Madurai Meenakshi (OS) The Challenge- on Pg 28 - Page 8

wow nice story .. I am so much into Hindu Mythologies but don't know d story of Meenaxi .. cud u plz pm me when u update .. ds one is a wonderful read

"Thataatakai" announced the sadhu, opening his eyes. "Name the child ' Thataatakai' "

"What?" exclaimed the king. Not only was it an unheard -of name, but by the sounds of it, an outlandish one too.

The sadhu repeated more slowly this time "Tha...taa..ta...kai. Meaning- one whose hand is invincible"

The king glared at his wife Kanchanamala, seated beside him. He himself had no patience with ochre clad men styling themselves as sadhus, yogis and tantriks, but he understood his wife's sentiments. Childless till now, she had explored every option, left no stone unturned. Every sadhu- who claimed to have a cure- was welcome into her palace.

But this sadhu seemed to be a unique one. No one knew how he entered the palace, especially when tight security had been deployed all around the palace.

Ever since the news of the successful completion of the yagna became public, hordes of people began queuing at the palace gates- some claiming to be able to predict the child's future, some with benedictory articles for the child's welfare'.. The crowd became so unmanageable that the king had to issue orders restraining any outsider from entering the palace.

The queen had one more reason not to expose her child to the prying eyes of the public. She had discovered, while bathing her, the child had a small lump right in the middle of the chest. While it seemed insignificant right now, it would look very odd indeed, when she grows up, the queen thought with a pang of anxiety. She confided her fears to her husband whose only reaction was to get more confused.

Hence, the royal decree had gone forth that the no one would be allowed to meet the royal couple.

But here was this sadhu who had apparently materialized right into the audience chamber, refusing to budge till he had met the king. Reluctantly Maladhwaja, agreed to meet him.

Despite his initial skepticism, Malayadhwaja felt drawn towards the ascetic. Smeared with ashes, rudrakasha beads around his neck and hands, he seemed to emit a strange radiance. Even before he realized, Maladhwaja had fallen at the ascetic's feet.

"Arise, king. What is your problem?" said the sadhu

"I am planning to take sanyaas, Master" replied the king in a weary tone.

"Why, O King? The joys of fatherhood await you" replied the ascetic.

"What joy, indeed Master? I will have to find a groom, marry her off and watch my kingdom pass into another dynasty."

"When my father", continued Malayadhwaja in a weary voice, "the great Kulashekhara Pandya, founded this kingdom and planted the Pandyan flag ' the matsya dhwaja- on this soil, he hoped our dynasty would continue to flourish as long as the sun and moon in the sky'..Now I don't know which (he muttered an expletive under his breath) will inherit this glorious kingdom"

The sadhu closed his eyes and seemed to go into a trance.

When he spoke, it was in an unearthly voice "Your fears are baseless, king. This daughter of yours will bring fame and renown to you. She will be remembered as the greatest of Pandyan rulers. She will be unconquered, ever victorious. Don't worry, the matsya dhwaja will continue to rule Madurai. She will forever be Pandya Raja Kumari"

The royal couple sat stunned.

"And her name'" he continued in the same unearthly voice, "'.her name will be Thataatakai"

The sadhu opened his eyes and looking directly at the queen said " O queen, you are worried about the strange feature on the princess's body. It will disappear'eventually'when she meets the one who is destined to wed her".

"And how will we know who is he?"

"I will personally come to marry her'" replied the sadhu.

The king and queen stared at him, open mouthed.

Seeing the shocked look on their faces the sadhu corrected himself hastily " I mean...I will personally come to conduct her marriage'."

Thanks for your encouraging responses, folks. The next update will be only be after a couple of days- since I will be travelling.

This is too good I say!

Another great update...👍🏼👏😊.
Wish you'd explain how the Goddess was later known(name/called) as Minakshi... Didn't know bout this name(Thataadakai) of the Goddess...
Can you please xplain it better(please)...

very nice update Akka😊so the Sadhu was none other than Lord Shiva..i realised this only at the end and i was like😆😉😳..

Originally posted by: shadow.daemon

Another great update...👍🏼👏😊.
Wish you'd explain how the Goddess was later known(name/called) as Minakshi... Didn't know bout this name(Thataadakai) of the Goddess...
Can you please xplain it better(please)...

another masterpiece varaalididi..
ohh so shiva has come as a sadhu...and lol "i will personally come to marry her "
epic...🤣
update soon

i love the humorous touch... rest all have already praised u so much tht I don't find enough words in my mind..👏

nice update .. I will come to marry her hehe .. d Sadhu was Shivji himself wow .. beautifully written .. thanks for d pm