Aganaanooru 78 – The caring male elephant

In this episode, we perceive a thoughtful intervention on behalf of another, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 78, penned by Madurai Nakeeranaar. Set amidst the honeycombs and flame-lilies of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain Landscape’, the verse highlights events in the life of a famous Sangam King. ‘நனந்தலைக் கானத்து ஆளி அஞ்சி,இனம் தலைத்தரூஉம் எறுழ் கிளர் முன்பின்,வரி ஞிமிறு ஆர்க்கும், வாய் புகு கடாத்து,பொறி நுதற் பொலிந்த வயக் களிற்று ஒருத்தல்இரும் பிணர்த் தடக் கையின், ஏமுறத் தழுவ,கடுஞ்சூல் மடப் பிடி நடுங்கும் சாரல்,தேம் பிழி நறவின் குறவர் முன்றில்,முந்தூழ் ஆய் மலர் உதிர, காந்தள்நீடு இதழ் நெடுந் துடுப்பு ஒசிய, தண்ணெனவாடை தூக்கும் வருபனி அற்சிரம்,நம் இல் புலம்பின், தம் ஊர்த் தமியர்என் ஆகுவர்கொல் அளியர்தாம்?’ என,எம் விட்டு அகன்ற சில் நாள், சிறிதும்,உள்ளியும் அறிதிரோ ஓங்குமலைநாட! உலகுடன் திரிதரும் பலர் புகழ் நல் இசைவாய்மொழிக் கபிலன் சூழ, சேய் நின்றுசெழுஞ் செய்ந் நெல்லின் விளைகதிர் கொண்டு,தடந் தாள் ஆம்பல் மலரொடு கூட்டி,யாண்டு பல கழிய, வேண்டுவயிற் பிழையாது,ஆள் இடூஉக் கடந்து, வாள் அமர் உழக்கி,ஏந்துகோட்டு யானை வேந்தர் ஓட்டிய,கடும் பரிப் புரவிக் கை வண் பாரிதீம் பெரும் பைஞ் சுனைப் பூத்ததேம் கமழ் புது மலர் நாறும் இவள் நுதலே? Our trip to the mountains takes us in the presence of the confidante, who is rendering these words to the man, who has stayed away from the lady for a while, during the days of their courtship: “In your soaring mountain peaks, fearing the ‘aali’ in the widespread jungle, a strong bull elephant with a spotted head, gathers its herd around it and offers protection with its shining strength, as striped bees buzz around, and musth flows inside its mouth. This strong male extends its huge, coarse and curved trunk, and hugs with love, its naive and pregnant mate, which was shivering in the slopes, wherein on the front yards of mountain folk, who distill sweet nectar from honeycombs, beautiful flowers of the bamboo lie scattered. O lord of the soaring peaks, at this time when, making the long-petalled, tall stems of flame lilies break, cool northern winds blow in this early dew season, announcing the arrival of winter, as you left her and stayed away for a few days, did you even think a little and try to understand wondering, ‘What might happen to the one, who is alone in her village, without me for company? Isn’t she to be pitied?’! With the support of the great Kabilan, a poet of truthful words, who has the great fame of being praised by many who travel the world entire, the king obtained lush stalks of paddy crop growing far away, along with flowers of the white-lily with curving stalks, and even when days many passed, not giving up his stance, with much determination, crossed all the tribulations, and attacked those sword-wielding soldiers, chasing away the great rulers on their elephants with upraised tusks. Such was the greatness of King Paari, renowned for his generosity and speedy horses. Akin to a honey-fragrant, new flower that has just bloomed in the fresh and sweet springs in Paari’s land, is the scent of her forehead. Did you even think about its state a little?” Taking in that majestic huddle of the gentle mountain giants, let’s walk on and learn more! The confidante starts by describing the man’s country and to do that she talks about how a male elephant offers its protection to its entire herd by huddling together and standing strong. The focus then shifts to the particular care this elephant gives to its pregnant mate, by hugging it close with its huge trunk, to ease the fear of a creature called ‘aali’. Some interpreters say this could be a lion and others connect it to a mythical creature, with the body of a lion and the trunk of an elephant. This could be a case of the ancients projecting their fantastical beliefs on elements of nature. The male elephant’s caring concern for its mate could be a metaphor placed by the confidante to say how he must take care of the lady. Returning, we find the confidante continuing her description of the mountains, talking about the people, there, who enjoy their work of distilling sweet toddy from honeycombs and how on their front yards, bamboo flowers lie scattered everywhere, painting a picturesque portrait of the man’s land. From place, the confidante switches to time, and talks about how the cool northern winds have landed in their domain, breaking stems of flame-lilies, and declaring the harsh winter was about to arrive. At this time, which is a period of distress for separated lovers, the man had chosen to stay away from the lady, the confidante explains, and questions him about whether he considered the lady’s state even a little. She then launches into a long report on King Paari, making sure to accord praise on poet Kabilar for the latter’s support to the king. The tale about how the king managed to procure paddy crops, growing far away, probably with the use of trained parrots in his mountain country, and thereby survived the blockade of the Chera, Chozha and Pandya kings, and ended up chasing these great rulers of the Tamil country is detailed. King Paari’s story has been summoned only as a reference to the beautiful flowers that grow in his land and the confidante ends by asking the man whether he had any consideration for the state of the lady’s forehead, wafting with the very fragrance of the flowers in Paari’s mountain springs! In essence, the confidante wants to subtly chide the man for ignoring the lady at that difficult time and to nudge him to seek the path of permanent happiness. A song of ‘Marry her, marry her’ conceals within moving elements of the mountain country and the momentous fight of King Paari!