I am astonished to see the amount of preparations you have made to present such an excellent writing to our Group.
No doubt, each member is soaked with Kalki's writings and would definitely everything else in the microscope..
The thought to present a historical novel in this group itself needs some guts... Very good attempt..
I am sure this will encourage other talents also to bring out their best..
One suggestion : If possible provide some back drop when introducing real historical characters :
Our General was the who surveyed the MUMMUDI CHOZHA MANDALAM (this you have already mentioned) to the accuracy of about 1 sq.cm! in the year 1001 AD. The Ualgalanthan kole (stick) mark is present almost in all the chola temples. In Rajarajeswaram, Thanjavur, it is shown to us by Dr. Kalaikkovan personally during 2nd yathirai.. The length more than 1 meters (may be about 1.5 mtrs).
He is the first to put Adithan (Surya) statue into worship In Chakrapalli.. We should remember that as per Thiruvalangadu copper plates, Surya is the First Chozha king (or Chozhas are descedents of Surya - like Ram & co ! He was prudent to put the Kula-Mudhalwar for worship!
When some of us visited Chakrapalli last year (near Papanasam / Thanjavur) we could not see such statue. But inside 108 Sivalayam temple (name of a temple) in Papanasam, we found a 6 foot Surya inside a separate sanctum near Navagrahas... Very recently it was found that in the Amman temple within the complex, RR chola's inscriptions are found ... A detailed study is being undertaken by the scholars to check if this is the FIRST Surya ever positioned for worship by the Chozhas. Sooriyanar temple (near Adudurai) Surya is of Kulothungan period.. Other Navagrahas are added during Nayaks..
The going is great. One curious query. I was surprised to find the mention about enemies trying to bring fake gold coins of Cholas into circulation. Was the practice prevalent in those days and is there any historical evidence for this? Or is it just your 'karpana sakthi'?
FYI, in part II & III, the last footnotes (no. 9 & 20) are mentioned in the story but the explanations are missing.