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In this episode, we are rejuvenated by the new rains depicted in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 53, written by Nalvettanaar. Set in the mountain country of ‘Kurinji’, the poem speaks in the voice of the lady’s confidante to the lady, intending to convey a message to the man listening nearby.
யான் அஃது அஞ்சினென் கரப்பவும் தான் அஃது
அறிந்தனள் கொல்லோ? அருளினள் கொல்லோ?
எவன் கொல் தோழி அன்னை கண்ணியது?
‘வான் உற நிவந்த பெருமலைக் கவாஅன்
ஆர்கலி வானம் தலைஇ நடுநாள்
கனை பெயல் பொழிந்தென கானக் கல் யாற்று
முளி இலை கழித்தன முகிழ் இணரொடு வரும்
விருந்தின் தீம் நீர் மருந்தும் ஆகும்,
தண்ணென உண்டு கண்ணின் நோக்கி
முனியாது ஆடப் பெறின் இவள்
பனியும் தீர்குவள், செல்க’ என்றோளே!
The poem opens, packed with questions. Either confusion or curiosity is at play and you get a sense of ‘Is it that? Or is it this? What could it be?’ This inner contradiction is followed by a depiction in the outer world of heavy rains pouring as indicated by ‘கனை பெயல் பொழிந்தென’. In context, I would like to dwell on the word ‘தலைஇ’ that we have encountered in Sangam poems featuring rain. The meaning herein is ‘pouring’. The word ‘தலை’ means ‘head’ and in this sense, the word ’தலைஇ’ painted a portrait of rain pouring on the mountain’s head from the skies. Another discovery was the word ‘நடுநாள்’ which literally means ‘middle of the day’. But here, it’s used in the meaning of ‘midnight’. Apparently, the day was not ruled by the sun for the ancient Tamils, who may have considered a day to be from sunrise to sunrise. We meet a well-known word in Tamil, ‘விருந்து’, which generally means ‘a feast’. However, here the word is used to mean ‘freshness’. Perhaps the connection comes from the implied understanding that a feast is something fresh and new. Maybe the ancient Tamils are saying that yesterday’s leftovers make not a feast!
The situation unfolds with the man being in a relationship with the lady for quite some time. However, he has been delaying, asking her hand in marriage. So, one day, when he comes to meet the lady, the lady’s confidante decides to hint at this state of affairs. As he listens nearby, acting as if she doesn’t know he’s there, the lady’s confidante says this to the lady, “O friend, fearing for you, I hid from mother, the real reason for the changes in you. But, she turned to me and said, ‘In the slopes of those mountains soaring to the skies, the roaring sky poured heavy rains in the middle of the night. Because of this, the forest stream rolls with rocks, gathering along the way, the dried-up leaves of the trees and the new flowering buds. This fresh and sweet water is not a mere stream, but a medicine too. Without any reluctance, drink the cool waters, relish with your eyes and bathe to your heart’s content. Perhaps then, my girl will be cured of her illness. Go along now!’ Did mother come to know of your relationship with your man? Or was she just speaking out of motherly love? I’m not able to fathom the reason for what mother said.” With these words, the lady’s confidante hints that the lady’s mother could be aware of the relationship between the man and the lady. In that case, she will be placed under guard and the man cannot get to see her. So, he better hurry and seek her hand in marriage, she implies.
Now, let’s turn our attention to the fountainhead of this poem. The rains! Where is the rain pouring? In those tall mountains, that seem to scrape off the underside of the skies. From where is it pouring? From a sky filled with a lot of commotion, as illustrated by the phrase ‘ஆர்கலி வானம்’. Up there, the clouds clash against each other and increase the sound levels of the world beneath. When is the downpour happening? As we have seen previously too, the Tamils seem to favour the midnight rain. Maybe because the sun is not there to play a rival and steal away the pouring heaven. How is the rain pouring? It’s a heavy downpour and the force of it, prunes the trees, removing their dead, dried up leaves and at the same time, gathers the new life flowering in those buds and then, pours all of it into the bubbling forest stream. Imagine the herbs and flowers that bloom in the mountain. The pouring rains blend all these roots and shoots in the stream and it flows, as a river of cure. A flowing bottle of medicine that can cure the ill and relieve their suffering. To be healed, as mother says, we must first simply look at it, then drink the cool waters and bathe in the gushing stream, without any hesitation, embracing the river as it flows.
That ancient belief in the healing powers of a stream filled with fresh rain water becomes evident with the words of this verse. What I love about the way this belief is echoed in this verse is that it does not say, ‘Go bathe in the river because that’s what has been written in the scriptures or that’s what our ancestors told us.’ Instead it logically outlines the reasons why it’s considered a cure. As the poem outlines, this is the confluence of pure water and the healing leaves and shoots from the high slopes of the mountain, where undisturbed by humans, grow herbs and trees that live as a testimony for the healing nature of nature. Savouring these fresh, flowing water drops shining on our mind’s skin, let us embrace today, healed within!
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