(I Invoke You) Whose Lion Fiercely Tear Asunder the Faces of the Powerful Elephants of the Enemies,
Who Felled the Heads of Demons (like Chanda and Munda) with the Weapons in Her Arms and Conquered the (Enemy) Warriors,
Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain."
"(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
Salutations to You O Divine Mother; I Invoke You; Who Manifested to Destroy the Battle-Intoxicated Arrogant Demons and Who is the possessor of Unrestrainable and Imperishable Power,
(I Invoke You) Who made Lord Shiva Her Messenger, that Shiva Who is Distinguished by Cleverness in Deliberation and is the Lord of the Ghosts and Goblins,
Who is Honored for Bringing an End (i.e. Rejecting) to the Proposal of the Evil-Minded and Ignorant Messenger of the Demon (Shumbha) (and hence bringing an end to the demons themselves),
Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain."
"(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
Salutations to You O Divine Mother; I Invoke You; Who gave Abhaya to the Heroic Soldiers of the Enemy when their Good Wives took Her Refuge,
(I Invoke You) Whose Pure Trident in Hand Capture the Heads of the Heads (Rulers) of the Three Worlds who Oppose that Trident,
Whose Victory give rise to Dumi-Dumi Sound of Dundubhi Drum flowing incessantly like Water which fills All the Directions with Joy,
Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain."
"(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
Salutations to You O Divine Mother; I Invoke You; Who Reduced Demon Dhumralocana into Hundred Smoke Particles (i.e. Ashes) with a Mere Humkara,
(I Invoke You) Who Dried up the Strength of the original Demon Raktabija and Similar Raktabijas Produced from him like a Creeper Chain (from each drop of blood Seed ) during the Battle,
Whose Great Auspicious Sacrifice (resembling a Yagna) of Shumbha and Nishumbha satisfied the Ghosts and Fiends (attending Lord Shiva),
Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain."
"(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
(I Reverentially Bow down to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; Whose Bracelet Dances on Her Shining Arms Following the Movements of Her Bow during Each Instant of the Battle,
(I Invoke You) Whose Golden Arrows become Reddish (with blood) when they Cling to the Stupid Enemies and Slay them in spite of their Howls and Screams at the Top of their Voice (displaying vain pride),
Who Turn the Four-Fold Array (Caturanga) of Enemies surrounding from all sides, and consisting of Many Heads of Various Colours who Stupidly Howl and Scream (displaying their vain pride), INTO a Play of Decreasing Strength (of the Caturanga),
Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain."
"(O Divine Mother, I invoke You and take refuge in Your Auspicious Feet)
(I Reverentially Bow down to You O Divine Mother) I Invoke You; Following the Rhythm of Whose Great Battle the Celestial Dancers Dance the rhythm of Ta-Tha-Theyi, Ta-Theyi, expressing the sentiment of the battle with their Dramatic Acts,
(I Invoke You) Following the Rhythm of Whose Great Battle the Celestial Musicians Create Music capturing the Tense Eagerness of the battle with the Talas (musical beats) like Ku-Kutha, Ku-Kutha, Ga-Da-Dha, Ga-Da-Dha,
Following the Rhythm of Whose Great Battle a Steady Deep Sound of Dhu-Dhu-Kuta, Dhu-Kuta, Dhim-Dhimi is played in the background from the Mridangam (a musical drum),
Victory to You, Victory to You, (I take Refuge in Your Auspicious Feet) O the Destroyer of Demon Mahishasura; (Victory to You) Who Shine with Beautiful Locks of Hair and Who is the Daughter of the Mountain."
"Forgive me amma, I haven't properly memorized the remaining verses."
"It is alright Vellaci, the Goddess knows the devotion in your heart, she is delighted to hear you chant her glory regardless if you complete it or not."
She smiled at me, and tuned toward the Idol and requested her desire.
" O divine mother of the universe, please protect my mother and grant her victory tomorrow, just as you were victorious against evil."
