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In this episode, we relish the joy and celebration, portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 91, written by Pisiraanthaiyaar. The verse is set in the ‘Neythal’ region or the coastal lands and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, bringing good tidings about the man’s arrival.
நீ உணர்ந்தனையே-தோழி!-வீ உகப்
புன்னை பூத்த இன் நிழல் உயர் கரைப்
பாடு இமிழ் பனிக் கடல் துழைஇ, பெடையோடு
உடங்கு இரை தேரும் தடந் தாள் நாரை
ஐய சிறு கண் செங் கடைச் சிறு மீன்,
மேக்கு உயர் சினையின் மீமிசைக் குடம்பை,
தாய்ப் பயிர் பிள்ளை வாய்ப் படச் சொரியும்
கானல் அம் படப்பை ஆனா வண் மகிழ்ப்
பெரு நல் ஈகை நம் சிறு குடிப் பொலிய,
புள் உயிர்க் கொட்பின் வள் உயிர் மணித் தார்க்
கடு மாப் பூண்ட நெடுந் தேர்
நெடு நீர்ச் சேர்ப்பன் பகல் இவண் வரவே?
The poem greets us by extending the ‘புன்னை பூத்த இன் நிழல்’ meaning ‘the sweet shade of a flowering punnai tree’. Fragrance and coolness wafts around us and shields us from the scorching worries of our day! The word ‘இமிழ்’ called out to me for it sounds so close to ‘தமிழ்’ and learnt that this word means ‘to roar’. Indeed, the roaring of this language is still powerful, after all these centuries! Then comes another fascinating word ‘குடம்பை’ meaning ‘nest’, fascinating because it calls to memory, ‘குடும்பம்’ meaning ‘family’. Both words, painting vividly the safe feeling of being at home.
Feeling the warmth of home at heart, let’s move into the heart of the poem. The man and lady have been in a love relationship for a while. One day, when the lady sits worried that the man is not keen on a formal union, her confidante comes to her and says, “Did you know of this, my friend? Together with its mate, a long-legged seabird searches in the cold sea, roaring with waves by the high shore, which is filled with the sweet shade of flower-showering ‘punnai’ trees. Finding tiny fish with small eyes, reddened in the corners, the seabird then, flies up to the high nest on the tall branches above and showers the food into the mouths of its little chicks, which have been calling out to their mother. Such is our little hamlet filled with seashore groves and brimming with endless generosity, always ready to endow charity. As if to grace this hamlet, comes a tall chariot, with loud bells on the fast horse’s neck, resounding like bird calls in the air. In such a manner, he arrives here, our lord of the seas, in broad daylight!” With these words, the confidante declares that the man is on his way to seek the lady’s hand in marriage, thereby bringing jubilation to the lady’s heart.
To sense that ecstatic joy felt by the lady for ourselves, let’s dwell on the deeper layers of the verse. Before our eyes, we see the waves of the sea roaring aloud. As if to add a softer tone to the scene, we see ‘punnai’ or ‘laurelwood trees’ in full bloom. When we step into the shade of one such tree, as if blessing our presence, it showers fragrant flowers from above. When we turn our eyes to the ocean, we see a seabird with its mate, searching the seas for a catch. The seas do not disappoint the bird, for it finds what it’s looking for – tiny fish with red eyes. The perfect catch for the waiting chicks in the nest high above. Carrying this catch, the bird rushes to its chicks to feed them. As we have seen in other poems, a natural scene is not just location description. It hides within it, a metaphor to explain the events emerging and we’ll come to that, in a moment. But before that, we need to turn our attention to the way the confidante describes their little seaside village. A place where people are generous and ready to give what’s asked of them. The reason for this particular description will also be clear to us shortly. Finally, the confidante comes to the point saying the man is arriving in his tall chariot, with bells echoing like the calls of a flock of birds in the air. And the key to the whole thing is, when this event is happening. It’s happening during the day for all the village to see and delight in. Thus, that one word indicating the time tells us that the man has this far been visiting the lady only at night, taking care to tie the mouth of the bells, so as to not rouse the village. Now, when he comes in broad daylight with bells clanging, there can only be one reason, the confidante declares!
Like the seabird that fishes in the cold seas and brings food to the mouth of its chicks, the man has earned wealth which he brings to the girl’s parents, seeking her hand from them. In a quaint manner, the metaphor involving the seabird and man reverses the parent-child roles but here, it’s the parents who are needy like the chicks, waiting for the man to furnish the feed of ‘bride price’, which is the offering to be rendered to the parents, when asking a girl in marriage. The confidante stresses on their hamlet being one so generous just to say that the parents will accept the man and grant the girl in marriage to him. Thus, the confidante weaves the story of the man’s arrival with the drama of flora and fauna in that landscape. A happy feeling buds within, nudging one to shower those ‘punnai’ flowers on nature and culture, the joyous couple, united as one by this song!
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