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In this episode, we perceive the joy in a man’s return to his home, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 212, penned by Kudavaayil Keerathanaar. Set in the drylands of the ‘Paalai’ landscape, the verse speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, on hearing about the man returning homeward from his long journey.
பார்வை வேட்டுவன் படு வலை வெரீஇ,
நெடுங் கால் கணந்துள்அம் புலம்பு கொள் தெள் விளி
சுரம் செல் கோடியர் கதுமென இசைக்கும்
நரம்பொடு கொள்ளும் அத்தத்து ஆங்கண்
கடுங் குரற் பம்பைக் கத நாய் வடுகர்
நெடும் பெருங் குன்றம் நீந்தி, நம் வயின்
வந்தனர்; வாழி-தோழி!-கையதை
செம் பொன் கழல்தொடி நோக்கி, மா மகன்
கவவுக் கொள் இன் குரல் கேட்டொறும்,
அவவுக் கொள் மனத்தேம் ஆகிய நமக்கே.
The poem opens with the intriguing phrase ‘பார்வை வேட்டுவன் படு வலை’. Intriguing because you tend to associate ‘வலை’, meaning ‘net’ with ‘வேட்டுவன்’, a hunter, but what is the word ‘பார்வை’, which means ‘sight’ in contemporary language, doing here? Turns out that that this ‘பார்வை’ refers to a ‘decoy’, the ‘imitation bird’ used by hunters to trick birds into thinking one of their own is sitting in wait for them. Next, we glimpse at ‘கணந்துள்’, an ancient bird mentioned in two verses of Sangam literature. There are references to different tribes here, one, ‘கோடியர்’, who are said to be the ‘professional dancers’ and the other, ‘வடுகர்’, who are the people living to the north of the Tamil land, in the hills of Vengadam or the famous pilgrimage spot Tirupati, as it’s known today. The reference to ‘கழல்தொடி’ or ‘slipping bangles’ tells us the disease of pining is afoot. The verse ends with ‘அவவுக் கொள் மனத்தேம்’ meaning ‘hearts filled with love’. Let’s walk into the verse to see where this takes us!
The man and lady had been leading a happy married life when the time came for the man, to part away from her on a mission. The lady is filled with pining as the man parts. One day, the young men who went with the man return and inform the household that the man is on his way back home. Hearing this, the confidante rushes to the lady and says to her, “Seeing the decoy on the net spread by the hunter, terror-stricken, the long-legged Kananthul bird sends out a clear cry, filled with sorrow. This cry mingles with the music from the strings of the lute, played by the dancers, who walk through the drylands. Walking along this path, where the tribe of ‘vadugars’ hunt with fierce dogs and harsh-sounding drums, your man is now crossing those tall and great mounds and coming towards you. He hastens to hear the sweet voice of your fine son, who looks at the slipping bangles on your arms and embraces you. Your man rushes to be with you, who has a heart filled with love for him!” With these words, the confidante tells the lady that her suffering is over and that the man will soon unite with the lady and their child, bringing forth long-lasting bliss.
The confidante opens with the scene of a hunter spreading a net and placing a decoy on it. Seeing this toy bird, the kananthul sends out a piercing cry. The confidante says that this cry fuses with the music from the lutes of dancers who walk the desert path and resounds all around. She adds that the man is seen returning down that path, where the tribe of vadugars live and hunt with their fierce dogs and harsh sounding ‘pambai’ drums. She highlights the lady’s state saying that her sweet child, seeing the bangles slip from his mother’s arms, understands the sadness in her and embraces her with affection. Now, those days are past, she adds, as the man arrives to bring joy to the lady’s heart.
When the confidante talks about the cry of the kananthul bird, fusing with the music of travelling dancers, she’s concealing a prophecy, a wish for the lady’s life. The kananthul bird, about to be captured by the hunter’s net, is a metaphor for the lady, falling in the trap of the disease of pining. But, the sound of the cry rising up with the sound of music is an indicator that the lady would soon unite with the man and live a long and happy life, to the joy of all around. I want to dwell on that tiny moment when the lady’s son embraces his mother seeing the bangles on her arms slipping away. Indeed, children are so attuned to their parents emotions that no words need be spoken. I have witnessed this very embrace from my son, on seeing a shade of sadness in me. Now, a blissful smile spreads on my face seeing the reflection of this love, in this song from long ago!
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