Sangam Lit

Nandini Karky
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Reflections on 2000 Year Old Tamil Poetry

  1. 12h ago

    Aganaanooru 332 – As it was on the first day

    In this episode, we perceive words of praise, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 332, penned by Kabilar. The verse is situated amidst the bamboo-filled slopes of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain landscape’ and expresses the satisfaction in a person’s heart. முளை வளர் முதல மூங்கில் முருக்கி, கிளையொடு மேய்ந்த கேழ் கிளர் யானை, நீர் நசை மருங்கின் நிறம் பார்த்து ஒடுங்கிய, பொரு முரண் உழுவை தொலைச்சி, கூர் நுனைக் குருதிச் செங் கோட்டு அழி துளி கழாஅ, கல் முகை அடுக்கத்து மென்மெல இயலி, செறு பகை வாட்டிய செம்மலொடு, அறு கால் யாழ் இசைப் பறவை இமிர, பிடி புணர்ந்து, வாழை அம் சிலம்பில் துஞ்சும் நாடன் நின் புரை தக்க சாயலன் என, நீ அன்பு உரைத்து அடங்கக் கூறிய இன் சொல் வாய்த்தன வாழி, தோழி! வேட்டோர்க்கு அமிழ்தத்து அன்ன கமழ் தார் மார்பின் வண்டு இடைப் படாஅ முயக்கமும், தண்டாக் காதலும், தலை நாள் போன்மே! In this trip to the hills, we get to see some dynamic scenes in the wild, as we listen to the lady say these words to the confidante, pretending not to notice the man listening nearby but making sure, he’s in ear shot: “After grazing on bamboo stalks filled with tender sprouts, along with its herd, a bright-hued elephant, with much thirst, goes towards a spring. There, catching a glimpse of a stalking tiger,  the elephant attacks with ferocity and kills the tiger. Then, it washes the blood-coated, sharp edge of its tusks in the pouring rains, and with the pride of subduing its enemy, walks gently amidst the rocky mountain ranges. As six-legged bees buzz around, with the music of a lute, the male elephant unites with its mate, and then sleeps contentedly, in the plantain-filled mountain slopes of the lord’s country. You had spoken those beautiful words, filled with much love to me, back then, saying ‘He’s the perfect person, who will bring joy and glory to you’. Those have turned out to be true, my friend, may you live long! He pulls me so close to that fragrant garland-clad chest of his, which is akin to elixir to those who love him, that not even a little bee can fly through in between us. Even today, such is his unceasing love, exactly the same as on the first day!” Time to take the trek through this radiant highlands! The lady starts with a description of the man’s mountain country, and to do that, she zooms on to a male elephant that had been munching on bamboo stalks. After its meal, thirst hits the elephant and it goes in search of water. Near the water hole, it finds a tiger that had been waiting to attack it, and with much rage, the elephant attacks and kills the tiger. Then it washes its red-stained tusks in the pouring rains, and following that, it walks with the pride of having quelled its enemy, so as to find its mate, and then, as bees buzz around, with the sweet music of a lute, the male elephant finds a rejuvenating sleep in the company of its beloved, the lady says. After that scene of a little action, a little drama, and a little romance to describe the man’s abode, the lady turns to her friend and says how the words the confidante had spoken in the past had come true, and these were specifically about how the confidante had recommended the man’s good nature to the lady, and furthered the relationship between the man and the lady, after the man had successfully won the confidante’s confidence in this regard. The lady concludes by talking about how the man embraces her, with such warmth and passion even then, which seems unchanged from the day it was, when they both first met. Words every person in love wishes to hear, and no doubt the listening man would be on cloud nine, hearing such glowing praise from his beloved’s lips. In the scene of the elephant vanquishing the tiger, and sleeping contentedly with its mate, as bees buzz around, the lady places a metaphor for her hope in how the man would quell the gossip spreading around town, and render the sweet sleep of a happy married life with her. With that key of admiration and love, the man would no doubt unlock this hidden message and seek the lady’s hand in marriage promptly! The verse is filled with so many layers of admirable emotions, such as the lady’s gratitude to the confidante for supporting her love relationship in the past, praise for the man’s unwavering love in the present, and trust in that future the man will render unto the lady. A whisper from the past saying, ‘If you want to change you future, shower the path you tread on today, with the flowers of positivity’!

