Kalithogai 123 – A mind of its own

In this episode, we perceive the actions of a troubled heart, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 123, penned by Nallanthuvanaar. The verse is situated in the ‘Neythal’ or ‘Coastal Landscape’ and presents a portrait of a maiden, parted from her beloved. கருங் கோட்டு நறும் புன்னை மலர் சினை மிசைதொறும்சுரும்பு ஆர்க்கும் குரலினோடு, இருந் தும்பி இயைபு ஊத,ஒருங்குடன் இம்மென இமிர்தலின், பாடலோடுஅரும் பொருள் மரபின் மால் யாழ் கேளாக் கிடந்தான் போல்,பெருங் கடல் துயில் கொள்ளும் வண்டு இமிர் நறுங் கானல் காணாமை இருள் பரப்பி, கையற்ற கங்குலான்,மாணா நோய் செய்தான்கண் சென்றாய்; மற்று அவனை நீகாணவும் பெற்றாயோ? காணாயோ? மட நெஞ்சே! கொல் ஏற்றுச் சுறவினம் கடி கொண்ட மருள் மாலை,அல்லல் நோய் செய்தான்கண் சென்றாய்; மற்று அவனை நீபுல்லவும் பெற்றாயோ? புல்லாயோ? மட நெஞ்சே! வெறி கொண்ட புள்ளினம் வதி சேரும் பொழுதினான்,செறி வளை நெகிழ்த்தான்கண் சென்றாய்; மற்று அவனை நீஅறியவும் பெற்றாயோ? அறியாயோ? மட நெஞ்சே! என ஆங்குஎல்லையும் இரவும் துயில் துறந்து, பல் ஊழ்அரும் படர் அவல நோய் செய்தான்கண் பெறல் நசைஇ,இருங் கழி ஓதம் போல் தடுமாறி,வருந்தினை அளிய என் மடம் கெழு நெஞ்சே! The voice of a lady missing her man echoes aloud! The words can be translated as follows: “On all the branches of the fragrant, black-trunked laurel wood tree, along with the voice of humming honeybees, black bees buzz together in a resounding rhythm, near the huge ocean, which appears asleep, akin to God Thirumal, who lies down listening to the song of a lute that comes from a glorious tradition, in those bee buzzing fragrant backwaters! In a time of utter despair when the unseeing darkness spreads, you left to be with the one who gave me this relentless affliction. Did you get to see him? Or did you not see him? O foolish heart! In an evening filled with confusion, when killer male sharks rove around fiercely, you left to be with the one who gave me this sorrowful affliction. Did you get to embrace him? Or did you not embrace him? O foolish heart! In an hour when birds flying in neat rows retire to their nests, you left to be with the one who made my well-fitting bangles slip away. Did you get to perceive him? Or did you not perceive him? O foolish heart! And so, forgetting sleep both in the day and night, wishing to attain the man, who has endowed me with this affliction of utter suffering for many days, akin to the sea waves that ebbs and flows in the dark backwaters, you worry ceaselessly, O pitiable, naive heart of mine!” Let’s explore the nuances. The verse is situated in the context of a man’s parting from the lady, prior to marriage. Here, the lady speaks to her heart and conveys her inner state. She starts by sketching the characteristic tree of this landscape – The ‘Punnai’ or ‘Indian laurel wood tree’ known for its prolific uses. Here, the branches of the tree are highlighted with the sense of sound, making us hear the buzzing of honeybees and black bees in unison, thereby letting us infer the presence of the bright-hued and fragrant flowers therein. As this is happening near the sleeping seas, the lady connects that image to the image of God Thirumaal, sleeping to the sound of traditional song from a lute. Then, the lady addresses her heart and remarks about how it went in search of the man, in that pitch darkness, in that evening when sharks rove, in that hour when birds fly towards their nests, seeking him, who had left her, with an unceasing and sorrowful affliction that made her bangles slip away. She asks her heart whether it succeeded in seeing, embracing and being with the man. The lady concludes saying her heart, which keeps rushing to the man and returning to her, akin to a flood in the backwaters that recedes and soars, is a naive thing, much to be pitied! In this verse, we can observe the oft-repeated custom in Sangam poetry of separating the heart from oneself. We can understand how the ancients saw the heart as a separate being, with a mind of its own, not always under the control of whom it belongs to!