Aganaanooru 266 – Past vow and Present vice

In this episode, we listen to a pointed expression of discontent, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 266, penned by Paranar. The verse is situated amidst gushing new streams of the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and relays a jilted woman’s feelings. “கோடுற நிவந்த நீடு இரும் பரப்பின்அந்திப் பராஅய புதுப் புனல், நெருநை,மைந்து மலி களிற்றின் தலைப் புணை தழீஇ,நரந்தம் நாறும் குவை இருங் கூந்தல்இளந் துணை மகளிரொடு ஈர் அணிக் கலைஇ,நீர் பெயர்ந்து ஆடிய ஏந்து எழில் மழைக் கண்நோக்குதொறும் நோக்குதொறும் தவிர்விலையாகி,காமம் கைம்மிகச் சிறத்தலின், நாண் இழந்து,ஆடினை என்ப மகிழ்ந! அதுவேயாழ் இசை மறுகின் நீடூர் கிழவோன்வாய் வாள் எவ்வி ஏவல் மேவார்நெடு மிடல் சாய்த்த பசும் பூண் பொருந்தலர்அரிமணவாயில் உறத்தூர் ஆங்கண்,கள்ளுடைப் பெருஞ் சோற்று எல் இமிழ் அன்ன,கவ்வை ஆகின்றால் பெரிதே; இனி அஃதுஅவலம் அன்றுமன், எமக்கே; அயலகழனி உழவர் கலி சிறந்து எடுத்தகறங்கு இசை வெரீஇப் பறந்த தோகைஅணங்குடை வரைப்பகம் பொலிய வந்து இறுக்கும்திரு மணி விளக்கின் அலைவாய்ச்செரு மிகு சேஎயொடு உற்ற சூளே!” In this colourful trip to the farmlands, as usual, we see sparks fly between a couple, as we listen to the lady say these words to the man, when he returns home, after being in the company of courtesans: “Leaping high up to the banks, amidst the dark and vast spread of those exquisite gushing new floods, akin to a strong and skilful male elephant, holding on to the head of the raft, yesterday, along with those young companions of yours, having thick clusters of tresses, wafting with the scent of bitter orange, adorning yourself with a wet attire and accessories, you played on and on, in those waters, and every time you looked at those exquisite, rain-like eyes of theirs, roving around, with desire brimming over, and passion exceeding its bounds, losing your sense of shame, you frolicked, they say, O lord of the town!  The slander that arose because of this has become louder than the uproar at the festivities in the town of ‘Arimanavayil Urathoor’, when copious toddy and ceaseless food were offered in the middle of the day, at a time when the lord of the ancient town, where the music of the lute spreads in the streets, Evvi, who wields an honest sword, ruined and routed the power of those clad in golden ornaments, those who had refused to accept his command! But even the uproar of that slander is not something that brings distress to me. Fearing the resounding beats made by farmers in the field nearby, a peacock, fluttering its wings, takes off to those fear-evoking mountain ranges, and lands in a place called ‘Alaivaai’, lit by exquisite lamps, the abode of the battle-worthy Dark-skinned One. It’s the memory of the oath that you had taken before this God, which happens to brings that sense of suffering in me!” Let’s listen in to this quarrel and learn more! The lady starts by coming straight to the point and talking about how the news of the man’s activities the previous day had reached her ears already. Apparently, the man had adorned himself with ancient wet-wear and jumped into the gushing new river streams along with maiden he desired, and was romping around, without any sense of shame. The lady goes on to talk about how the uproar of slander in town owing to his activities was louder than the festivities at a place, filled with toddy and much food, called ‘Arimanavayil Urathoor’, after Lord Evvi quelled those wealthy others, who refused to heed to his command. That’s a pretty common comment, made in these situations but the lady follows that up by saying to the man, ‘Even that uproar is not causing me any concern. The only thing that worries me is when I remember the oath you took in front of God Murugan, at ‘Alaivaai’, frequented by peacocks that have arrived thither, after being frightened by the drums of farmers’. What this implies is that during the time of their courtship, the man had taken an oath of being true and loyal to the lady in front of God Murugan, which is now washed away in the flood of that river he played in. The lady means to say to the man, ‘All this slander is nothing but I fear some harm may befall you for you did not keep the promise you made in front of God’. Through that reference of the peacock flying away to God’s mountain, after being frightened by the farmer’s drums, the lady places a metaphor for how the man has come to their home, only because he feared the slander that arose in town and not any true feeling of love within. This will hopefully make the man reflect on his past promises, present aberrations and change his future path. Through multiple modes, the lady expresses her dissatisfaction with the man’s behaviour and illustrates an instance of effective communication in interpersonal conflict!