Re Nandhini's father, I developed the line of thinking based on the fact that the Novel was written in 1950, when woman dignity was more protected on the story telling. Even in present days, like in Sindhubairavi, Bairavi characterisation is subtly done by KB without affecting the dignity of her or her mother.
Same way, it would have been difficult for Kalki to explain that Mandakini bore the twins for VP when she was sane and was already in deep love -which did not get extinguished for nearly 25 years - (as per PS) - with Sundara. If VP chose to have an affair with an insane woman, it is more inapporpriate.
Hence as all the important characters concurred and accepted Nandhini as Sundara's daughter - to explain Veerapandian discrepancy - I suggested she was born to one and brought up by other.
Other views are most welcome and as you rightly do - pave way for more healthy mails in the group.
Re Nandhipurathu nayakai, there is another sequel as Vandhiathevan vaall (Sword!) - serialised in Amudhasurabi in the 80s.
I thin Kalki wanted either Sundara Chola or the pandya king to be the father. Sundara chola explains the heroism of Oomai Nachiyar while pandya king explains Nandini's animosity towards Cholas. He started with the former and then wound up confused most probably.
If you just go through the list, you will be surprised to see Veerapandiya came to Power in about 920 AD ...by which time Parantaka I was ruling Chola kingdom.
In about 950 AD in chevvur battle VP was beheaded .. by then young AK..
Means VP should have been more or less atleast 50 year of age.. !
Looking from this angle also VP should have been Nandhini's father..
Her uttering " Love " has very deep motive - as in case her father would not be letout easily or without damages to Prestige..
" Veeramaranam " - would have been her choice too !!
Probably the most possible explanation but definitey a major slip..a father being romantically attracted to a daughter regardless of whom she resembles is highly unacceptable in any culture not to mention the conservative audience Kalki wrote for. And who was the pandya king then who was sympathetic to oomai rani and what was his relationship to Veeerapandiya?
> Probably the most possible explanation but definitey a major slip..a father being romantically attracted to a daughter regardless of whom she resembles
how long do the two meet? a day or so when he is half unconcious and hurt directly from the battlefield.
All the more unnatural don't you think..I always saw it as they knew one another - romantically or otherwise, there is nothing to suggest they didnt'. Lot of things are implied I think this is one of them.
Yes, just now finished the chapter 52 of Vth Part in PS.
Arulmozhi says to his sister Kunthavai, that twins were born two years after Sundara Chola returned from SL. So Sundara Chola being Nandhini's father ruled out!
I forget how AM knows it is two years...there are two ways then Kalki erred on Nandhini calling Veerapandian 'Anbe' since he was her dad, or he erred on this two years biz and it was indeed Sundara chola's children that he wanted the twins to be. Is there a third possiblity (one error makes sense than multiple).
But Sembiyanmadevi would have definitely known when Nandini and Sendan and Madhuranthakan were born since all 3 were born on the same day or with in a day or twos gap to enable her to switch the kids. So all possiblity that AM would have got the info from her. Hence Nandhini is definitely not Sundara Chola's daughter.
> But Sembiyanmadevi would have definitely known when Nandini and Sendan and > Madhuranthakan were born since all 3 were born on the same day or with in a > day or twos gap to enable her to switch the kids. > So all possiblity that AM would have got the info from her. > Hence Nandhini is definitely not Sundara Chola's daughter.
actually sembiyan madevi is closer to kundavai and even kundavai at one point suspects nandini could be her sibling....
Oru DNA test pannidalaame :)) We will know once for all. BTW someone raised this question a short wile ago - is the oomai nachiyar temple in Tanjore really the oomai rani of PS? What was her relationship to Sundara Chola and contribution to chola empire?
I am not sure whether Kodiamman kovil is the one that was mentioned by Kalki as the temple built in memorial to mandhagini deviyaar!
I was searching for that temple and recently I got the following information from a friend of mine who is a tamil teacher!
"தஞ்சாவூர் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி சாலையில் உள்ளடங்கி ஒரு கோவில் உள்ளது. நீண்டகாலமாக அதைக் காட்டுக் கோவில் என்றே அழைத்து வந்தனர். செங்கமல நாச்சி கோவில் என்று பெயர். சிங்கள நாச்சி கோவில் என்றும் அழைப்பர்"
I am yet to check out this temple! probably be doing so this year end!
I think this path is well trodden and will not give the answer. We must forget about Nandini and switch to the other twin - and find out who is 'his' father. Sampath
why did the pandya apathuthavikal and karuthiman want palaiya mathuranthakan? the truth that karuthiman spoke to mathuranthakan was about his parentage. so convinced was he that he went over to the pandyas and became amara bhujangan
oh! This is how kalki and ps wins over any other novel based on history. More than reading we enjoy the discussions of probable events that could have happened.Kalki sure gives our imaginations a long rope and wins. May be if kalki had a chance of publishing the novel at one go he would have fine tuned it.