Aganaanooru 122 – Troubles in a Tryst

In this episode, we listen to a list of impediments to trysting, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 122, penned by Paranar. Set amidst the hooting owls and crowing roosters of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain landscape’, the verse presents the problems in the present and subtly nudges a change of course. இரும் பிழி மகாஅர் இவ் அழுங்கல் மூதூர்விழவு இன்றுஆயினும் துஞ்சாது ஆகும்;மல்லல் ஆவண மறுகு உடன் மடியின்,வல் உரைக் கடுஞ் சொல் அன்னை துஞ்சாள்;பிணி கோள் அருஞ் சிறை அன்னை துஞ்சின்,துஞ்சாக் கண்ணர் காவலர் கடுகுவர்;இலங்குவேல் இளையர் துஞ்சின், வை எயிற்றுவலம் சுரித் தோகை ஞாளி மகிழும்;அர வாய் ஞமலி மகிழாது மடியின்,பகல் உரு உறழ நிலவுக் கான்று விசும்பின்அகல்வாய் மண்டிலம் நின்று விரியும்மே;திங்கள் கல் சேர்பு கனை இருள் மடியின்,இல் எலி வல்சி வல் வாய்க் கூகைகழுது வழங்கு யாமத்து அழிதகக் குழறும்;வளைக்கண் சேவல் வாளாது மடியின்,மனைச் செறி கோழி மாண் குரல் இயம்பும்;எல்லாம் மடிந்தகாலை ஒரு நாள்நில்லா நெஞ்சத்து அவர் வாரலரே; அதனால்,அரி பெய் புட்டில் ஆர்ப்பப் பரி சிறந்து,ஆதி போகிய பாய்பரி நன் மாநொச்சி வேலித் தித்தன் உறந்தைக்கல் முதிர் புறங்காட்டு அன்னபல் முட்டின்றால் தோழி! நம் களவே. It’s all about who sleeps and who doesn’t, in this trip to the mountains, where we hear the lady say these words to her confidante, before a nightly tryst, pretending not to notice the man listening nearby, but making sure he’s in earshot: “Having people, who ceaselessly delight in drinking toddy, this uproarious, ancient town sleeps not, even when there are no festivities; Even if the buzzing markets and bustling streets fall asleep, mother who speaks sharp, harsh words sleeps not; Even if mother, who is akin to a strong prison that ties one down, sleeps, with sleepless eyes, guards would roam about hither and thither; Even if those young helpers with shining spears sleep, the sharp-toothed dog, with a right-whorled tail, would bark aloud; Even if that saw-mouthed dog doesn’t bark and falls asleep, rendering the appearance of day, the moon would spread its light, standing so bright in the middle of the wide sky; Even if the moon were to disappear into the mountains and fall sleep, rendering a thick darkness, the strong-mouthed owl, which has just nabbed the house rat, would hoot, evoking terror in the midnight hour, when ghouls walk about; Even if the owl, which lives in a tree hollow, sleeps without a peep, the rooster that lives in the house would crow out with its rich voice; Even on a day, when everything falls asleep, he, who has a heart that stays not in one place, does not turn up;  Lord Thithan, has fine, pouncing horses, which trot to a perfect rhythm, making their pebble-filled anklets resound, and he rules over Uranthai, surrounded by a fence of chaste trees. Akin to the dense, mountainous protective forest around Thiththan’s Uranthai, filled with obstacles many, is my secret love relationship with him, my friend!” Time to go on a midnight prowl in the mountains! The lady starts by talking about how the people in their town, who are known to relish toddy, don’t seem to sleep at all, even if there’s no excuse of a festival time. If at all, by some good grace, the town, with its busy marketplaces and streets, finally rest, their mother, who speaks sharp words, does not seem to sleep; If mother sleeps, then the guards don’t sleep and keep roaming about, doing their duty; If these guards decide it’s time to get some winks, then the dog takes their place and keeps up its loud barking; Even if the dog were to call it a day, the moon too would call the night a day and spread its bright rays, standing bang in the middle of the sky; Even if the moon decides to end its shine and settle down in the mountains, the owl, which has captured a rat, celebrates its success with a loud hoot; Even if the owl settles down without a squeak, our friend, the rooster, decides it’s time to grace the world with its resounding voice; By some glorious fortune, if at all, all these various creatures decide to render perfect silence, then that day, the man, who’s always wavering, doesn’t come here, the lady connects. She ends by saying just like the protected, stone jungle around the well-guarded town of Uranthai, ruled by Thithan, who has pouncing horses, the path of her love relationship with the man, was filled with pitfalls many! In essence, the lady is telling the man, ‘Don’t you see how many things have to go right for us to keep doing what we do?’. Hearing this angst-filled question from his beloved, the man would hopefully give up this temporary trysting and seek her hand in marriage. Beyond the usual theme of ‘Marry me, marry me’, what stays with us is the logical and lucid outlining of all the risks and dangers of the present course of action, which is the perfect fuel for the journey forward. Isn’t it a classic lesson to follow even today, whenever a wise voice within hints to us, ‘It’s time to change that path!’