Aganaanooru 85 – Remembering a promise

In this episode, we listen to a recollection of promises, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 85, penned by Kaattoor Kizhaar Maganaar Kannanaar. The verse is situated amidst the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’ and offers consolation to an anxious heart. ‘நல் நுதல் பசப்பவும், பெருந் தோள் நெகிழவும்,உண்ணா உயக்கமொடு உயிர் செலச் சாஅய்,இன்னம் ஆகவும், இங்கு நத் துறந்தோர்அறவர்அல்லர் அவர்’ எனப் பல புலந்து,ஆழல் வாழி, தோழி! ‘சாரல்,ஈன்று நாள் உலந்த மெல் நடை மடப் பிடி,கன்று பசி களைஇய, பைங் கண் யானைமுற்றா மூங்கில் முளை தருபு ஊட்டும்வென் வேல் திரையன் வேங்கட நெடு வரை,நல் நாள் பூத்த நாகு இள வேங்கைநறு வீ ஆடிய பொறி வரி மஞ்ஞைநனைப் பசுங் குருந்தின் நாறு சினை இருந்து,துணைப் பயிர்ந்து அகவும் துணைதரு தண் கார்,வருதும், யாம்’ எனத் தேற்றியபருவம்காண் அது; பாயின்றால் மழையே. In this trip to the drylands, we are left to stay back home and hear these words of the confidante said to the lady, as the man remains parted away: “Saying, ‘Even as my fine forehead spreads with pallor, my thick arms thin away, my life wallows with the suffering of not eating, he chooses to remain parted away. He’s not a just man’, and lamenting deeply, do not cry, my friend, may you live long! Remember what he said when consoling you: ‘In the mountain slopes, to end the hunger of the young calf, which had been just birthed a few days ago by the gentle-gaited, naive female, the fresh-eyed male elephant gathers tender sprouts of bamboo, and feeds the young one in the tall mountains of Venkatam, ruled by Thiraiyan, who wields a victorious spear. Here, amidst the fragrant fallen flowers of a young Kino tree, when a peacock with spots and specks dances, calling to its mate, sitting on the fragrant branch of a moist and green wild lime tree, I will arrive and be by her side, in that moist and cool season of rains!’. Lo behold, those clouds spreading yonder! That season of rains approaches!” Time to play the waiting game with these maiden! The confidante starts by mentioning how the lady had been feeling let down by her man, as he decided to part away and has left her to lose her health and beauty. Asking her friend to wipe her tears, the confidante reminds the lady about the man’s promise. When he was leaving, the man had detailed a place in the north, amidst the hills of Venkatam, which was said to be ruled by Thiraiyan, and here, he brings forth the poignant scene of a father elephant feeding tender bamboo shoots to a recently-born young calf. After mentioning the place, the man had talked about a specific time, and this was just when the peacocks dance, amidst the Kino flowers, and call to their mates sitting on the wild lime trees. This time is the season of rains, and when that approaches, he would be by the lady’s side, the man had said. The confidante reminds the lady of this, and points to the clouds gathering at a far distance, and says, ‘If the rains are here, can he be far behind?’. Nothing like a friend to bring cheer to a heart by recollecting the positive past and reiterating the hopeful future!