Aganaanooru 168 – Resounding kitchen of yore

In this episode, we perceive an attempt to change a person’s course of action, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 168, penned by Kotampalathu Thunjiya Cheramaan. The verse is situated amidst the soaring peaks of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain landscape’ and portrays the dangers of treading through this domain in the dark. யாமம் நும்மொடு கழிப்பி, நோய் மிக,பனி வார் கண்ணேம் வைகுதும்; இனியே;ஆன்றல் வேண்டும் வான் தோய் வெற்ப!பல் ஆன் குன்றில் படு நிழல் சேர்ந்தநல் ஆன் பரப்பின் குழுமூர் ஆங்கண்கொடைக் கடன் ஏன்ற கோடா நெஞ்சின்உதியன் அட்டில் போல ஒலி எழுந்து,அருவி ஆர்க்கும் பெரு வரைச் சிலம்பின்ஈன்றணி இரும் பிடி தழீஇ, களிறு தன்தூங்குநடைக் குழவி துயில் புறங்காப்ப,ஒடுங்கு அளை புலம்பப் போகி, கடுங் கண்வாள் வரி வயப் புலி கல் முழை உரற,கானவர் மடிந்த கங்குல்மான் அதர்ச் சிறு நெறி வருதல், நீயே? In this little trip to the highlands, we get to hear the confidante say these words to the man, as he prepares to leave after his nightly tryst with the lady: “After spending nights with you, full of affliction, she remains with tear-filled eyes at other times; And so, you must give it up, O lord of the sky-soaring mountains! In the shadow of a peak called ‘Pallaankundram’, spreads a town called ‘Kuzhumoor’, filled with fine cattle. Here, rules a king called ‘Uthiyan’, the one with an unswerving heart, who has assumed the duty of charity. Akin to the uproar in his kitchen, cascades resound in the slopes of the majestic mountain ranges. Here, embracing its dark mate that has just given birth, a male elephant stands in guard of its calf with a swaying gait, even as a strong, harsh-eyed, striped tiger leaves its cozy den in the cave in loneliness, and steps out, roaring aloud amidst the mountain bamboos, in the dead dark of the night, when the mountain folk are fast asleep. Indeed, you must give up your trips through these small bushy paths, frequented by beasts many, at this hour!” It’s time for a midnight stroll through the mountains! The confidante talks about how the lady is all smiles and delight when she is with the man, during their nightly trysts, but the moment he leaves, she seems to be filled with suffering, with tears threatening to leap beyond the bounds of her eyelids. So, the confidante tells the man that he must give up something he’s been doing. Without directly telling what it is, she goes on to talk about a king named ‘Uthiyan’ and his town of ‘Kuzhumoor’, a town in the shadow of a peak called ‘Pallaankundram’, which translates as ‘the peak of cattle many’. No coincidence, the town is said to have many cattle indeed, echoing its wealth. The confidante takes us to the kitchen of this king’s palace and there’s a loud noise, lot of uproar, why because the king had sworn to uphold unceasing charity. That’s why his kitchen was always abuzz! The confidante has mentioned this fact only to place in parallel that uproar to the resounding roar of the cascades in their mountains. And here, she points to how a male elephant is embracing its female and guarding their newborn calf, even as the roar of a tiger that has left its cave resounds in the air. The confidante details how all this is happening in the middle of the night and it’s his walking in the dark amidst those narrow mountain paths that the man must give up! ‘Don’t you add angst to the lady’s heart’, the confidante seems to be telling the man, revealing how much the lady fears for the man’s safety, echoing her love for him. At the same time, telling the man that the lady cannot bear to be apart from him. In a hidden way, the confidante tells the man the only path forward was to forget this temporary trysting and seek the lady’s hand in marriage. ‘Marry her, marry her’ indeed, but interesting that we got to listen to the uproarious sounds in an ancient kitchen that never stops working, and keeps piling mounds and mounds of food, for all those who arrive at that doorstep, seeking! A capture of generosity and prosperity in one shot!