Aganaanooru 166 – Romp in the river shore

In this episode, we listen to the sarcastic words of a person, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 166, penned by Idaiyan Nedunkeeranaar. The verse is situated amidst the river shores of the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and echoes the tension and rivalry in a rich town. ‘நல் மரம் குழீஇய நனை முதிர் சாடிபல் நாள் அரித்த கோஒய் உடைப்பின்,மயங்குமழைத் துவலையின் மறுகு உடன் பனிக்கும்பழம் பல் நெல்லின் வேளூர்வாயில்,நறு விரை தெளித்த நாறுஇணர் மாலை,பொறி வரி இன வண்டு ஊதல கழியும்உயர் பலி பெறூஉம் உரு கெழு தெய்வம்,புனை இருங் கதுப்பின் நீ கடுத்தோள்வயின்அனையேன்ஆயின், அணங்குக, என்!’ எனமனையோட் தேற்றும் மகிழ்நன்ஆயின்,யார்கொல் வாழி, தோழி! நெருநல்தார் பூண் களிற்றின் தலைப் புணை தழீஇ,வதுவை ஈர் அணிப் பொலிந்து, நம்மொடு,புதுவது வந்த காவிரிக்கோடு தோய் மலிர்நிறை ஆடியோரே? Here’s a dash of gods and oaths in this trip to the farmlands, as we listen to the courtesan say these words to her friend, on receiving a particular news about the man: “Saying, ‘When the measuring stick breaks a jug of toddy, which had been aged for many days, the contents would shower down, confusing people as if it’s the drizzle of rainclouds, in the streets of the ancient town of Veloor, known for its heaps of paddy. At the gates of this town, striped bees fear to buzz around fragrant garlands, woven with scented buds, and fly away, seeing the huge offerings laid alongside, in front of the statue of that formidable god. O maiden with thick, flowing tresses, as you doubt, if at all I had embraced the other, let this god possess and torment me’, the lord of the town had consoled his wife, I hear. If this is true, who might that be, my friend, may you live long? The one who came yesterday, akin to a garlanded elephant, and held on to the edge of the raft, and shone like the jewel of the group, and rejoiced playing with us, as the new flood of the River Kaveri brimmed over the shores?” Time to stroll into the expanse of this prosperous town and listen on! The courtesan starts by repeating the words of the man. The man seems to have described the ancient town of Veloor, by mentioning how toddy would shower as rain on its people, when a pot containing aged liquor was accidentally broken by a measuring stick. He continues by talking about how even bees don’t buzz around the garlands, offered to the mighty god at the gates of this town, in fear. The reason he had mentioned this god is to say to his wife, who was doubting his actions, that he never embraced anyone else. He reiterates his statement, telling her, that if at all, as she was suspecting, he had embraced another, he invites that god to smite him, then and there. In short, he has sworn an oath in the name of that fearsome God about his innocence before his wife. Hearing this, the courtesan shoots back to her friend saying, ‘If what the man is saying is true, then who was that person, who was life and soul of the party, yesterday, as we played and swam in the new flood of the River Kaveri, as it leaped over the banks?’ The intention of the courtesan was for these words to travel back to the lady and reinstate that the man is not so true as he claims to be and he was indeed entranced by the courtesan. Leaving behind this mere tussle over a man, let’s turn our focus to that activity of the Tamils recorded here, and that is to play in the river, when it comes rushing with fresh new waves, after the rains. No doubt the river brings the freshness of the mountains in its waves and energises the folks on the plains. A record of how this culture did not worship this life-giving river as a distant God, but saw it as a delightful companion, one which nourishes the soul!