Aganaanooru 114 – Hasten to her abode

In this episode, we perceive a man’s eagerness to return to his beloved, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 114, penned by an anonymous poet. The verse is situated amidst the scattered flowers of the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest landscape’ and visualises a person living far away. ‘கேளாய், எல்ல! தோழி! வேலன்வெறி அயர் களத்துச் சிறு பல தாஅயவிரவு வீ உறைத்த ஈர் நறும் புறவின்,உரவுக் கதிர் மழுங்கிய கல் சேர் ஞாயிறு,அரவு நுங்கு மதியின், ஐயென மறையும்சிறு புன் மாலையும் உள்ளார் அவர்” என,நப் புலந்து உறையும் எவ்வம் நீங்க,நூல் அறி வலவ! கடவுமதி, உவக்காண்நெடுங் கொடி நுடங்கும் வான் தோய் புரிசை,யாமம் கொள்பவர் நாட்டிய நளி சுடர்வானக மீனின் விளங்கித் தோன்றும்,அருங் கடிக் காப்பின், அஞ்சு வரு, மூதூர்த்திருநகர் அடங்கிய மாசு இல் கற்பின்,அரி மதர் மழைக் கண், அமை புரை பணைத் தோள்,அணங்கு சால், அரிவையைக் காண்குவம்பொலம்படைக் கலி மாப் பூண்ட தேரே. In this quick trip to the forests, we get to hear the man say these words to his charioteer, when he is returning after his mission: “Saying, ‘Listen to me, my friend, in this moist and fragrant forest, scattered with many fallen flowers, akin to the many small flowers, Velan the priest spreads in the arena of the ‘Veri’ ritual, when the sun, with its scorching rays diminished, has reached the mountains, and is vanishing slowly, like the moon being eaten by a snake, at this time of a suffering-filled evening, he does not think about me’, she would be sulking.  Lo behold, a sky-soaring fort with tall flags fluttering, where the night guards have planted many bright lamps, glowing akin to the stars in the sky. In this well-protected, formidable ancient town, in a wealthy mansion, with a flawless chastity, having lined, exquisite rain-like eyes, well-set, bamboo-like arms, akin to a goddess, lives the young maiden. So as to see her now and end her sorrow, O charioteer, who knows to wield the reins well, hasten this chariot, tied with proud horses, adorned with golden ornaments!” Time to trot along with the man and listen to his passion speak! The man starts by imagining the words his beloved would be saying just then. She would be looking at the setting sun, in that forest, spread with many flowers, which would remind her of Velan’s arena during the ‘Veri’ ritual and she would lament that even at such a painful time, the man had no thought of her. So, the man concludes by telling his charioteer that he doesn’t want her to suffer anymore and asks him to speed up his horses to the wealthy mansion of the lady, living in a fortified ancient town, in a wealthy mansion, waiting for his return. From the words in this verse, we can infer that this parting has taken place, before the lady’s marriage to the man, with its subtle mention of ‘Veri’ rituals, and talking about where the lady lives to the charioteer, for if it was the man’s own house, wouldn’t the charioteer know the way? Hope the man reaches his loved one’s abode safe and sound! Wishing that, we can partake in the man’s tender feeling, recalling the moment most of us would have experienced, when returning home eagerly after a parting!