As she finished her request I heard footsteps of people approaching. I pulled my daughter close to me and grabbed my sword just in case. My caution was put to rest when I saw that Kuyili, the Marudhu Pandiyars, and some of the villagers approaching brought a buffalo along with them. Kuyili had a disappointed look on her face as her eyes me mine. What is the reason all of them gathered here? I did tell Kuyili that would be meditating and singing to the Goddess.
"I apologize my queen, I tried to tell them that you were not to be disturbed but they insisted that this must be done."
Then Periya (Elder brother) Marudhu spoke.
"My queen, the villagers want you to perform a buffalo sacrifice for tomorrow's battle." He said as he handed me the sacrificial chopper. The village priest performed a small prayer while the beast was purified.
Chinna ( younger brother) Marudhu then brought the buffalo bull to me and held it's horns in place for me to deliver the decapitating strike. I had hunted and killed animals before while I was the queen of Sivaganag, but never have I ever killed an animal in this manner. All the animals I have slain were brought down with a bow or spear while they were running away or facing me in battle. I never killed an animal that wasn't aware of the situation it was in. I didn't want to kill this beast, I felt immense pity for the buffalo and couldn't raise the sacrificial chopper.
My daughter who was now two arms length away, quickly grabbed my arm.
"Amma don't kill the buffalo, it did nothing wrong to us!"
My daughter's words tugged at my heart, she was right, but the people were expecting it to be performed. It was the tradition before battle to offer a buffalo bull to Goddess Korravai to gain her blessings for victory. My husband performed one before his battle with the British, but what use was it?
Kuyili now came up to us and looked at Vellacci.
"Come now, princess, I will take you to the waterfalls and we will have a good time playing there."
"No!, I am staying with amma, I wont leave with you!" She said as she held my arm firmly.
"Vellacci, let go of my arm."
"No, I will not let you kill the buffalo."
"I said let go!"
Vellacci immediately let go off me. I very rarely raised my voice to my daughter but she left me no choice, I had to make a decision and fast. Is our life governed by tradition or do we create tradition to better our life. What will I accomplish if I were to cut off this buffalo's head? How would that grant me victory, it did not give my late husband victory and instead he was the one slain in the end. Even now, the trajectory of this land was changing, from the Muslim invaders to the Europeans. Are the gods angry with us and our traditions? If the Goddess was pleased with my husband's offering she would have given him victory. I had come to a decision.
I looked at chinna Marudhu as he firmly he held the buffalo's head in place. He took a quick glance towards me awaiting for me to raise the chopper.
"Let it go."
"But your majesty, this is the tradition before battle, we need the Goddess's favor."
"I won't repeat myself again, let it go!"
Chinna Marudhu immediately let go of the buffalo's horns and bowed before me.
"Forgive me for my defiance, your majesty."
"You are forgiven, but never insist what I should do again." I said as I dropped the chopper cautiously.
"Your majesty, it is wise not to invoke the wrath of the Goddess." Periya Marudhu said with fear dripping from his voice.
"My husband performed a buffalo sacrifice for the Goddess before going into battle with the British and Nawab of Arcot, did he not?"
"Yes, your highness, he sacrificed ten buffalos for the Goddess."
"Did the Goddess bless him with victory?"
He couldn't answer and there was commotion among the villagers. Then someone from the small crowd yelled out.
"Oh Queen, you who are exalted among warriors, no man was able to match you in martial prowess, yet your heart is abounding in mercy compared to your lesser."
The voice came from a horrible face as the man approached us from the crowd. He was an old man, maybe he was the village's hermit.
"Stay back you dirty dog, don't approach the queen!" Periya Marudhu said drawing his sword.
"Let him come, he has no weapons in his hands."
"Your majesty....."
I raised my hand to Periya Marudhu to calm him down.
The old man approached me with his hands above his head clapping and dancing. His countenance was not pleasant, he had a long white beard, missing teeth, and his eyes looked like if he had gone mad. He was dressed only in a loin cloth as he danced about with no thought.
" Oh mighty queen, since you have spared the skin of the black beast, so too shall your skin be spared for all your life." He said as he danced around me and walked north into the forest disappearing from my view.