  2. 2d ago

    Aganaanooru 331 – Treading the sword’s edge

    In this episode, we perceive the angst-filled voice of a lady, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 331, penned by Maamoolanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands Landscape’, the verse presents an instance of the dynamics between the flora, fauna and human life in this domain. நீடு நிலை அரைய செங் குழை இருப்பை, கோடு கடைந்தன்ன, கொள்ளை வான் பூ, ஆடு பரந்தன்ன, ஈனல் எண்கின் சேடு சினை உரீஇ உண்ட மிச்சில் பைங் குழைத் தழையர் பழையர் மகளிர் கண் திரள் நீள் அமைக் கடிப்பின் தொகுத்து, குன்றகச் சிறுகுடி மறுகுதொறும் மறுகும் சீறூர் நாடு பல பிறக்கு ஒழிய சென்றோர் அன்பு இலர் தோழி! என்றும், அருந் துறை முற்றிய கருங் கோட்டுச் சீறியாழ்ப் பாணர் ஆர்ப்ப, பல் கலம் உதவி, நாளவை இருந்த நனை மகிழ்த் திதியன், வேளிரொடு பொரீஇய கழித்த வாள் வாய் அன்ன வறுஞ் சுரம் இறந்தே! In this trip to the drylands, we get to see familiar characters, and also encounter a historic one on a detour, as we listen to the lady say these words to the confidante, when the man has parted with the lady, to go in search of wealth: “Upon tall-trunked Mahua trees, with red leaf clusters, bloom numerous white flowers, appearing in the hue of powdered tusks. Grazing around in the manner of herds of sheep, female bears with their cubs feed on these white flowers.  Maiden, wearing garments made of fresh green leaves, daughters of drylands folks, collect what’s left of those Mahua flowers, inside long bamboo poles with many nodes, and sell these amidst the many streets of those mountain  hamlets. Crossing many such villages in many different countries, the one who left is bereft of love, my friend. As bards, experts in their field, play on their dark-stemmed small lutes ceaselessly, rendering many gifts unto them, Thithiyan delights in his court, amidst the flowing toddy. Akin to the edge of the sword that this king unsheathed and raised in his battle with the Velirs, are those barren drylands he has left to!” Time to brave the dangers of this domain! The lady starts by zooming onto a Mahua tree, and describes them as having tall trunks and red leaves. When I saw that mention of red clusters, I was intrigued because I had assumed that this Indian trees was a vivid green. After searching to ascertain this truth, found that indeed the new leaves of the Mahua tree, when sprouting in the middle of summer, specifically in the months of April and May, start out in reddish-brown hue, and in just a couple of weeks, they turn into their characteristic velvet green. That’s the time frame the lady has captured these trees in!  Returning, we find that the lady has turned her attention from the leaves to the unique white flowers of the tree, whose colour she places in parallel to powdered tusks. Then, she talks about how female bears and their newborns feed on these flowers and whatever’s left is then collected by daughters of drylands folk, who take these flowers, stuff them inside bamboo pipes, and sell them in the many streets of mountain hamlets. The lady explains that she has mentioned these scenes only to say that the man has crossed many such villages and left to the drylands, which she then compares to the battle sword, raised against the Velirs, by King Thithiyan, who is known for his immense generosity to bards and others in his day court, where he delights and shares the pleasures of fine toddy. The lady concludes by declaring that the man seems to have no love in his heart! The essence of the verse lies in the scene of King Thithiyan, who is pleasing and generous, but at the same time, he’s formidable and unforgiving in the battlefield, and here, the lady places a metaphor for how the man had been kind and loving in courtship to her and had now rendered the cruelty of parting away from her. Fascinating how the verse weaves in the special patterns of nature, commerce and history amidst the familiar threads of a lady’s lament for her parted beloved!

  3. 3d ago

    Aganaanooru 330 – Have you not told him yet?

