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In this episode, we relish a striking simile that reveals the lady’s state of mind, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 41, penned by Anilaadu Mundrilaar. Set in the drylands of ‘Paalai’, the verse speaks in the voice of the lady to her confidante, expressing the feelings within during the man’s parting away.
காதலர் உழையர் ஆகப் பெரிது உவந்து,
சாறு கொள் ஊரின் புகல்வேன் மன்ற;
அத்தம் நண்ணிய அம் குடிச் சீறூர்
மக்கள் போகிய அணில் ஆடு முன்றில்
புலப்பில் போலப் புல்லென்று
அலப்பென்-தோழி!-அவர் அகன்ற ஞான்றே.
A contrast of joy and sorrow! In the opening words ‘காதலர் உழையர் ஆக’ , which means, ‘if my lover were to be near me’, the verse starts with a hypothetical ‘if’ clause. Thereafter, we glimpse at the expression ‘சாறு கொள் ஊர்’ meaning ‘a town with festivities’. Curiously, in contemporary language, the word ‘சாறு’ refers to ‘juice’ or ‘essence’. But here, it represents the concentrated joy that is present in an ancient town festival. ‘அத்தம் நண்ணிய அம் குடிச் சீறூர்’ talks about ‘a beautiful town in the middle of the drylands’ and ‘அணில் ஆடு முன்றில்’ conjures for us, ‘the front yard of a house where a squirrel is seen playing’. Let’s delve into that imagery in a short while, which incidentally renders its name to the poet of this song. Ending with ‘அவர் அகன்ற ஞான்றே’, meaning ‘when he parts away’, the verse invites us to listen with empathy.
On one side, is a town, filled with festivities, and on the other, a house where a squirrel is seen playing! What are these two different scenes telling us? The context reveals that the man and lady had been leading a happy, married life, when the man parted away to gather wealth. The lady languishes during this period. When the confidante expresses concern about the lady’s health, the lady says to her, “If my love were to be by my side, I would feel great joy, and akin to a town in the midst of festivities, I would be delighted, for sure. In a beautiful little hamlet in the drylands, bereft of people, stands a lonely house, where a squirrel plays in the front yard. Akin to that house, losing my lustre, I would feel miserable, my friend, the moment he parts from me!” With these words, the lady tells her friend that her deteriorated state is to be expected, as the man was away, but also conceals a subtle hope for the change of that state.
Time to explore the nuances! The lady first talks about a condition wherein the man is by her side. She declares that if that were the case, she would be exactly like a town, bustling with festivities. Imagine, the joy and exuberance of that town, filled with zinging energy. Now, from that scene, the lady transports us to an entirely different one in a town in the midst of a drylands region. She calls this, a beautiful town but soon adds there are no people there. As if to fix the reality of this place in our minds, she talks about a house in this town by pointing to a squirrel playing in the front yard. What better illustration of a deserted house, can there be? Anyone who has watched a squirrel knows how these animals are startled by the tiniest of movements by humans. Only in a place, where they are sure there are no humans for quite some time, will they have the courage to play about carefree in the front yard. So, by extrapolating that image, we understand that there was no one, not just in that house, but in the entire village. Probably, what was once a fertile town had turned that way, owing to the climate or war. The lady mentions such a lacklustre house, where squirrels are playing in the front yard, only to say that is exactly how she feels, whenever the man parts away!
Through these contrasting images, the lady is telling her friend, in an indirect manner, worry not, for this is to be expected, as the man has left me on his mission. But, at the same time by declaring that her state would be the total opposite if the man were to be near her, she conveys the hope that her sad situation would change soon, with the arrival of the man. A verse that seems to say just an awareness of what would redeem our situation is enough to carry us through those times, however troubled they may be!
Beautiful verse ❣️