Aganaanooru 133 – The love in his words

In this episode, we listen to a recollection of a past moment, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 133, penned by Uraiyoor Maruthuvan Damotharanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse presents vivid images of elements of nature and weather. குன்றி அன்ன கண்ண, குரூஉ மயிர்,புன் தாள், வெள்ளெலி மோவாய் ஏற்றைசெம் பரல் முரம்பில் சிதர்ந்த பூழி,நல் நாள் வேங்கை வீ நன்கனம் வரிப்ப,கார் தலைமணந்த பைம் புதற் புறவின்,வில் எறி பஞ்சியின் வெண் மழை தவழும்கொல்லை இதைய குறும் பொறை மருங்கில்,கரி பரந்தன்ன காயாஞ் செம்மலொடுஎரி பரந்தன்ன இலமலர் விரைஇ,பூங் கலுழ் சுமந்த தீம் புனற் கான் யாற்றுவான் கொள் தூவல் வளி தர உண்கும்;எம்மொடு வருதல் வல்லையோ மற்று?’ எனக்கொன் ஒன்று வினவினர்மன்னே தோழி!இதல் முள் ஒப்பின் முகை முதிர் வெட்சிகொல் புனக் குருந்தொடு கல் அறைத் தாஅம்மிளை நாட்டு அத்தத்து ஈர்ஞ் சுவற் கலித்தவரி மரற் கறிக்கும் மடப் பிணைத்திரிமருப்பு இரலைய காடு இறந்தோரே. In this trip to the drylands, we perceive interesting scenes, as we listen to the lady say these words to her confidante, who worries that the lady will not be able to bear the man’s separation, as he left in search of wealth: “The bearded, male white rat, with eyes, akin to rosary peas, hair with a rich hue, and short legs, kicks up dust on the rough land, filled with red pebbles, upon which the auspicious Kino flowers fall, making it appear like a ‘Veri ritual’ arena. Above such a fresh forest space, which the rains have graced, akin to carded cotton, white clouds crawl across. In these cleared forests on the side of small hills, as if charcoal was scattered, ironwood flowers bloom, and as if fire was spreading, silk cotton flowers bloom. Bearing the nectar of these flowers, flows the sweet waters of the wild river, which the sky snatches, and then renders as a sweet drizzle in the wind. ‘Accepting this as your food, are you capable of coming with me?’, he asked with fear then, my friend! He, who parted away to that drylands jungle, where the mature buds of the jungle flame, appearing akin to claws of quails, lie fallen down along with wild lime flowers from cleared forests, on the rocky surfaces of the drylands country in the ‘Milai Naadu’, where a male deer with twisted antlers unites with its naive mate, which feeds on the lined hemp, flourishing in the wet wastelands!” Time to take in the life throbbing in this domain! The lady starts by observing the actions of a white rat, which is described so vividly as having the protruding red eyes, appearing like rosary peas. This little animal is kicking up a huge dust in that land, where Kino flowers have fallen. A moment to observe that these Kino flowers are marked by the adjective ‘auspicious’ to indicate that this is the season of marriages. Perhaps, this separation had happened before the lady’s wedding to the man, and she remarks how there seems to be pressure at home to get married. Returning, we find the lady comparing this red earth on which Kino flowers are fallen to a ‘Veri’ ritual ground, possibly hinting at such occurrences at her own home. Next, from the ground below, the lady zooms to the sky above, where the white clouds appear akin to carded cotton. Why because they have done their task of pouring the rains on the forests, where the dark blue ironwood flowers are blooming like charcoal and the red flowers of the silk-cotton are blooming like fire. Now, since the rains have poured, rivers are brimming over with floods, which snatches these fallen flowers. From these gushing rivers, the skies pick up the nectar of these flowers and splash as drizzle, the lady continues. Now, she connects these elements and concludes by saying, the man had said these words to her, and then, turned to her and asked if it was possible for the lady to walk on with him, eating this drizzle from the skies as her only food, with much concern, and then he left to the drylands, where the jungle flame flowers and wild lime flowers lie scattered on the rocks, and where the male deer seeks out its naive mate, which had been feeding on the wild hemp, and unites together. What we have to infer from this song is that the lady understands and appreciates the man’s concern in taking her along with him on his journey! She perceives his true love and believes he will return to her, which is also echoed in the scene of the male deer uniting with its mate, a metaphor for the lady’s own happy union with the man. Through this, the lady hopes to reassure her friend and wait with patience, trusting in the love of her beloved!