Aganaanooru 181 – Releasing the heart

In this episode, we perceive the resolution of a dilemma, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 181, penned by Paranar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse links a battlefield and a place of prominence in the ancient world. துன் அருங் கானமும் துணிதல் ஆற்றாய்,பின் நின்று பெயரச் சூழ்ந்தனைஆயின்,என் நிலை உரைமோ நெஞ்சே! ஒன்னார்ஓம்பு அரண் கடந்த வீங்கு பெருந் தானைஅடு போர் மிஞிலி செரு வேல் கடைஇ,முருகு உறழ் முன்பொடு பொருது களம் சிவப்ப,ஆஅய் எயினன் வீழ்ந்தென, ஞாயிற்றுஒண் கதிர் உருப்பம் புதைய ஓராங்குவம்பப் புள்ளின் கம்பலைப் பெருந் தோடுவிசும்பிடை தூர ஆடி, மொசிந்து உடன் பூ விரி அகன் துறைக் கணை விசைக் கடு நீர்க்காவிரிப் பேர் யாற்று அயிர் கொண்டு ஈண்டி,எக்கர் இட்ட குப்பை வெண் மணல்வைப்பின் யாணர் வளம் கெழு வேந்தர்ஞாலம் நாறும் நலம் கெழு நல் இசை,நான் மறை முது நூல் முக்கட் செல்வன்,ஆலமுற்றம் கவின் பெறத் தைஇயபொய்கை சூழ்ந்த பொழில் மனை மகளிர்கைசெய் பாவைத் துறைக்கண் இறுக்கும்மகர நெற்றி வான் தோய் புரிசைச்சிகரம் தோன்றாச் சேண் உயர் நல் இல்புகாஅர் நல் நாட்டதுவே பகாஅர்பண்டம் நாறும் வண்டு அடர் ஐம்பால்,பணைத் தகைத் தடைஇய காண்பு இன் மென் தோள்,அணங்குசால் அரிவை இருந்தமணம் கமழ் மறுகின் மணற் பெருங் குன்றே. In this long trip to the drylands, it’s more of a travel to other spaces, as we listen to the man say these words to his heart, in the middle of his journey through the domain, seeking wealth: “If you don’t have the courage to cross this formidable and inaccessible jungle, and instead you wish to stand behind me, looking to leave, then go and tell about my state, O heart! The battle-worthy, victorious Mignili, who has a huge army that has crossed many a soaring enemy fort, crossed spears with Aay Eyinan, who fought with the courage of God Muruku, making the battlefield redden. When Aay fell in battle, preventing the heat of the sun’s shining rays from touching him, a huge flock of birds flew in formation together, high up, with a thunderous uproar, hiding the sky entire. Later, these birds flew and rested in the flower-filled shore of the great River Kaveri, which brings along huge quantities of fine silt, turning them into heaps of white sand. Nearby, is a place filled with prosperity and ruled by wealthy kings, and happens to be ‘Aalamuttram’, where the Three-Eyed Lord, composed the four ancient scriptures, whose abundant fame spreads around the world. In the picturesque orchards, filled with ponds here, maiden from households craft handmade statues and place on the river shore, where those birds would arrive and rest. This unfolds in the good country of Puhaar, decked with sky-soaring forts, fluttering with fish flags, whose tops cannot even be seen, so tall are the mansions! Here, with five-part, thick, braided, bee-buzzing tresses, wafting with the scent of merchants’ products in the streets of Puhaar, with curving delicate arms, pleasing to the eyes, akin to bamboos, like a divine spirit, she waits for me, upon a sand hill, wafting with the scent of the fragrant streets nearby.” Time to catch the conversation between the man and his heart! The man starts with a hidden rebuke to his heart because it wants to leave the man and turn back. He does this by giving it permission to go speak about his state to his beloved. Then, he goes on a tangent, and talks about the battle between Aay Eyinan and Mignili, we have seen in other verses, repeating the victory of Mignili and the defeat of Aay Eyinan, and stressing on how birds flew in formation and prevented the sun’s rays from touching the fallen body of Aay Eyinan, indicating what a lover of birds he had been, in his lifetime. Then apparently, these birds would fly to a particular shore and rest there, which happens to be on the Kaveri river, near a famous place called Aalamuttram, with the religious significance of a God called the ‘Three-Eyed One’, interpreted as God Siva, said to be the very place, where he composed the ancient scriptures. Another marker of this river shore are the hand-made statues carved by married women. Then, the man explains this river shore is in the renowned country of Puhaar, known also as ‘Kaveripoompattinam’ or ‘Poompuhar’. And such is the fragrance of the streets, wafting with the scent of the many products sold by merchants. Not only are the birds from that battlefield resting here, but the man’s beloved, characterised by her abundant tresses , bamboo-like arms, is also waiting right there, on a sand hill, wafting with the scents of the town, yearning for his return, the man concludes.  The technique of separating the heart from oneself to find motivation in times of hardship is illustrated at the core of this verse. This natural method, which we have seen in many verses, is very much in line with modern psychological principles, which advocate a detachment from troubling thoughts and disturbing feelings and seeing them for what they are, to handle them in the right way. Yet again, this is subtle proof that the Sangam folks were masters of the mind!