    In this episode, we listen to a curious recommendation to consider another’s proposal, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 330, penned by Ulochanaar. The verse is situated amidst the swaying boats of the ‘Neythal’ or ‘Coastal Landscape’ and resounds in the rhythm of unsaid words of love. கழிப் பூங் குற்றும், கானல் அல்கியும், வண்டற் பாவை வரி மணல் அயர்ந்தும், இன்புறப் புணர்ந்தும், இளி வரப் பணிந்தும், தன் துயர் வெளிப்படத் தவறி, நம் துயர் அறியாமையின், அயர்ந்த நெஞ்சமொடு செல்லும், அன்னோ; மெல் அம் புலம்பன்! செல்வோன் பெயர் புறத்து இரங்கி, முன் நின்று, தகைஇய சென்ற என் நிறை இல் நெஞ்சம் எய்தின்றுகொல்லோ தானே? எய்தியும், காமம் செப்ப, நாண் இன்றுகொல்லோ? உதுவ காண், அவர் ஊர்ந்த தேரே; குப்பை வெண் மணற் குவவுமிசையானும், எக்கர்த் தாழை மடல்வயினானும், ஆய் கொடிப் பாசடும்பு பரிய ஊர்பு இழிபு, சிறுகுடிப் பரதவர் பெருங் கடல் மடுத்த கடுஞ் செலல் கொடுந் திமில் போல, நிவந்து படு தோற்றமொடு இகந்து மாயும்மே! In this trip to the seas, we take in the sights on the shore, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the lady, at a time when the man had won the confidence of the confidante and had entrusted the task of furthering his relationship with the lady over to her: “Plucking flowers in the backwaters, resting in the groves, carving sand dolls on striped sands, coming together joyously, humbling himself deeply, he displays his suffering, and not understanding your suffering, he leaves with a languishing heart! Alas! The state of that lord of the gentle shores! Melting with kindness, seeing the retreating back of the one who parts away, did your barren heart that dashed and stood before him, not succeed in blocking him? Even if it did block him, did its sense of modesty prevent it from speaking of its passion? Lo behold! The chariot he rides, amidst the heaped white sands, streaking over pandanus leaves, and severing beautiful vines of the beach morning glory, akin to those speeding, curving boats, belonging to fishermen of little hamlets, traversing in the huge seas, looms large and vanishes out of sight!” Let’s surf those pristine waves and find the hidden treasures in those hearts! The confidante starts by talking about how the man has been repeatedly coming over to them, humbling himself from his noble position and partaking in the joyous activities of the lady such as plucking flowers and playing in the sands. Then she points out how his yearning for the lady is evident for all to see but he doesn’t know that the lady too reciprocates the same in full measure. The confidante pointedly asks the lady if the lady’s heart that was running ahead, as he was leaving, did not manage to block him, and even if it did, did it not speak what was within, owing to its shyness? Then the confidante beckons the lady and points to the man’s chariot, as it leaves sadly, and compares it to the vision of fishermen’s boats that seem so large at first and then seem to vanish in a glance! The confidante means to nudge the lady out of her shyness and accept the man’s proposal, saying don’t let him vanish away from your sight forever! Reminds me of a similar situation in an English novel, Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, set in the early 1800s. There too, a friend advises another that more openness is needed in expressing one’s feelings, so as to not leave the object of one’s affection in the lurch! Here’s a song proclaiming the timeless truth about the influence that friends seem to have in romantic relationships, regardless of space and time!

  4. 4d ago

    Aganaanooru 329 – How can he part away?