"Amma who was that man, and why was he dancing in a strange manner?"
"I do not know Vellacci."
" Don't mind his words your majesty, he is just a mad hermit that lives in the forest."
" I suppose so Kuyili, but I hope that his words will be fulfilled."
Kuyili looked like she wanted discuss a grave matter as I said this.
"Your majesty, I wish to talk to you in private, I want to discuss a matter with you." Kuyili said with sadness in her voice.
"Yes, it would be best to discuss it now."
"Periya Marudhu, take my daughter and the people back to the village, Kuyili and I have to discuss a matter in secret."
"As you wish your majesty."
The Marudhu brothers took Vellacci and instructed the people to go back to the village. Kuyili and I waited until everyone else were out of sight before beginning our conversation.
"Say what is it that you have to say Kuyili, all the people have left."
" Your majesty, I want to make a request."
"What is it you ask?"
"Before we attack the fort in tomorrow's battle, my women and I will disguise ourselves as regular women pretending to visit the Goddess temple inside. "
"Go on, I'm interested in this plan of yours."
"In our baskets of offerings we will hide small daggers to dispatch the British guards quickly."
" Kuyili this seems like a fool hardy strategy, you will all be killed inside the fort before we could come to your aid."
"Do not worry you majesty, I will drench myself in ghee and ignite myself in the armory near the temple, this will destroy a good portion of their weapons and most of their ammunition."
"This should give our forces ample time to come to the aid of my women."
"Kuyili, are you firm in your decision regarding this plan?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"I'm sure there may be someone other than you that can bear the burden of sacrifice."
" My queen, my women are all either bounded by marriage or they are courting a man, I have no one, I want them to enjoy the fruits of tomorrow's victory."
" You are most magnanimous Kuyili, you who have never known the warmth of a man's touch will be the reason for the women of my kingdom to lie with their men in peace."
"Alas, all my life I wished to look upon a man with delight but none I saw before me had ever set my heart ablaze."
"My only sorrow in doing this that I will not be able to witness you entering the royal palace in glory and reclaiming your throne, my queen."
"As surely as my name will be remembered yours will also."
"Never has anyone able to match me in combat except you, your skill and ferocity are second to none."
"Not even the late king, your majesty?"
"My husband was a great warrior, he was without equal among men, but one day we made the decision to see who was truly greater between the two of us."
"It was a hard duel, but in the end with great difficulty, I managed to have his back against a tree and my sword to his throat."
"Was the king furious with you after you bested him your majesty?"
"His pride was wounded but there was no anger in his loss, right after the duel our passion over took us and we rutted like wild beasts in the forest."
There was a desire in her eyes for copulation after I mentioned my victory over my husband, she must not leave this world without at least knowing the art of making love to a man.
"Kuyili, by tonight find a man among the ranks that is without a woman, and enjoy him to your heart's content before the dawn of tomorrow."
"Your majesty...." She blushed.
"That is an order, I don't want you leaving this world without relishing the passion of a man."
"Every man looks upon you with desire, you will have no trouble finding a suitable lover for this day." I said as I gave her a warm smile
She smiled at me and with great joy ran swiftly to the village.
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Reclamation:(1780)
The smell of burning sulfur filled my nostrils as I struck down a red coat. The explosion and the fire caused a great diversion that allowed my calvary to quickly come into the fort with little resistance. Kuyili's sacrifice, made it possible in entering the fort without heavy casualty. Still, my heart was heavy for the loss of my most faithful subject and friend. However I need to substitute sorrow with rage, I will not let her death be in vain. Not only will I crush both the British and Carnatic soldiers, but I will do so with little loss to my army.
The women's regiment had successfully resisted the British retaliation before Hyder's calvary could arrive, when I reached the temple numerous British and Carnatic soldier's corpses were found scattered near the temple area. I had managed to spot only one fallen sister of the soil among the dead. The battle is going favorably for us for now, the women were filled with fury of Kali as they struck down the incoming Muslim traitors.
