Aganaanooru 288 – The mansion in the mountain

In this episode, we listen to strong words of persuasion, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 288, penned by Vitrootru Mootheyinanaar. The verse is situated amidst the flowing cascades of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain Landscape’ and sketches how a person has a wrong notion about something significant. சென்மதி; சிறக்க, நின் உள்ளம்! நின் மலைஆரம் நீவிய அம் பகட்டு மார்பினை,சாரல் வேங்கைப் படு சினைப் புதுப் பூமுருகு முரண் கொள்ளும் உருவக் கண்ணியை,எரி தின் கொல்லை இறைஞ்சிய ஏனல்,எவ்வம் கூரிய, வைகலும் வருவோய்!கனி முதிர் அடுக்கத்து எம் தனிமை காண்டலின்,எண்மை செய்தனை ஆகுவை நண்ணிக்கொடியோர் குறுகும் நெடி இருங் குன்றத்து,இட்டு ஆறு இரங்கும் விட்டு ஒளிர் அருவிஅரு வரை இழிதரும் வெரு வரு படாஅர்க்கயந் தலை மந்தி உயங்கு பசி களைஇயர்,பார்ப்பின் தந்தை பழச் சுளை தொடினும்,நனி நோய் ஏய்க்கும் பனி கூர் அடுக்கத்துமகளிர் மாங்காட்டு அற்றே துகள் அறக்கொந்தொடு உதிர்த்த கதுப்பின்,அம் தீம் கிளவித் தந்தை காப்பே. In this trip to the highlands, we observe vivid scenes, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the man, when he arrives for a tryst with the lady: “Please leave! May your intentions triumph! With a radiant chest, streaked with the sandalwood from your mountains, wearing a dazzling garland that would make God Murugu envious, woven with new flowers, blooming on the branch of a Kino tree in the slopes, you come day after day to the millet field that arose in the fire of the forest, speaking of your sorrow! As you are able to meet her alone in the flower-filled mountain ranges, you seem not to understand her preciousness and think she is easy to attain.  In those narrow paths, where cruel men frequent, amidst the dark ranges, roaring, descends shining cascades, and falls down at that formidable spot, where to end the hunger of its soft-haired female monkey, the father of the monkey infants, digs up sweet slices of the jackfruit. In those fear-evoking, cold mountain ranges, guarded by divine spirits, is the town of ‘Maangaadu’. Akin to that town, is the well-protected mansion, belonging to the father of your lady, who speaks with beautiful, sweet words and has flowing tresses, adorned with flawless flowers!” Time for a trek on the mountain of emotions! The confidante starts by bidding farewell to the man with a blessing. She describes his journey day after day, when he arrives, sandalwood streaked on his chest, and a dangling, dazzling Kino flower garland on him, to speak of his suffering and seek the lady’s company. Adding that just because it’s been so easy to meet with the lady, the man seems to not realise what a rare and precious occurrence that is. Then the confidante goes on to describe a town called Maangaadu, which is apparently in some dense mountain ranges, with leaping monkeys in search of jackfruits, one that is under the protection of divine spirits. Then she concludes by equating the lady’s father’s mansion to this town, explaining that’s how well-guarded the lady’s home is! Words to tell the man that the lady, whose company he had been relishing with ease, was now placed under guard and the only way to be back with her was to seek the lady’s hand in marriage. A long and intricate description of that mountain town to equate it to a person’s house talks about the creative similes that these Sangam poets seem to conjure seamlessly!