Since there is so much debade about mandakini...I thought I could share something. (Certainly not the "B" thing:-)) Mandakini "DID NOT" lose herself to Veera Pandiyan - in my opinion and even in Kalki's opinion (I feel). Any careful reader of the novel can deduce that. There are so many occations in which Nandini herself calls veera pandiya "Anbe" and referring him as her Kadhalan.Taking the fact that Nandhini was certainly Mandakini's mother (due to facial resemblence etc.), this makes no sense. On the other hand, Mandakini-Veerapandiyan stuff is very vaguely debaded by other people - not by Nandhini or Veerpandiyan or anybody closely involved. Also, remember abhatudhavis calling Nandhini their "rani" and her "varisu" being a small boy. Please read my Facts and Fiction articles on Nandhini's parentage. I've tried to substantiate this heavily. Ofcourse, you 'll then ask me - If not veera pandiyan, then WHO ELSE FATHERED NANDHINI ? I have my opinions and I'll write them in Facts and Fiction soon.