(Chapter on selling  Ruby)

The king Veera Pandiyan had lot of vast stretches of paddy fields  which gave yields several times in a year. He had concubines (aasai naayaki in tamil0 in his private chamber. Several beautiful children were born through them. But the wife of the King Veerapandiyan did not have issues. She was not blessed to have children. They performed several poojas, under took Asgtami, chathurthi and Somavara vrathams(austerities). Several days passed. With God’s blessings the queen became  pregnant and a male child was born to her. Veera Pandiyan performed rituals commencing from Naming ceremony, feeding ceremony(Anna Prasanam) etc.,  for his new born child. One day Veera Pandiyan went to the forest for hunting. There fate played its role. Veerapandiyan died because of an attack on him by a tiger.  People felt very sad on hearing the news of the death of their king. The entire country mourned on hearing the death news. Mean while the concubines of the king and their children took away with them things like gold, jewels, crowns  what ever was available and absconded themselves. The Ministers made the lawful son to perform the last rites for the deceased father.

The ministers wanted to crown the lawful son of Veerapandiyan as prince. When they opened the treasure box in the palace they found to their utter shock that the Crown studded with nine gems  and other items were missing. They did not know what to do further. They took the son to the tower gate of the temple. There the God Soma sundarar came and stood in disguise as a merchant selling rare and valuable gems. He looked at them and asked them why they were looking sad, and grim faced. The ministers explained the whole story of what had happened so far in the palace to him. Upon hearing the story the merchant told “O” ministers. Please come with me. I have lots of valuable and rare gems for making a crown. These precious stones are more valuable than the one you have lost. Further, we have made crowns for Pandyan kings several occasions, hereditarily by our family. Do not worry over the lost gem stones. Let it may come back slowly. The spies of Pandiyan kingdom are experts in their jobs. They will find out the thief and also the place where they have been kept stealthily. I will fix new stones in the crown. With that we will celebrate the crowning ceremony.”The ministers have not seen that gold merchant before. Yet they went behind him involuntarily. The mechant made them to sit in a hall in the temple. He spread Rathna Carpet on the floor and spread the Navarathna stones. On seeing them the ministers got astonished. In their life time they have never seen such shining stones. They thought that if they are fixed in the crown it will bring glory and pride for the Pandiyan kingdom. They understood that these stones in their quality and beauty are very much better than the previous lost stones. They took the merchant to the palace.

Upon fixing the new stones on the crown the merchant said “O” Ministers, You should accept my small request. After performing the crowning ceremony with this crown, the prince Selva Pandiyan should be called as Abhishega Pandiyan.”The Ministers conceded to their request. On seeing the crown, Selva Pandiyan also expressed his happiness.  On an auspicious day Selvapandiyan was crowned and was called by the new name Abhishega Pandiyan. The Gold Merchant who also attended the crowning ceremony was suddenly found missing. They went in search of him and found him and wanted to honour him suitably. At that time also he gave a slip to them and again got absconded. They found him once again and wanted to find out the secret behind him. The merchant appearerd as Lord Meenakshi sundarewarar.They worshipped their God who had come to help them to get rid of their country from the ignominy. After blessing Abhishega Pandiyan, both Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar disappeared. Abhishega Pandiyan went in search of the concubines of his deceased father and their children and recovered from them the lost jewels, crowns, etc., Whatever it might be, since those women have lived with his father, he pardoned them and their children. And provided them suitable accomadation for their stay and made provisions that were necessary for their decent living. They also sought his excuse and pardon and left to the places allotted to them. Abhishega Pandiyan ruled his country for several years.