami gritted her teeth and said, “No; I lost that hope long ago!” But she felt fear and confusion within. Is this treacherous bikshu suspicious? Was he trying to extract the truth from her? Probably, Gundodharan has been trapped by him. “Sivakami! You’ve lost hope that your oath will be fulfilled. But you will not leave this city without your oath being upheld. Isn’t that the case?” “Yes, Swami. That’s how it is!” responded Sivakami boldly. That was when she gratefully recollected Gundodharan’s words of caution.
“Ah! I will never ever consent to your being in such a situation, Sivakami! I have to act in the manner I said I would to the Chinese elder yesterday. If Mamallar does not fulfill your oath, I myself will do so. I myself will set this city on fire!” “Ah! Why do you speak thus? Why do you have to perpetrate such cruelty to satiate this mad woman’s obstinacy? No, never.” “In that case, you must give up your meaningless oath.” Sivakami, who wanted to change the course of the conversation, said, “Swami! You have spoken a lot about me. That’s enough. Tell me about yourself; tell me about Ajantha!” “Yes! I came here primarily to speak about myself. I am going to be born again in Ajantha. I will not return as an ochre robe clad bikshu. I will return as Neelakesi Maharaja draped in the finest silks!” When Naganandi uttered these words, Sivakami viewed him with surprise.
[i] Kalaivani – Another name for Goddess Saraswathi, the Goddess of learning and arts
