Aganaanooru 43 – Rain of togetherness

In this episode, we perceive a clear decision in a man’s mind, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 43, penned by Madurai Aasiriyaar Nallanthuvanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse portrays the intensity of the rainy season. கடல் முகந்து கொண்ட கமஞ் சூல் மா மழைசுடர் நிமிர் மின்னொடு வலன் ஏர்பு, இரங்கி,என்றூழ் உழந்த புன் தலை மடப் பிடிகை மாய் நீத்தம் களிற்றொடு படீஇய,நிலனும் விசும்பும் நீர் இயைந்து ஒன்றி,குறுநீர்க் கன்னல் எண்ணுநர் அல்லதுகதிர் மருங்கு அறியாது, அஞ்சுவரப் பாஅய்,தளி மயங்கின்றே தண் குரல் எழிலி; யாமேகொய் அகை முல்லை காலொடு மயங்கி,மை இருங் கானம் நாறும் நறு நுதல்,பல் இருங் கூந்தல், மெல் இயல் மடந்தைநல் எழில் ஆகம் சேர்ந்தனம்; என்றும்அளியரோ அளியர்தாமே அளி இன்றுஏதில் பொருட்பிணிப் போகி, தம்இன் துணைப் பிரியும் மடமையோரே! We are yet again in the drylands but the usual barren landscape is no more! At a moment, when the man’s heart nudges him to leave in search of wealth, the man says these words to his heart: “The pregnant, dark rain clouds, bearing what was gathered from the oceans, along with the luminous, flashing lightning, soars with strength and then melts down, pouring on the soft-headed, naive female elephant, which had been languishing in the scorching heat, burying the elephant’s raised trunk with its downpour, even as the female plays together with the male elephant in the mud. The pouring rain links the land and sky as one. Other than those, who could calculate time using their small vessels of water, all others grew frightened, not knowing the position of the sun. Such was the force of grace rendered by the cool-voiced clouds! At such a time, as plucked jasmine petals fuse with the breeze, the dark forest wafts with a rich fragrance. Such is the scent of the forehead and thick, dark tresses of my naive maiden, with a gentle gait. As for me, I have attained her fine and beauteous bosom. Surely, deeply, deeply to be pitied are those, who attain no such grace, and at the behest of a strange affliction of seeking wealth, have the foolishness to part away from their sweet companion!” Let’s relish another rain shower, in a continuity from the previous verse! The man starts by talking about how the rain clouds, which have completed their task of gathering from the oceans, are now appearing fully pregnant and ready to go into labour anytime. As expected, these clouds rise above and along with the flash of lighting, pour down! The man turns the spotlight on the recipient of this rain shower, namely a female elephant that was languishing in the harsh summer, now dancing in the rain, raising its trunk, and delighting along with its mate. Leaving these two to rejoice, the man describes how the way the rain pours as a ceaseless, endless stream makes the sky and earth to appear as if they are fitted together. So dense is the rain that other than those ancient timekeepers, who used a water clock, no one could tell where the sun was. A moment to pause and reflect on this reference to a water-clock, which is described as a vessel containing a small amount of water, and this line is evidence that ancient water-clocks were prevalent in the Tamil regions of the Sangam era too, as has been documented in ancient Greek and Persian cultures.  Returning from our meanderings in time, we find the man talking about how in this rainy season, wild jasmines fuse with the breeze and make the entire forest fragrant, and that’s exactly the scent of his beloved’s forehead and tresses, he connects. He delights in the fact that he is now united with her and concludes, by remarking that those who give up the joy of being with their companions and instead foolishly leave to seek wealth are to be much, much pitied! And so, we find the man refusing to heed to his heart nudging him to leave his love and turn towards duty. He does this by pointing out the arrival of the rains and declaring that this is a season to be one with one’s beloved. The image of the elephants playing in the rain is a metaphoric parallel to the joy of togetherness the man feels with the lady. Yet again, elements of weather, science of timekeeping, and emotions of tenderness, all infuse these words with that rich fragrance of a forest in a rain!