The Legend of Payanur
Dr. Hermann Gundert
Nilakesi, a woman of good family, an inhabitant of a place called
Sivaperur (Trichoor?)a town famous for female beauty, could not obtain
a son though married to several men. She resolves therefore to do penance
by wandering about as a beggar, and comes to the famous emporium
Cachilpatnam (near Mount Dilli), where the chief of the place, merchant
named Nambu Chetti, or Chombu Chetti, enters into conversation with
her, advises her to perform certain vows, and then takes her to his palace
as his lawful wife. A son is born, and receives the name of Nambusari
Aren, and a feast of rejoicing is celebrated on the 41st day on the plain of
Payanur. At that time Nilakesi's brothers happened to go up the coast in
a ship. They hear the music, an disembark to see the play. But as they
climb up a wall of the temple, some spectators expostulate with them.
They call themselves Culavanier (merchants) who cannot be expected to
know the customs of the place, and appeal to the chief. He comes but
applies his rod to the head of one, a scuffle ensues, and the strangers are killed.
Nilakesi when acquainted with the Murder of her brothers, leaves
the palace and her son, and again wanders forth begging. The son grows
up and is instructed by his father in all the arts of trade and ship-building
(given in interesting detail, full of obsolete words). The ship being at
length launched and manned with Vappurawas (?) Pandias, Chonakas,
Cholias, and also with one Yavanaka, the merchants start fearlessly on a
voyage first to Pumpatna, round Mt. Eli, then passing the Mala (Dives)
into the Tan-punul-aru (river) to the town Puvenkapatna, proceed farther
on to the Cavari, from whence they sail into another sea to other shores,
till they reach the gold mountains (ponmala) where they exchange all
their cargo for gold, return and land their goods in Cachilpatnam, store
them in a new magazine, and dismiss the mariners with their shares. After
this, when the father and son are amusing themselves with playing chess,
