Aganaanooru 76 – An oath to seize

In this episode, we listen to a maiden’s oath, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 76, penned by Paranar. Set amidst the resounding drums of the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’, the verse brings out the rivalry between women in the rich domain of ancient towns. மண் கனை முழவொடு மகிழ் மிகத் தூங்க,தண் துறை ஊரன் எம் சேரி வந்தெனஇன் கடுங் கள்ளின் அஃதை களிற்றொடுநன் கலன் ஈயும் நாள் மகிழ் இருக்கைஅவை புகு பொருநர் பறையின், ஆனாது,கழறுப என்ப, அவன் பெண்டிர்; ”அந்தில்,கச்சினன், கழலினன், தேம் தார் மார்பினன்,வகை அமைப் பொலிந்த, வனப்பு அமை தெரியல்,சுரியல் அம் பொருநனைக் காண்டிரோ? என,ஆதிமந்தி பேதுற்று இனைய,சிறை பறைந்து உரைஇச் செங்குணக்கு ஒழுகும்அம் தண் காவிரி போல,கொண்டு கை வலித்தல் சூழ்ந்திசின், யானே. A trip to the farmlands takes us bang in the middle of a fight between a courtesan and a lady, over the lady’s husband, and these are the words said by the courtesan, in the earshot of the lady’s friends: “In rhythm with the mud-smeared drums, spreading joy, we danced. Seeing this, the lord of the cool river shores came to our colony.  Hearing this, akin to the ceaseless sounds of drums, belonging to those entering the happy atmosphere, in the court of King Akuthai, known for his sharp and sweet toddy, and his rendering of elephants and fine vessels many, she has been scolding me without a pause, they say, about the lord’s woman; Akin to the beautiful and cool Kaveri that floods over banks and rushes steadily to the east, which made Aathi Manthi roam with much bewilderment, asking around, ‘The one wearing a cloth around him, the one adorned with anklets, the one, who has a honey-fragrant chest, ornamented with neatly arranged, radiant and exquisite garlands, the one with curly hair – That handsome lord of mine, have anyone of you seen him?’, I swear I shall pull him by his hands and envelope him all around.” Amidst the pomp and festivities of a town, let’s catch some sparks flying. The courtesan reflects on how along with other colleagues, she had been simply been doing her job of spreading joy, by dancing to the beat of the drums in the town. The courtesan continues by saying, because he was so impressed by this performance, the lord of the town, the lady’s husband, seemed to have paid a visit to this courtesan’s house. For this ordinary event, the lady seemed to have said many harsh words about her, the courtesan relates, connecting to how endlessly the lady has been berating her to the ceaseless drums that keep roaring in the court of King Akuthai, who keeps those who come seeking to him in high spirits, with his offering of toddy and elephants as well. The connection between the two is that both seem to be going on without a pause, the courtesan implies. Then, she talks about an event that was probably common knowledge then, about how a lady named ‘Aathi Manthi’ went about in search of her husband, describing what he was wearing and how he was looking, asking everyone if they had seen him. The courtesan explains this was because the cool and gushing River Kaveri, which has a steady path to the eastern sea, had breached its banks and seized Aathi Manthi’s husband. The courtesan connects this historical event with her own situation, and concludes by saying, that like the Kaveri River, she too would seize the lady’s husband and make him her own! Here’s a clear cut case of two women fighting over a man, as we have frequently seen in the rich expanses of the farmland towns. Sad indeed the state, wherein wealth accumulates, in the hands of a few, a few men at that, leading to this state of affairs, where the women seem to be defined by the affection of the man towards them. A moment of gratitude for our own time and space, where women can pursue their own paths to self-fulfilment and joy, regardless of the men in their life, and a wish for women world over to experience this very emotion of self-assurance!