Aganaanooru 154 – To her from here

In this episode, we perceive the eagerness of a man to return home, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 154, penned by Pothumpil Pullaalankanniyaar. The verse is situated amidst the falling jasmines and blooming glory-lilies of the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest landscape’ and etches the vibrant beauty of a land after the rains. படு மழை பொழிந்த பயம் மிகு புறவின்நெடு நீர் அவல பகுவாய்த் தேரைசிறு பல் இயத்தின் நெடு நெறிக் கறங்க,குறும் புதற் பிடவின் நெடுங் கால் அலரிசெந் நிலமருங்கின் நுண் அயிர் வரிப்ப,வெஞ் சின அரவின் பை அணந்தன்னதண் கமழ் கோடல் தாது பிணி அவிழ,திரி மருப்பு இரலை தெள் அறல் பருகிக்காமர் துணையொடு ஏமுற வதிய,காடு கவின் பெற்ற தண் பதப் பெரு வழி;ஓடுபரி மெலியாக் கொய்சுவற் புரவித்தாள் தாழ் தார் மணி தயங்குபு இயம்பஊர்மதி வலவ! தேரே சீர் மிகுபுநம் வயிற் புரிந்த கொள்கைஅம் மா அரிவையைத் துன்னுகம், விரைந்தே. This trip to the forests is based on the familiar theme of a man returning after completing his mission and here, we hear the man say these words to his charioteer, on his way back home to the lady: “In the fertile forests, where heavy rains have poured, from the deep pools of water, toads with mouths wide open, croak aloud, akin to many small musical instruments along those long paths; Long-stemmed wild jasmine buds from short bushes drop down on the fine sand of red ground beneath and decorate it with artistic patterns; Appearing akin to furious snakes, which have their hoods raised, cool and fragrant glory-lilies spread open their tight, pollen-filled buds; The male deer with twisted antlers relishes the clear waters and then resides with joy along with its desirable mate; Such is the cool, great road, surrounded by the blessed beauty of the forest. O charioteer! Always speeding and never slowing, ride on the horses with trimmed manes, making bells tied low on their feet to sway and resound, and hasten the chariot towards the abode of that beautiful, dark-skinned lady, who has an esteemed principle of perfect love for me!” Time to speed along with the man on those ancient roads! The man starts by depicting the world around him in much detail. He talks of the rain-washed forests and the consequence of toads croaking like musical instruments from those deep pools of water. Then his eyes fall on the wild jasmine flowers that have dropped down from their bushes and he admires the decorations these flowers make on the red soil of the forest, no doubt reminding him of the ‘kolam’ or patterns drawn in front of homes with rice powder. From these gentle flowers, he turns to a fiery, floral neighbour, a radiant glory-lily, which seems to him like a furious snake, staring with its hood, raised high. After this, he takes in a male deer with twisted antlers and sees the animal feeding on clear waters and then lying down with its loveable mate. The man summarises all these aspects by remarking on the exquisite beauty of the forest after the rains. He concludes by asking his charioteer to speed on the horses and ride their chariot swiftly to the lady, who waits with much love for the man!  Here, we see the man declare how beautiful the outer world had turned because of the shower of rains, and at the same time, he understands this is no time to linger and celebrate this beauty, for someone awaits him, with much yearning and distress, as the season of his promised return had arrived. The man seems to recharge himself with an observation of his environment and with the rejuvenation gained, turns his attention to his ultimate destination. To me, this seems to say that no matter how far we want to go, we have to begin right where we are, drawing our strength and focus from the here and now!