Aganaanooru 83 – So far but she’s here

In this episode, we perceive an instance of love across the miles, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 83, penned by Kallaadanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse echoes the tender feelings in the heart of a man parted away from his beloved. வலம் சுரி மராஅத்துச் சுரம் கமழ் புது வீச்சுரி ஆர் உளைத் தலை பொலியச் சூடி,கறை அடி மடப் பிடி கானத்து அலற,களிற்றுக் கன்று ஒழித்த உவகையர், கலி சிறந்து,கருங் கால் மராஅத்துக் கொழுங் கொம்பு பிளந்து,பெரும் பொளி வெண் நார் அழுந்துபடப் பூட்டி,நெடுங் கொடி நுடங்கும் நியம மூதூர்,நறவு நொடை நல் இல் புதவுமுதற் பிணிக்கும்கல்லா இளையர் பெருமகன் புல்லிவியன் தலை நல் நாட்டு வேங்கடம் கழியினும்,சேயர் என்னாது, அன்பு மிகக் கடைஇ,எய்த வந்தனவால்தாமே நெய்தல்கூம்பு விடு நிகர் மலர் அன்னஏந்து எழில் மழைக் கண் எம் காதலி குணனே. In this trip to the drylands, we get to see some interesting characters and hear these words said by the man to his heart, in the middle of his journey: “Radiantly adorning their curly, mane-like hair with fragrant, new flowers of the right-whorled, drylands burflower tree, making a naive female elephant, with thick legs like a pounding pestle, scream aloud in the forest, they steal away a male elephant calf. Laughing with joy at their success, with pride, they break the thick branch of a black-trunked burflower tree, and tear a thick cluster of its white bark, so as to make a sturdy rope to tie the calf securely. Then, they bring it over to an ancient town, filled with flag-fluttering markets, and tie it at the entrance of a fine house that sells toddy. These men are none other than the unlearned youth, who are led by Pulli. And even though we have crossed Lord Pulli’s wide-spreading, fine country of Venkatam, without thinking that’s so faraway, brimming over with love, my beloved’s exquisite, rain-like eyes, akin to bright, blooming twin flowers of a blue lotus, have come right here!” Time to track a band of hunters in the drylands! The man starts by describing certain men in this domain by talking about their thick and curly hair and the way they adorn it with burflower tree’s blooms. After putting on that equivalent of the modern tie, these men set about their jobs, which is to steal a young elephant calf, leaving the mother to suffer and scream. Not minding the mother elephant’s pain, they seem to be intent at amplifying their joy, and to do that, first they tear some thick fibres from the burflower tree’s branch to make a strong rope to bind the calf securely, and then they set off to an ancient town, with the flags of great houses fluttering around, and they step inside the market and locate the very place they are looking for – a shop that sells toddy, and here, they tie the elephant calf to the entrance. We can imagine the intentions of these boys, described as ‘unlearned’, implying they have no education, and are skilled only in their job of hunting, and perhaps, drinking! ‘An elephant calf for a toddy cup’ seems to be their motto! In any case, these hunting young men are said to be ruled by the Lord Pulli, and the man connects this description to his narrative by saying, at that moment, they had crossed even the northern domain ruled by this Pulli, and even so, without thinking it’s too far away, his dear lady’s exquisite eyes have followed him thither!  In essence, the man’s saying, ‘I’ve come so far away, and yet, her eyes are here!’, reflecting his feelings of missing his beloved as he journeys on, in those dreary paths. A feeling, which anyone can relate to, beyond space and time, for what could give greater comfort than musing on a beloved’s presence when separated from them!