Aganaanooru 108 – Fulfilling love’s purpose

In this episode, we perceive a hidden attempt at persuasion, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 108, penned by Thankaal Porkollanaar. The verse is situated in the bee-buzzing hills of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain Landscape’ and depicts the dangers in trysting. புணர்ந்தோர் புன்கண் அருளலும் உணர்ந்தோர்க்குஒத்தன்றுமன்னால்! எவன்கொல்? முத்தம்வரைமுதல் சிதறியவை போல், யானைப்புகர் முகம் பொருத புது நீர் ஆலிபளிங்கு சொரிவது போல் பாறை வரிப்ப,கார் கதம்பட்ட கண் அகன் விசும்பின்விடுபொறி ஞெகிழியின் கொடி பட மின்னி,படு மழை பொழிந்த பானாட் கங்குல்,ஆர் உயிர்த் துப்பின் கோள் மா வழங்கும்இருளிடைத் தமியன் வருதல் யாவதும்அருளான் வாழி, தோழி! அல்கல்விரவுப் பொறி மஞ்ஞை வெரீஇ, அரவின்அணங்குடை அருந் தலை பை விரிப்பவைபோல்,காயா மென் சினை தோய நீடிப்பல் துடுப்பு எடுத்த அலங்கு குலைக் காந்தள்அணி மலர் நறுந் தாது ஊதும் தும்பிகை ஆடு வட்டின் தோன்றும்மை ஆடு சென்னிய மலைகிழவோனே. The elements put up quite a show in this trip to the mountains, where we hear the confidante say these words to the lady, pretending not to notice the man listening nearby, but making sure he’s in earshot: “To remove the suffering of those they love is the duty of the wise, isn’t it? Then why doesn’t he? Frightened by the spotted peacock, the snake’s divine and fearsome hood spreads out. Akin to that, as the ironwood tree’s slender branch grazes on it, clusters of the flame-lily, akin to a many-oared boat, sways. And to feed on the fragrant pollen of those beautiful flowers, bees, appearing like dice played by hand, swarm around, in those hills, whose heads are covered in clouds, in the domain of the lord! On the elephant’s spotted face, appearing as if pearls have been scattered on a hill top, fresh hail stones dash against and then spread on the rocks, like scattered marbles, when furious clouds in the wide sky, flash vines of lightning, akin to a sparking fire brand, and heavy rain pours down in the middle of the night. At such a time, when killer animals roam, with a desire to feed on precious lives, in the dark, alone he comes. How is this rendering grace, my friend? May you live long!” Time to take a walk in the dark through the ups and downs of a hill! The confidante starts with a declarative statement that the foremost duty of those who say they love another is to avoid causing pain to them, and do all it takes to end any suffering on their part. She nails it, indeed! But it’s not to muse on the nature of love that the confidante says these words. She reveals the reason by saying that the man does not seem to be doing that. After launching into a description of his mountain country, with layered similes depicting ironwood trees, flame lilies and buzzing bees, the confidante details how the man has been coming to see the lady in the dead dark of the night, when carnivorous animals are on the prowl, looking out for a prey, and this is a time when the rains pour down, with hail stones as well, with angry clouds punching each other and sending sparks of fury in the form of lightning flashes. The confidante concludes by wondering how this can be seen as thoughtful rendering of grace by the lord of the mountains towards the lady.  In essence, it’s the confidante’s way of pointing to the man that he has been trysting for too long, instead of taking steps towards a permanent union with the lady. Without directly saying it to his face, the confidante appeals to his sense of justice in a seemingly secret conversation with her friend. The highlight of this verse though are the many stunning similes, such as a scattering of pearls on a rocky surface to etch the image of the spots on an elephant’s face. This matter-of-fact accessing of precious elements of the sea talks about how these ornaments were to be found ubiquitously in that domain. Other interesting similes are the many-oared boat for a flame-lily’s flower clusters, stressing on the culture’s ship-building sensitivities. And finally, it’s not all work or wealth, there’s also representation of play, as echoed by the comparison of a buzzing bee to dice in a game. Thus, aspects of life in the Sangam era gently shine in these similes, much like the confidante’s subtle attempt at changing the man’s path!