TAMILIAN SAGAS

THE CART-DRIVER AND THE POET

VIDYALANKARA
DR.S.JAYABARATHI
JayBee

    There is a small town called Midhilai Patti in Tamilnadu, South India.
This place is situated in the earstwhile Pudukkottai State, presently
Pudukkottai District.
    The place is famous for its scholars who had been living there with
hereditory rights.
    One among them was Alzagiya ThiruchchiRRambala Kaviraayar.
He was afriend of the Grand Master of Tamil - UV.Saminatha Aiyar.
The Kaviraayar gave many valuable manuscripts to UVS when he went
to Midhilai Patti. The most complete and most erfect manuscript for
'Cilappadhikaaram' was found here.
    The collection of books an manuscripts were quite old at that time itself.
The fore-beras of the Kaviraayar were collecting them each generation
 and adding them on until it was a library rich in manuscripts.
    An ancestor, another ThiruChiRRambala Kaviraayar had obtained land,
villages, and many other privileges from Sedhupathi, the ruler of
Ramanathapuram State. The village of Midhilai Patti was given to him as
'muRRuuttu' by Venggalappa Naikkar, the PaLaiyakkaarar of Marunggapuri.
MuRRuuttu is a tax-free village which was given by the ruler as an
acknowledgement of special merits in scholastic accomplishments.
This was a right that was enjoyed on a hereditory basis.
    One day, the Kaviraayar was stranded in another place. It was getting dark.
He had to go to Midhilai Patti. But he had no means of travelling at that time.
    By and large a bullock cart came along.
    The Kaviraayar stopped the bullock-cart and told the driver about his
predicament.
    The driver agreed to take him to Midhilai Patti.
    To while away the time, the driver asked the Kaviraayar about himself.
The Kaviraayar told about himself and many other stories about his ancestors
and their scholarship. He also told him stories about ancient Tamil lterature.
    The bullock cart travelled all thorughout the night and reached Midhilai Patti
 just before dawn.
    The Kaviraayar asked the cart driver to take rest first. He could go back
later in the morning after a full meal andsufficient payment.
    But the driver was reluctant and refused. He wanted to return immediately.
    He declined taking any food. He even declined any drink.
    And strangest of all, he refused any payment.
    The Kaviraayar was shocked and puzzled.
    So he asked the driver what was wrong?

    Hesitantly the diver told the Kaviraayar,

"My ancestor was Venggalappa Naikkar, He gave your ancestor all this property.
By quirk of freak fate, we lost everything and I am here now like this.
This bullock cart is all that I have now. It is only through this cart that I
eck out a living.
    The Dharma Saastras say that whatever has been given as dhaanam
should never be taken back. So now I cannot take even a mite from
what has already been given by ancestor. I must not even wet my hand
here. As for the ride, let it be a small token that I am able to give you
in the way of my great ancestor".

    With that he turned his back and walked out majestically and climbed onto
his cart and drove the bullocks away speedily.

    Was he NOT greater than Venggalappa Naikker himself?

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