Recap:

Jeyasinghan, driven by ambition and paranoia, murders Pasupati and seizes the throne. His reign is marked by fear and instability. Srikrishna and Anirudhdhan, with the aid of the loyal Panbalan and the selfless sacrifice of Sivappi, confront and kill Jeyasinghan, restoring order to the kingdom.

Chapter 25/26: Yearning for a New Dawn

Part 2/2 of the novella ‘The cursed keris of Taravati’

Jeyasinghan’s lifeless body, still mounted on his horse, was brought back to the palace, a grim spectacle for all to witness in the darkness of midnight. Srikrishna, Anirudhdhan, and Panbalan followed the procession, arriving in the lamplit courtyard.

“Victory to Rajmata Parvata Vardini!” the crowd chanted, their voices filled with relief and hope.

As Parvata Vardini emerged into the courtyard, the three men dismounted and paid their respects by placing their closed fists against their chests.

“Are you alright?” she asked, her gaze filled with concern as she embraced her grandsons.

“Yes, Rajmata,” they replied.

Turning to Panbalan, she acknowledged, “You are a true warrior.”

“As are you, Rajmata,” Panbalan replied.

“I know my dearest friend and ally, your grandmother Sivappi, gave her life to save my grandsons. Her thoughts were always for my well-being. She will be honored as the war goddess of Taravati, and a temple will be built for her at the border.”

“As you say, Rajmata,” Srikrishna affirmed.

Panbalan knelt, his eyes closed. His shoulders trembled as he fought back his emotions.

---

The following day was declared a day of mourning for the late king. Jeyasinghan’s cremation was carried out with full state honors. Neeli, her eyes filled with sorrow, bid farewell to her son’s remains and returned to her village that same day. Before departing, she looked at Parvata Vardini, her voice tinged with disappointment. “You got what you wanted, didn’t you?”

“This isn’t about what you or I desire,” Parvata Vardini replied. “A kingdom needs the support of its people. Without it, it will fall, like a palm tree severed at its roots.”

The next day, after a long interval, the court of Tarvati convened. Nearly every resident was present, eager to hear who would take Jeyasinghan’s place.

“What if Anirudhdhan and Srikrishna clash down the road?” Janaki mami voiced her worry as she walked towards the court.

“Yes, that’s been on my mind too,” Kesi mami replied.

The military leaders, headed by Panbalan, the traders led by Sokkalinganatha Chetty, the Vedic literary figures by Vaidhyanatha Ganapadigal, the Hindu priests by Saiva Sidhanta Sivacharya Neekantar, and the Buddhist priests by Ratna Manjunatha were welcomed into the court and shown to their designated seats.

The courtroom soon overflowed, with some citizens standing in the outer rows. Among the attendees was Valli, the celebrated fortune teller from the Pandya kingdom, who had sailed a great distance to reach Taravati, her keen eyes taking in everything as she found her place.

Accompanied by Anirudhdhan and Srikrishna, Parvata Vardini entered the court, greeted by a thunderous ovation. With no signs of age, her gaze steady and resolute, she wore a simple cloth belt around her waist, adorned only with a dagger. Despite the lack of jewels, she exuded an aura of authority, resembling the compassionate Prajna Paramita, the goddess of wisdom.

As the court conductor raised his hand for silence, the noise subsided, and a hush fell over the assembly. “With the blessings of Sri Gautama Siddhartha Sri Venkata Natha and Sri Parameswara, the blessed lands of Taravati and Durgavati have entered a new era of optimism and hope. I, the son of a devotee of my motherland, Gnana-desikan, hereby commence the proceedings of this court. Priest Ratna Manjunatha, address the court.”

A wave of excitement rippled through the crowd. Manjunatha stood up and began –

“Om gate gate paragate.. paramgate bodhi svaha.“

“With the blessings of the lord, I move a motion to appoint Maharani Sridevi Parvata Vardini as the interim queen, empowered to issue interim orders.”

“Hail to Taravati! Hail to Sridevi Parvata Vardini!” The crowd erupted in cheers, echoing through the hall. Manjunatha and Neelakantar assisted Parvata Vardini towards the throne.

Parvata Vardini stood facing the crowd, acknowledging their greetings. She offered prayers, and her seat on the throne. The crowd went crazy and the slogans erupted as high as the roof.

She issued several orders: the appointment of Panbalan as the chief of the army, rewards for Panbalan’s family, and donations to the Darma Kriti Vihara, the Sumedha Vihara, the Ananta Sayani Temple, and the Parameswara temple.

She also decreed the construction of a temple dedicated to Kotravai or Durga, the war goddess, at the city’s edge. Naming it the “Sivappi Ammai Temple,” she honored the fallen heroine. A hero-stone was erected at the site of Sivappi’s courageous fight, and land was granted to support the temple’s upkeep.

As the question-and-answer session commenced, Sokka-Linga-Natha Chetty, representing the traders, posed the first question. “For any nation to thrive, political stability is essential. The recent fights for power and the ongoing violence within the royal family have made us worry about what the future holds. How can we make sure our people have stability and prosperity?”

Manjunatha rose to answer. “Since the ministers are yet to be sworn in, I will address your concerns. We understand the necessity for stability. Our recent history has made it clear that internal conflict leads only to ruin. We are determined that Jeyasinghan’s reign will mark the end of such instability. Only with internal peace can we properly address external threats.”

He continued, “To address your concerns about who will rule next, the court wishes to propose this: Prince Brahmadasan Srikrishna, son of Vallabhan Pasupati, who was the son of the late King Tungabhadra and our revered queen, shall be the next king. Prince Anirudhdhan Chandramurti, son of Bharatan Parameswara, who was the son of the late King Narobha and our revered queen, shall serve as his deputy. They will share the duties of governing.”

Janaki Mami from the citizens stepped forward. “Many mothers here have lost their sons in this power struggle. What if these two princes have a power race in the future and cast a shadow over our future? We cannot keep losing our children because of pointless palace conflicts. Rulers should make our lives easier. If they can’t, they should at least not make them harder. But our lives have become difficult here.”

Manjunatha started to reply, but Parvata Vardini interjected, “The court respects and thanks all of you for sacrificing your sons for the good of the country, amma! I know this question weighs heavily on everyone’s mind. We have considered it deeply. We are aware of the strong bond between both princes. They have endured much and supported each other greatly. We believe their cooperation should evolve further. And we have a plan for that…” She paused briefly before continuing.

“Prince Brahmadasan Srikrishna will marry Sudakshina Vaijayanti, the sister of Prince Anirudhdhan,” she announced.

“That is a wise decision!” Sokka-Linga-Natha Chetty declared enthusiastically.

“Hail the Rajah of the combined lands of Taravati and Durgavati!” the court conductor proclaimed, his voice ringing through the hall, and the crowd roared in response.

“Hail the Deputy Rajah of the combined lands of Taravati and Durgavati!” the cheers continued, filling the air with renewed hope.

“Hail our mother, Rajmata, Nareswari, Sridevi Parvata Vardini!” the cheers reached a powerful crescendo.

arvata Vardini rose, acknowledging the unwavering support of her people. “No kingdom can truly flourish without the backing of its people,” she declared, her voice resonating with conviction. “The trials of the past have imparted invaluable lessons. I wish to express my deepest gratitude for your approval of our decisions concerning the future leadership.”

The court conductor then announced the adjournment of the session, yet the enthusiastic cheers and approving murmurs continued to echo throughout the hall.

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Note:

• This fiction is a retelling of a mythology.
• Images generated with ImageFx of Google Gemini.
• Awkward sentences are removed by AI for a smoother reading experience.