During the reign of King Valagamba, an army of Cholas invaded Sri Lanka. As the army troupes belonged to seven Chola Leaders, Valagamba lost the battle. King Valagamba had nothing left to do, but to flee with his two queens in a chariot, with the enemies on pursuit.
Due to the weight of the king, Queen Somadevi and Queen Anula, who was heavily pregnant at that time, the chariot was slowing down. Queen Somadevi realized that if the chariot cannot go faster, all three of them would be captured and maybe killed.
She decided to get off the chariot to lighten it up, to allow the King and his other consort to escape. In spite of the king's protesting, she got off the carriage and was captured by the enemies.
While Somadevi was captured, the king secretly gathered troupes and re entered the battlefield, defeating all seven of the Chola Leaders, and regaining his throne. He sent for his wife, and restored her as his queen.
To honour her brave act, he built a Temple named Somarama.
I drew Somadevi this time, with her eyes closed, ready to be captured, while the enemies are closing in......:)
