PONNIYIN SELVAN.

 A beautiful creation by author kalki, one of the oldest epics in Tamil literature. A historical fiction novel which will take you to a roller coaster ride, where you can come across art, history, philosophy and many more adventurous events, taking you back to the golden days of Chola Dynasty. A novel which will take your reading interest to the ultimate satisfaction.

The story revolves around Vandiyathevan, a charming, brave and brilliant young man who sets out across the Chola land to deliver a message from the Crown Prince Aditha Karikalan to the King and the Princess. The story shuttles between Vandiyathevan's travels in Chola country and the young Prince Arulmozhivarman's (later known as Raja Raja Chola) travels in Sri Lanka. The narrative deals with attempts by his sister Kundavai to bring back Arulmozhivarman to establish political peace in a land seemingly beset with unrest and civil war plotted by vassals and petty chieftains.

Parantaka Chola was succeeded by his second son Gandaraditya as the first son Rajaditya had died in a battle. At the time of Gandaraditya's death, his son Maduranthaka was a two-year-old child and hence Gandaraditya’s brother Arinjaya ascended the throne. After Arinjaya’s death, his son Parantaka II (Sundara Chola) was crowned. He had two sons, Adithya Karikalan, Arulmozhivarman, and a daughter named Kundavai.

When the story begins, the emperor Sundara Chola is ill and bedridden. His son Adithya Karikalan is the general of the Northern Command and lives in Kanchi. The younger son Arulmozhivarman (who would be famous later as Raja Raja Chola I) is in Sri Lanka in battle. Their sister Kundavai Piratti lives in the Chola royal household at Pazhayarai.

The story advances when rumors abound that there is a conspiracy against Sundara Chola and his sons. One person who gets a glimpse of the Pandya conspirators is a warrior named Vanar Kula Veeran Vallavarayan Vandiyathevan at the palace of his friend Kandhamaaran.

It is through Vandiyathevan that we meet most of the characters in the novel including Arulmozhivarman, the prince whom all the people loved, and Periya Pazhavetturayar, the chancellor who married Nandhini (the main conspirator), when he was sixty. During his youth, Adithya Karikalan had fallen in love with Nandhini, but she turned vengeful and vowed to destroy the Chola dynasty after Adithya Karikalan killed Veerapandyan. We also meet Kundavai Piratti, who after hearing the news of the conspiracy sends Vandiyathevan to Sri Lanka to give a message to Arulmozhivarman to come back immediately.

Besides these, there are other characters like Maduranthaka Thevar (the man whom the conspirators want to crown king), the son of Gandaraditya and Aniruddha Brahmarayar, Sundara Cholar’s Prime Minister and the man who has eyes and ears everywhere. He also meets Brahmarayar’s spy Azhwarkadiyan Nambi, a man who roams around the country challenging for debates. He collects information for the Prime Minister and is always around Vandiyathevan, rescuing him during trouble.

Other characters include Vanathi, a Kodumbalur princess (the woman who becomes Arulmozhi's wife later) who is in love with Arulmozhi; Poonkuzhali, the boat woman who rows the future king to Lanka; Mandakini, the deaf and dumb mother of the original Maduranthaka Chola and the aunt of Poonkuzhali. Most memorable among the female characters is Nandhini, whose beauty is said to have the power to influence any man. Manimegalai, the sister of Kandhamaran (the Kadamboor prince) who helps Nandhini without any knowledge that she herself is the conspirator and also he turns against Vandhiyathevan, his best friend.

Meanwhile, with Poonkuzhali's help, Vandiyathevan reaches Sri Lanka, meets Arulmozhivarman, and becomes his close friend. In Lanka, Arulmozhivarman realizes that his father had spent some time in an island near Lanka and had been with a girl born deaf and dumb. He meets her and realizes from her drawing that she and his father have had two children. Who are those children and do they have the right to the throne? Later one day in Thirupurambayam forest Vandiyathevan sees Nandhini and the Pandya conspirators place a small boy on a throne and take a vow in front of him. Who is this boy and what right does he have to the throne?

While coming back from Lanka, Arulmozhivarman is caught in a cyclone and goes missing. Rumor spreads that he is dead, but he survives and stays at Choodamani Viharam, a Buddhist monastery in. Then slowly the dispersed family starts assembling. The conspirators meanwhile choose one day in which both the king and both of his sons would be assassinated.

Nandhini in the meantime calls Adithya Karikalan to Kadambur Palace to discuss about the future of kingdom. Though Karikalan knows that his life is in utter danger, he travels to Kadambur palace to meet with Nandhini. Adithya Karikalan is then assassinated at Kadambur palace.

Meanwhile, Arulmozhivarman recovers and returns to Tanjore, where he was forced initially to accept being crowned. Later, he tricks everyone and crowns his uncle Uthama Chola. Thus the fifth part of the book is named as Tyaga Sigaram, pinnacle of sacrifice.

The book consists of 5 volumes ---------------

Volume 1:

The story unfolds with the journey of the protagonist Vandhiyadhevan to the capital Thanjavur. Ends with Vandhiyadhevan making enemies with the Royalty and joining the Royal services.

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Volume 2:

The events take place in Sri Lanka where Ponniyin Selvan (Raja Raja Cholan) is stationed for "Eezhathu Por" (Battle of Lanka), the tragic stories from the past of the characters' lives.

https://www.rmemart.com/en/product/ponniyin-selvan-comics-part-2-kalki-

Volume 3:

The revenge set up by the suicide squad of Veera Pandiyan (Aabathuthavigal) against Aditha Karikalan and Chola Empire, the plot devised by Nandhini.

https://www.rmemart.com/en/product/ponniyin-selvan-comics-part-3-kalki-

Volume 4:

The struggle for the crown among the members of the Chola dynasty. The inside conspiracy is being revealed eventually among the patriots.

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Volume 5:

The Climax is being set. The conspiracy is broken due to a lack of motivation and the head of the conspiracy comes to senses. The rulers are reunited and the danger is averted. The rightful prince offers the throne to his cousin out of magnanimity. The tragic deaths of the main characters also add sorrow to the fact that the story ends.

https://www.rmemart.com/en/product/ponniyin-selvan-comics-part-5-kalki-

Rm e-mart, provides you with a perfect opportunity to enjoy this lovely work of Art, by making available the entire set of books consisting of all the 5 volumes in an attractive pricing, online.