I slew many as I advanced my way to the palace, my steed was swift and I was able to ride ahead of the Hyder's calvary cutting down all in my path. As I was nearing the palace, I could see cannons atop the terrace. I managed to halt and turn around before a round shot landed next to my horse, that was a very close brush with death. I had to warn the calvary to stay back, hopefully the infantry has made their way well within the city. Cannons were firing as I rode back to where the calvary was, to my delight the calvary was well past the range of the cannons. I saw Hyder's horsemen routing the disarrayed British soldiers as muskets were fired in all directions. I was able to find Ibrahim who was the commander of the calvary.
"Tell your men to fall back and not to advance forward, are the infantry nearby?"
"Rani Velu, the Kallars and the other tribals are fighting the British near the edges of the city, the musketeers are to the east of us."
"I will redirect them to take the palace, you keep your men breaking the ranks of the British."
"Understood, Rani Velu."
I rode with haste towards the east to gather their support to breach the palace. When I arrived the musketeers were in the formation of a volley fire as they slew numerous red coats who were all lined up. Still there were more coming to replace them. I needed them to finish this skirmish here before coming with me to breach palace. Fortunately, I heard the war cries of the women as they came running furiously as they flanked the red coats.
Before they could even draw their muskets, the women unleashed a fury of Valari ( throwing weapon) that instantly felled numerous red coats. The British soldiers were left in awe of the ferocity of the women as the women fell upon them with the appropriated swords of their fallen brothers. Wasting no time, I dismounted and joined my sisters in battle, we quickly cut down the few remaining men at the flanks and the musketeers gained an overwhelming advantage as they shot down almost all of the men in center with their volleys.
Ten of the last Britishers retreated but it was of no use as the Kallar men now joined the fray, each retreating brit dropped one by one to their arrows. They had superb accuracy, they would be the key to eliminating the cannons, the musketeers would be too vulnerable. A dispersed group of Kallar archers closing the distance and a dispersed group of musketeers serving as a distraction will be our key to the entrance to the palace. The calvary can storm in after.
"Men among Hyder's ranks, and the men of my rank we need to work in unison to eliminate the ones wielding the cannons at the entrance."
"What would you like us to do, Rani Velu?"
"I need 50 of you musketeers and 50 of you of Kallars to join me, the rest of you can eliminate the remaining Britishers in the city as well as supporting the calvary to the west."
"Guide us O magnificent queen, you who have brought us this far, we know victory lies only with you." The tribal chieftain said with his blood stained sword raised to the air.
"Follow me."
I mounted my steed once more and rode to the palace entrance, with the musketeers and Kallars behind me. I could see the terrace in the distance and estimated that we were not within the cannon's range. This would be the time to inform them of my plan.
"Musketeers of Hyder, loosely form a line from this point on and advance forward, do not gather in a tight formation."
"As you command, Rani Velu."
"You men of the woods, disperse to the right and to the left of the musketeers and advance forward, strike down the British dogs with your arrows as the muskets give you time."
"It shall be done my queen."
The musketeers loosely formed a line as they advanced forward, sure enough a round shot landed close to them. The musketeers fired back at them, giving way for my archers to advance forward between the numerous houses. They shall be concealed, before taking their shot. The cannon kept on firing but to no avail, neither the musketeers or the enemies were able to land.
Finally, I saw a cannon operator fall from the terrace, a shot had found one of it's mark from one of my archers. Now to advance the musketeers forward. I gave them the command and they quickly ran and fired their muskets alarming the British soldiers before they could retaliate against my archers. My archers were now felling almost all the cannon operators before my musketeers advanced to great proximity before firing once again. Their combined assault left the enemy not able to respond and the last red coat fell from the terrace.
The Kallars quickly made their way and were met with the final bastion of resistance. Sword clashed against sword with neither side gaining any advantage over the other. I rode swiftly to gather the women to join the battle and found to my delight that were rounding up some of the captured soldiers. The women had bounded both their feet and hands.
"O Women of the wood, it is time for you to fight alongside your brothers and husbands and taste victory alongside them!"