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In this episode, we rejoice in the loving care, portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 76, written by Ammovanaar. Set in the drylands of the ‘Paalai’ landscape, the poem speaks in the kind voice of the man to his lady, as they tread on a harsh path together.
வருமழை கரந்த வால் நிற விசும்பின்
நுண் துளி மாறிய உலவை அம் காட்டு
ஆல நீழல் அசைவு நீக்கி,
அஞ்சுவழி அஞ்சாது, அசைவழி அசைஇ,
வருந்தாது ஏகுமதி-வால் இழைக் குறுமகள்!-
இம்மென் பேர் அலர் நும் ஊர்ப் புன்னை
வீ மலர் உதிர்ந்த தேன் நாறு புலவின்
கானல் வார் மணல் மரீஇ,
கல் உறச் சிவந்த நின் மெல் அடி உயற்கே!
The poem opens with yet another beautiful word for ‘cloud’ – ‘வருமழை’, meaning ‘rain that arrives’! Interesting how the ancient Tamils have personified the cloud as the action it performs. Not just our men and women, but even you, O cloud, you are defined by what you do, they seem to say! The word ‘வால்’, which is currently commonly associated with ‘tail’, appears here in two different meanings. In ‘வால் நிற’, it refers to the colour ‘white’ and in ‘வால் இழை’, it pertains to the quality of being ‘pure’! We meet two different trees, the ‘ஆலம்’ or the ‘banyan’ and the ‘புன்னை’ or the ‘laurel wood’ tree and we’ll explore some fascinating facts about them shortly. We cannot fail to notice the alliterative, trance-like rhythm in the phrase ‘அஞ்சுவழி அஞ்சாது, அசைவழி அசைஇ’. Combinations like ‘இம் – நும்’ and ‘கல் – மெல்’, walk together in perfect synchrony like the lovers, the poem sings about!
The man and woman have been in a love relationship for a while and have decided to elope together, to the man’s village. As they journey on through the dry forest path, the man says to his lady, “O dear young girl, adorned with pure jewels! This far, your feet have walked only on the soft, wet sands of the shore in your village, which is given to loud gossip. A hamlet, where the falling flowers of the ‘punnai’ tree spread the fragrance of honey on the drying fish flesh. In this forest we tread on now, there’s a cloudless, white sky above. All around, there’s a dry wind, without even the slightest trace of rain. Your delicate feet have become reddened, walking on this stone filled path through the forest. Shed your weariness in the shade of the banyan tree; Fear not even in places, where fear creeps on to you; Rest wherever you feel the need to rest; Walk without sadness and let your feet worry no further!” With these words, the man intends to remove the sorrow in the lady’s mind at having parted away from her family.
Taking a cue from the caring words of the man, let’s walk through this verse, resting and rejuvenating ourselves in the stops along the way. From the clues in the poem, we understand that the lady hails from a coastal village and they are crossing a dry, forest path to reach the man’s village. The man expresses his understanding of the situation by first talking about the world outside. He says that indeed it’s a dry, dry world, devoid of even a little drizzle. The heat must be difficult to handle for that young girl, he realises. Then, he talks about the lady’s village. He mentions that the village was ripe with gossip and slander about their relationship. Then, he goes on to mention that the flowers that fall from the ‘punnai’ trees by the shore, spread the fragrance of honey, even on the flesh of fish, lying on the sands. This specific mention is a metaphor for how the man’s taking the lady with him has showered the flowers of dignity on the lady’s reputation, that had been cut open by the slanderous words of the village folk. Not only is it a metaphor, the man also tells her, she need not worry about her family following them and stopping them in their endeavours, because the flowers of the ‘punnai’ tree shall mask their footprints on the sand. So many meanings stitched together with so few words!
Bidding bye to the ‘punnai’ of the lady’s past, let’s meet and greet the ‘aalam’ that the man promises for the lady. The ‘aala maram’ or the ‘banyan’ is one of the most majestic and charismatic trees of the world. Let’s explore some delicious details about India’s national tree. The Tamil word for the tree, ’ஆலம்’ is a transformation of the word ‘அகலம்’, meaning ‘width’, for which tree, can match the width of the banyan that spreads endearingly all around. Interestingly, the English name for the ‘banyan’ comes from a Gujarati word for ‘merchant’,’banya’. Apparently, these traders were found to seek the shade of a banyan tree to rest as well as to conduct their trade. Just like the ‘banyas’, who came later on this land, these Sangam lovers in transit, seem to be seeking the same banyan as their spot to rest. The banyan has been a good friend, be it to love or livelihood!
Then, we turn our attention to the understanding words the man speaks to the lady about how her feet have been accustomed to walking only on the fine sands of the shore and here, stepping on the stone-filled path, her feet are reddened. As if her feet were his, he understands and even when she does not speak of her pain, he mouths it for her. He sees her red feet and also reads her heart’s beat. A moving song to teach us to look deeply and care thoughtfully, for those who accompany us in our journey through life.
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