Aganaanooru 164 – On yearning and returning

In this episode, we perceive a heartfelt wish throbbing in a man’s mind, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 164, penned by Madurai Tamil Koothan Naakanthevanaar. The verse is situated amidst the fragrant flowers of the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest landscape’ and relays the yearning in a person to be with their beloved. கதிர் கையாக வாங்கி, ஞாயிறுபைது அறத் தெறுதலின், பயம் கரந்து மாறி,விடுவாய்ப்பட்ட வியன் கண் மா நிலம்காடு கவின் எதிரக் கனை பெயல் பொழிதலின்பொறி வரி இன வண்டு ஆர்ப்ப, பல உடன்நறு வீ முல்லையொடு தோன்றி தோன்றவெறி ஏன்றன்றே வீ கமழ் கானம்.”எவன்கொல் மற்று அவர் நிலை?” என மயங்கி,இகு பனி உறைக்கும் கண்ணொடு இனைபு, ஆங்குஇன்னாது உறைவி தொல் நலம் பெறூஉம்இது நற் காலம் கண்டிசின் பகைவர்மதில் முகம் முருக்கிய தொடி சிதை மருப்பின்,கந்து கால் ஒசிக்கும் யானை,வெஞ் சின வேந்தன் வினை விடப்பெறினே! A verse in which we witness the transformation of this domain as we listen to the man say these words to his heart, as he remains at a battle encampment, in the service of his king, and parted away from his lady love: “Extending its rays as hands, the sun had seized every drop of moisture, and so, losing its green utterly, changing from its stance of fertility, the wide spreading land, became parched with cracks many. For the land to regain its state of being filled with lush green, the rains have poured heavily, and so fragrant flowers of wild jasmine along with flame-lilies have bloomed, making swarms of striped bees buzz around, spreading a rich scent across that forest of fallen flowers! At this time, worried wondering, ‘What state might he be in?’, with tears pooling in her eyes, helpless, my lady remains there. Our king possesses battle elephants, which after tearing apart gates of enemy forts, now stand with ruined golden rings on their tusks and pull against the posts to which they are tied. Good times would arrive truly and my lady would attain her old beauty, if only our furious king decides to end his mission of war!” Let’s inhale that intense scent of a rain-soaked forest and learn more! The man starts by talking about how summer had come and the sun had been greedy about gathering with its many hands and gulping down every bit of water on the expanse of land. As a consequence, there was no sign of anything fertile, and the earth looked listless, all parched and thirsty. As if granting the wish of this land, the rains had arrived in the due season, and poured down, filling the forest with wild jasmines and flame-lilies, much to the excitement of bees around, the man describes. Then, in his mind’s eye, the man leaves the world around behind and visits the lady. He sees her worrying about him, wondering what he’s going through, and her eyes filled to the brim with unshed tears. He returns back to his camp and takes in the battle elephants that have done their job of smashing enemy gates quite well. and are now standing there, with broken tusk rings, shaking their posts, still seething with the remnants of fury. The man concludes by saying that good times would return in his life and his lady would regain her old beauty, if only the king decided his war was over.  Inferring from the state of the elephants, though the king had gained victories, he seemed not satisfied and perhaps, he was intent on continuing the war. This is what the man wishes would end and that in turn, he could end the suffering of his beloved. There’s a flowing beauty in the thought of this verse in how the man talks about the nature of the parched land and the effect of the pouring rains, subtly connecting to the state of his pining lady, parted from him and his hope to end her suffering! As a modern office-goer would say, ‘It’s all in the boss’ hands!’ Here’s wishing our man gets his leave of absence and returns home soon, and ends up pouring as the loving rain upon the parched earth of the lady’s heart!