    In this episode, we perceive a person’s bewilderment, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 329, penned by Uraiyoor Muthukoothanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse sketches the unpleasant nature of this domain. பூங் கணும் நுதலும் பசப்ப, நோய் கூர்ந்து, ஈங்கு யான் வருந்தவும், நீங்குதல் துணிந்து, வாழ்தல் வல்லுநர் ஆயின், காதலர் குவிந்த குரம்பை அம் குடிச் சீறூர், படு மணி இயம்பப் பகல் இயைந்து, உமணர் கொடு நுகம் பிணித்த செங் கயிற்று ஒழுகைப் பகடு அயாக் கொள்ளும் வெம் முனைத் துகள் தொகுத்து, எறி வளி சுழற்றும் அத்தம், சிறிது அசைந்து, ஏகுவர்கொல்லோ தாமே பாய் கொள்பு, உறு வெரிந் ஒடிக்கும் சிறு வரிக் குருளை நெடு நல் யானை நீர் நசைக்கு இட்ட கை கறித்து உரறும் மை தூங்கு இறும்பில், புலி புக்கு ஈனும் வறுஞ் சுனை, பனி படு சிமையப் பல் மலை இறந்தே? In this trip to this domain, we get to see plenty of sights, as we listen to the lady say these words to the confidante, when the confidante informs her about the man’s intention to part away, in search of wealth: “As my flower-like eyes and forehead spread with pallor, as this affliction soars, leaving me to lament here, thinking himself capable of parting from me and living apart, will he go to those beautiful hamlets with thatched huts, wherein moving during the day, with their bells resounding, bulls of salt merchants tied to curving ends of carts’ yokes with red ropes, pull with much effort, in those hot and dry spaces, scattering dust, which the wind swirls all around? In those hamlets, will he rest a little, and then crossing many dew-covered hills, will he traverse those harsh drylands, filled with barren springs, which tigers enter to give birth, and where a tiny striped tiger cub leaps about, and stretching its back, bites upon the trunk that a tall elephant extends in thirst, and then roars aloud, in those dark scrub jungles?” Let’s step onto those dry and dusty spaces and search for the moisture of emotions! The lady starts by describing her state of pallor and pining, filled to the core with lament and anxiety, if the man were to leave away. Then she wonders how he thinks of himself as capable of parting away from her, and concludes wondering if he will dare to go to those hamlets in the drylands, where bulls of salt merchants, the original travellers, kick dust around, which is carried by the swirling hot winds and showered everywhere, and whether the man would rest there a little, and then go onward, crossing many peaks, to those drylands, where the springs have all become parched, and turned into breeding grounds for tigers, and from where, a little tiger cub, leaps up and bites the trunk of an elephant, which comes there, yearning for water!  In essence, the lady is baffled how the man can even think of leaving the joy of being together and go to those dreary spaces. It seems as if the lady is asking that age-old question, ‘How can the other even think of doing something like this?’ A moment of striking realisation that the beloved, who was seen thus far as being of one mind with oneself, wishes to take a path of their own!

  5. 5d ago

    Aganaanooru 328 – Had I known…

    In this episode, we listen to hidden words of persuasion, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 328, penned by Madurai Panda Vaanikan Ilanthevanaar. The verse is situated amidst the rain-soaked darkness of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain Landscape’ and projects a person’s wish on the elements of nature. வழை அமல் அடுக்கத்து வலன் ஏர்பு வயிரியர் முழவு அதிர்ந்தன்ன முழக்கத்து ஏறோடு, உரவுப் பெயல் பொழிந்த நள்ளென் யாமத்து, அரவின் பைந் தலை இடறி, பானாள் இரவின் வந்து, எம் இடைமுலை முயங்கி, துனி கண் அகல அளைஇ, கங்குலின் இனிதின் இயைந்த நண்பு, அவர் முனிதல் தெற்று ஆகுதல் நற்கு அறிந்தனம்ஆயின், இலங்கு வளை நெகிழ, பரந்து படர் அலைப்ப, யாம் முயங்குதொறும் முயங்குதொறும் உயங்க முகந்து கொண்டு அடக்குவம்மன்னோ தோழி! மடப் பிடி மழை தவழ் சிலம்பில் கடுஞ்சூல் ஈன்று, கழை தின் யாக்கை விழை களிறு தைவர, வாழை அம் சிலம்பில் துஞ்சும் சாரல் நாடன் சாயல் மார்பே! In this trip to the hills, we get to hear the familiar roar of the sky, as we listen to the lady say these words to the confidante, knowing that the man is listening nearby, pretending not to see him but making sure he’s in earshot: “In the mountain ranges, filled with Surangi trees, climbing on the right, along with thunder that resounds with the roar of performers’ drums, a heavy downpour showered in the midnight hour. At this time, severing the head of snakes, he came in the dead darkness of night and embraced my bosom, until his suffering parted away from him. Such was the close affinity that the night so sweetly rendered unto us. In the slopes of the lord, a naive female elephant after giving birth amidst those cloud-covered hills, filled with a desire to feed on bamboo, sleeps as its huge mate strokes it gently. Had I known that the lord would tire and dislike this bond between us, making my shining bangles slip away, and letting the pallor of suffering torment me, each and every time he embraced me, I would have held that tender chest of his, so close, and contained it, without letting go, my friend!” Let’s brave the midnight dangers and delve into this domain! The lady starts by talking about how the man always arrives in the middle of the night, when the rains are pouring with the roaring thunder for company. She talks of how the man would come seeking her, not minding the slithering snakes on the way, trampling upon it, just to come embrace the lady, and he would do so, till his yearning was fulfilled. Recollecting how beautiful their bond was, she then goes on to describe the man’s mountain country, where a female elephant after giving birth, filled with a wish to feed on bamboo, sleeps, even as its mate caresses it gently. The lady concludes by saying that if only she had known that the man would come to dislike their relationship, making her health and beauty fade, then each and every time he embraced her, she would have pressed him so close that it felt like she had contained him within her. The thought to be emphasised here is the lady’s note about the man disliking their relationship. That would be like a spear piercing his heart, considering the love he must have to brave all those dangers to be with her. He would take heed and also perceive from the scene of the female elephant cloistered with its mate, the metaphor the lady places, wishing for such a future with him. The man would be convinced that the only way to make this happen would be to seek the lady’s hand in marriage. Yet again, it’s the art of making another arrive at the right conclusion all on their own, just by presenting the situation at hand along with the subtle hope for the future, with but a few perceptive words!

