There lived a king by name, Manuneedhi chozhan. Manuneedhi chozhan was known for his justice and righteousness. The king hung a giant bell (known as 'Aaraichi mani' in Tamil) in front of his court room that could be rung by anyone in his kingdom, whenever an injustice was meted out to them.

Manuneedhi chozhan had a son by name Veedhividangan. Once Veedhividangan was riding by a chariot when, accidentally, a calf got stuck under the chariot wheels and died. The calf's mother cow came running and rung the giant bell with horns, requesting justice for its dead calf. Upon knowing this incident, the king was immersed in sorrow. The king decided that his son, who was the cause for the calf's death, also be executed in a similar fashion.

The king's minister, Kalavallaban suggested that the death of the calf could be atoned by donating cows ('go dhaanam') or clothes ('vastra dhaanam') to others. However, the king was adamant and argued that the life of the calf and that of his son were equal and that neither one is inferior or superior to the other.

The people of his kingdom condemned the king's decision. They all felt that Veedhividangan should be excused since he committed the mistake unknowingly. But the king's decision was final.

The ill-fated day dawned and the whole of the kingdom gathered in utter grief to witness the king's justice. As the king laid his son on the ground and was about to run over the same wheels of the chariot which killed the calf, just then Lord Shiva, pleased by his penance of justice, appeared and blessed the king, giving life to both his son and the calf. The king was thus rewarded for his steadfastness in justice.

His name since then is being used as a metaphor for fairness and justice in Tamil literature.

This story is a real-life incident cited in the book 'Manu Needhi Kanda Puranam' as a part of the Tamil literature 'Periyapuranam' .

- A. Bhagyanathan

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