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In this episode, we explore life and wildlife in the mountain country, depicted in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 194, penned by Madurai Maruthan Ilanaakanaar. Set in the mountain landscape of ‘Kurinji’, the verse speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, passing on a hidden message to the man, listening nearby.
அம்ம வாழி, தோழி! கைம்மாறு
யாது செய்வாங்கொல் நாமே-கய வாய்க்
கன்றுடை மருங்கின் பிடி புணர்ந்து இயலும்,
வலன் உயர் மருப்பின், நிலம் ஈர்த் தடக் கை,
அண்ணல் யானைக்கு அன்றியும், கல் மிசைத்
தனி நிலை இதணம் புலம்பப் போகி,
மந்தியும் அறியா மரம் பயில் ஒரு சிறை,
குன்ற வெற்பனொடு நாம் விளையாட,
இரும்பு கவர்கொண்ட ஏனற்
பெருங் குரல் கொள்ளாச் சிறு பசுங் கிளிக்கே?
The poem opens with the pressing word ‘அம்ம’, meaning ‘listen’, at once inviting us to pay close attention. Then, appears the word ‘கைம்மாறு’, which is in prevalent use, two thousand years later, still meaning ‘to repay a kindness’. An entire family of elephants appear for us as we glimpse at ‘கன்று’ meaning ‘calf’, ‘பிடி’ meaning ‘female elephant’ and not to forget, the male referred with the curious epithet ‘அண்ணல் யானை’. ‘அண்ணல்’ is the term of endearment accorded to respected leaders. The renowned Indian crusader against casteist discrimination, Dr. Ambedkar, was referred to affectionately, as ‘அண்ணல்’ by the Tamils. Let’s investigate as to why this reverent address has been rendered unto the elephant! Before we get there, let’s also glance at ‘இதணம்’ or ‘lookout’, ‘ஏனல்’ or ‘millet field’ and ‘பசுங்கிளி’ or ‘green parrot’. From these fast-cut images, let’s move on to the full picture.
The man and lady have been in a love relationship and the man has been trysting with the lady during the day, when she guards the millet fields. The confidante decides to convey to him that the time is ripe for him to turn away from these temporary pleasures to permanent joy. One day, when he comes to meet with the lady, pretending not to see him, she says to the lady, “Listen, my friend! May you live long! What can we offer in return? To that honourable male elephant with a long trunk that touches the earth and powerful, uplifted tusks. The one that unites with a female elephant, which stands with a wide-mouthed calf by its side. And also, to that small green parrot, for not coveting the long-eared, desirable millets, waiting for the slash of iron. The elephant and the parrot stayed away as you played with the lord from the mountains, on the lonely lookout, high up there, in the shade of a cluster of trees on one side, so tall that even monkeys cannot climb atop!” With these words, the confidante is urging the man to pursue a life of wedded union, now that the time has come for the lady to leave her lookout and be confined to her house.
Let’s unravel the intricate details within! The confidante starts by bidding the lady to listen and not just the lady, the man and we, the readers, are all ears. She puts forth a rhetorical question, asking how can they ever repay the favour done unto them. Who is she talking about? We learn that it’s a male elephant, with such a long trunk that it caresses the earth. Neither is this male elephant a bachelor. He has a wife, and a big-mouthed calf. Even though it’s a mere matter of extending his long trunk and even though he has these mouths to feed, this elephant stays away from eating the millets in the field. These millets are full-grown and any day, they will encounter the touch of iron sickles. Not only the huge elephant but even the tiny parrot has refrained from stealing those millet ears. And all this credit is not due to the sincere efforts of the lady either. She was not there to scare them away, for she was relishing the company of the man in a lookout, so high, amidst tall trees that even monkeys dare not climb. Saying this, the confidante ends her conversation with the lady and the man, listening by the hedge.
All we heard was a story about elephants and parrots refraining from eating millets. How is the message concealed in this verse? And, that is the unique talent of Sangam poets. In the reference to the lookout being in the shade of tall trees, where not even monkeys dared to climb, the confidante reminds the man how advantageous the trysting location had been, away from the prying eyes of the village folk. Then, when she talks about full-grown millets, it is to indicate that the lady’s work is done and now, as the harvest begins, the lady will be expected to remain within her home, in which case, the man cannot continue to enjoy her company. So, emulating that respectable male elephant that strides with his female and child, the man too must seek a wedded union to earn respect and bring lasting happiness to the lady. Extraordinary is the way animals are being called forth in Sangam verses, to express all that’s great about human behaviour!
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