  6. 6d ago

    Aganaanooru 327 – The nudge to part away

    In this episode, we perceive an anguished question put forth, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 327, penned by Marunkoorpaakai Saathan Poothanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands Landscape’, the verse presents a vivid portrait of this domain. ‘இன்பமும் இடும்பையும், புணர்வும் பிரிவும், நன்பகல் அமையமும் இரவும் போல, வேறு வேறு இயல ஆகி, மாறு எதிர்ந்து, உள” என உணர்ந்தனைஆயின், ஒரூஉம் இன்னா வெஞ் சுரம், நல் நசை துரப்ப, துன்னலும் தகுமோ? துணிவு இல் நெஞ்சே! நீ செல வலித்தனைஆயின், யாவதும் நினைதலும் செய்தியோ எம்மே கனை கதிர் ஆவி அவ் வரி நீர் என நசைஇ, மா தவப் பரிக்கும் மரல் திரங்கு நனந்தலை, களர் கால் யாத்த கண் அகல் பரப்பின் செவ் வரை கொழி நீர் கடுப்ப, அரவின் அவ் வரி உரிவை அணவரும் மருங்கின், புற்று அரை யாத்த புலர் சினை மரத்த, மைந் நிற உருவின், மணிக் கண் காக்கை பைந் நிணம் கவரும் படு பிணக் கவலைச் சென்றோர் செல்புறத்து இரங்கார் கொன்றோர், கோல் கழிபு இரங்கும் அதர, வேய் பயில் அழுவம் இறந்த பின்னே? In this trip to this familiar domain, we get to see many different sights, as we listen to the man say these words to his heart, when it insists that he part away with the lady and go in search of wealth: “Knowing fully well that joy and sorrow, togetherness and separation, akin to day and night, are of varying natures and stand opposing each other’, is it right on your part to nudge me to leave to those disagreeable and formidable hot drylands, so as to seek wealth, O heart bereft of clarity?! If you were to insist on my leaving, did you even think a little about her state, after I part away to those drylands, where seeing the mirage owing to the deceiving rays of the sun, thinking it’s water, animals run around languishing, amidst those wide spaces, filled with saline soil, where even the sturdy hemp withers, and here, akin to thick cascades that descend deftly from tall, red mountains, the beautiful, striped skin, shed by snakes, lie upon towering termite mounds, near which stands a tree with dried branches, upon one of which sits a sapphire-eyed, kohl-hued crow, feeding on fresh flesh, stolen from the corpses of wayfarers, killed by others, who have no care about those who died but worry only about the arrows that they lost, in those bamboo-filled harsh spaces!” Let’s brave the dangers of this domain and learn more! The man starts by accusing his heart of knowing that joy and sorrow, being together and being apart are as distinct as day and night, and yet asking him to give up the former and go do the latter. He pointedly asks his heart whether it thought about what the state of the lady would be if he were to part away. In the final segment, the man takes us to the drylands, filled with mirages that make thirsty animals stumble, so covered in infertile, salty soil that even the sturdiest of flora, the hemp droops down. Then the man concludes by presenting a succession of well-stitched images, first the skin of snakes, lying on termite mounds ,and looking like the cascades descending from high mountains, and near those termite mounds, stands a tree with dried-up branches, and on one branch, sits a crow, feeding on flesh, but that which came from a corpse, felled by highway robbers, who worry not about the death of those wayfarers but only about the arrows they lost in the process! It’s the man’s way of refusing the nudge of his heart to part away from his beloved on the trail of ambition. A unique aspect of this verse is the way the drylands are etched by presenting one element after the other in succession, as in that snake skin lying on the termite mound, a dried-up tree nearby, a crow sitting on the branch of that tree, and feeding on the flesh of wayfarers. This reminds me of the ancient ‘Byobu’ art of the Japanese, wherein they would paint a wide scene on successive panels of a folding screen seamlessly, and which leaves you in the flowing presence of a moment, filled with detail and precision. Different cultures, different art forms but the same beating heart at the core!

  7. Sep 7

    Aganaanooru 326 – Those spear-like eyes of hers

    In this episode, we listen to a pointed refusal, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 326, penned by Paranar. The verse is situated in the lush fields of the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands Landscape’ and dwells on the appeal of a courtesan. ஊரல் அவ் வாய் உருத்த தித்தி, பேர் அமர் மழைக் கண், பெருந் தோள், சிறு நுதல், நல்லள் அம்ம குறுமகள் செல்வர் கடுந் தேர் குழித்த ஞெள்ளல் ஆங்கண், நெடுங் கொடி நுடங்கும் அட்டவாயில், இருங் கதிர்க் கழனிப் பெருங் கவின் அன்ன நலம் பாராட்டி, நடை எழில் பொலிந்து, விழவில் செலீஇயர் வேண்டும் வென் வேல் இழை அணி யானைச் சோழர் மறவன் கழை அளந்து அறியாக் காவிரிப் படப்பை, புனல் மலி புதவின், போஒர் கிழவோன், பழையன் ஓக்கிய வேல் போல், பிழையல கண், அவள் நோக்கியோர் திறத்தே! In this trip to the farmlands, it’s all about a maiden, as we hear the confidante say these words to the man, when he returns seeking entry into the lady’s house, after courting a courtesan: “Having skin spreading with exquisite beauty spots many; huge rain-like eyes; thick arms; small forehead; pretty indeed is that young maiden! Praising her beauty, which is akin to the lush spread of fields, filled with huge, dark stalks, in the flag-fluttering town of Attavayil, where streets are burrowed by the speeding chariots of the wealthy, you should take an elegant walk with her, and join along in the festivities, O lord! Akin to the spear thrown from the hand of the victorious Chozha king, Pazhaiyan, who wields adorned battle elephants, and rules over ‘PoOr’, a town fitted with sluice gates to direct the gushing floods of the River Kaveri, whose depth cannot be fathomed by any bamboo pole, are her eyes, which no one can escape from, the moment she glances at them!” Time to see the sparks fly in this uproarious domain. The confidante starts by describing, in no doubt a sarcastic tone, the beauty of the courtesan, mentioning her perfect pallor spots, eyes and forehead. She talks about how that courtesan’s beauty is like the lush fields of Attavayil, a town filled with wealth and prosperity, and then she turns to the man and asks him to go and praise the courtesan, and take her along to the festivities in their town. The confidante concludes by saying she says so, because once that courtesan has looked at someone, they cannot escape her eyes, which are exactly like the spears, which a Chozha King, the ruler of the river-gushing PoOr, known by the name of Pazhaiyan, throws at his enemies! High praise from the confidante about the beauty and attraction of the courtesan, seems like! What the confidante actually means is that once the courtesan has cast a glance at a man, he cannot escape her hold. So there’s no point in forgiving the man and letting him into the lady’s house, for he will bounce back to her in no time, this good friend of the lady implies. A message to the man that he has not been forgiven for his forsaking the lady! Amidst all this drama, there’s a character, which is quietly standing in the background, not speaking a word but one we cannot escape from, much like the courtesan’s eyes and Pazhaiyan’s spears, and that is wealth, clothed in lush fields of paddy, riding chariots of gold and delighting in festivities. Indeed the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few men, is the root cause of all this strife and trouble in this land of plenty!

  8. Sep 4

    Aganaanooru 325 – Dilemmas and Decisions

    In this episode, we perceive a lady’s situation in the midst of a dilemma, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 325, penned by Maamoolanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse mentions the respect and admiration rendered unto a Sangam-era king. அம்ம! வாழி, தோழி! காதலர், ”வெண் மணல் நிவந்த பொலங் கடை நெடு நகர், நளி இருங் கங்குல் புணர் குறி வாய்த்த களவும் கைம்மிக அலர்ந்தன்று; அன்னையும் உட்கொண்டு ஓவாள் காக்கும்; பின் பெரிது இவண் உறைபு எவனோ? அளியள்!” என்று அருளி, ”ஆடு நடைப் பொலிந்த புகற்சியின் நாடு கோள் அள்ளனைப் பணித்த அதியன் பின்றை, வள் உயிர் மாக் கிணை கண் அவிந்தாங்கு, மலை கவின் அழிந்த கனை கடற்று அருஞ் சுரம் வெய்யமன்ற; நின் வை எயிறு உணீஇய, தண் மழை ஒரு நாள் தலையுக! ஒள் நுதல், ஒல்கு இயல், அரிவை! நின்னொடு செல்கம்; சில் நாள் ஆன்றனைஆக” என, பல் நாள், உலைவு இல் உள்ளமொடு வினை வலி உறீஇ, எல்லாம் பெரும் பிறிதாக, வடாஅது, நல் வேற் பாணன் நல் நாட்டு உள்ளதை, வாள் கண் வானத்து என்றூழ் நீள் இடை, ஆள் கொல் யானை அதர் பார்த்து அல்கும் சோலை அத்தம் மாலைப் போகி, ஒழியச் சென்றோர்மன்ற; பழி எவன் ஆம்கொல், நோய் தரு பாலே? In this long trip to the drylands, we take a short walk amidst the familiar spaces and spend more time in the minds of the protagonists, as we listen to the lady say these words to the confidante: “Listen, my friend! May you live long! My beloved had said, ‘In the tall mansion, with a well-adorned entrance, filled with white sands, during the deep dark hour of midnight, our secret love relationship groomed by the trysts had grown out of bounds, causing slander to spread. Understanding this, her mother now guards her ceaselessly. At such a time, how is it possible for her to remain here? She’s to be pitied’. Saying so, he had endowed his grace and kindness. Then, continuing, he mentioned, ‘After the life time of Athiyan, who bid Allan to take over his country, which had been one of ceaseless dance and festivities, the resounding sounds of the huge ‘Kinai’ drums that sing a patron’s praise, fell utterly silent’. Akin to that, the mountains have utterly lost their beauty, and only scrub jungles spread densely in those formidable drylands, which will be sweltering and impossible for you to traverse. May the cool rains pour soon one day, so that your sharp teeth get to savour it, O young maiden, with a radiant forehead and a swaying gait! At that time, I shall take you along with me. So, why don’t you bear with this separation for a few days?’. Saying so, with an unswerving heart, he had stressed upon setting out on his mission to gain wealth, leaving everything to go to great ruin. Many days ago, he had left to the north beyond the fine country, ruled by Paanan, who wields fine spears, to those long and winding paths, scorching with the sword-like rays of the sun, where killer elephants, rest and wait, in those jungles, leaving me to suffer many lonely evenings here! Now, what to do about the shame of this illness rendered unto me?” Time to walk on to distant countries and learn more! The lady starts by recollecting the man’s words. At first he had understood the lady’s delicate situation, wherein their relationship had grown strong with the trysts, gossip had spread in town, and owing to that, mother was keeping the lady under guard. So, he empathises with the lady and says it’s impossible for the lady to remain at her wealthy home, amidst this crisis. The man knows the alternative is to elope with the lady and take her to his town. At the same time, he pauses to note that this is the harsh summer season, where the mountains and paths are utterly devoid of moisture or beauty. To etch this, he brings in the simile of a Sangam era King, Athiyan, who apparently gave away his country to another named ‘Allan’, and gave up his life. After that loss, overcome by grief, the bards refused to play their Kinai drums and utter silence filled that place known for its exuberant festivities. That silence and absence of joy, the man equates to the loss of fertility and pleasantness in the mountains. Saying so, the man had told the lady that at this time it would be impossible for the lady to leave with him. He had promised the rains would soon come, and at that time, he would take her along. Wishing to go earn wealth at this time, he had asked the lady to bear the separation, and had left to the drylands beyond Paanan’s country, leaving the lady to face many a lonely evening. The lady concludes by wondering what they are going to do about the blame and shame that will rise because of the illness of pining, brimming over in her! This is a verse where we get to see the reasoning why the man sometimes takes the lady and elopes through the drylands, and at other times, he leaves her behind. The man is juggling with two options in his mind and deciding what’s best for the moment. Here’s an example of no matter how much thought goes into a decision, things don’t always work out well for all concerned at all times. A verse which seems to tell me that ultimately, we can only do what we think as best and leave the rest for time to teach us about!

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About

Reflections on 2000 Year Old Tamil Poetry

Information

  • Creator
    Nandini Karky
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    319
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2019 Nandini Karky
  • Show Website
    Sangam Lit