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In this episode, we listen to an explanation about the turn of events, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 52, penned by Panampaaranaar. The verse is situated in mountains of ‘Kurinji’ and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, conveying the reason why preparations were ongoing for the lady’s marriage with the man.
ஆர் களிறு மிதித்த நீர் திகழ் சிலம்பிற்
சூர் நசைந்தனையையாய் நடுங்கல் கண்டே,
நரந்த நாறும் குவை இருங்கூந்தல்
நிரந்து இலங்கு வெண்பல் மடந்தை,
பரிந்தனென் அல்லனோ, இறை இறை யானே?
A fine blend of fear, beauty and kindness emanates from this one! The majestic creatures of the mountains appear in the opening words ‘ஆர் களிறு’ meaning ‘powerful elephants’. Paranormal activity can be sensed in ‘சிலம்பிற் சூர்’ meaning ‘mountain spirits’! If you notice yourself shivering a little, you’ve got company as described in the words ‘நடுங்கல் கண்டே’ meaning ‘seeing the shivering’. Moving on, ‘நரந்த நாறும்’ talks about ‘the scent of bitter-orange flowers’, and it should be mentioned that the word ‘narantham’ is referred to as ‘naarthangaai’ in contemporary Tamil and, is used in South Indian cuisine as a primary pickle ingredient, much favoured for their pungent flavours. Even mention of this word would set many South Indian tongues watering! Returning, we see markers of beauty in ‘குவை இருங்கூந்தல்’ meaning ‘thick, dark tresses’ and ‘நிரந்து இலங்கு வெண்பல்’ meaning ‘neatly arranged, shining white teeth’. Ending with ‘பரிந்தனென் அல்லனோ, இறை இறை யானே’ meaning ‘didn’t I sympathise and take efforts, step by step’, the verse invites us to listen closely.
Spirits and shivering – what could be the story within? The context reveals that the man and lady had been leading a love relationship when the man parted away to gather wealth for their wedding. Days went by and the lady languished in his absence. After a while, arrangements seemed to be ongoing for the lady’s wedding with the man. Puzzled by these events, the lady questions the confidante. To the lady, the confidante replies, “On the water-filled slopes, stepped on by strong elephants, live mountain spirits. As if possessed by them, you shivered. Perceiving that, O maiden with thick tresses, fragrant with the scent of ‘narantham’ flowers, and with perfect, shining white teeth, didn’t I take pity and speak for you, little by little?” With these words, the confidante is explaining to the lady what turned the tide in the lady’s love relationship.
What do spirits have to do with the lady’s wedding? An exploration of social customs is required to understand the same. The confidante first takes us to a moist, mountain country and points to deep holes in the mud, tracking how powerful elephants have walked that way. She describes how that this is the perfect spot for mountain spirits to dwell. These fantastical beings have been mentioned only because the lady had been shivering as if possessed by those spirits. Saying that it was then that she felt the lady’s pain and spoke on her behalf, the confidante concludes, not before she adds a glowing description of the lady’s hair, smelling of bitter-orange flowers, and of her shining white teeth!
A nuance is to be noted about the mention of mountain spirits! The confidante never says the lady is shivering because of the spirits, but stresses that the lady was trembling as if possessed by the spirits. She’s the wise one, who knows the true reason for these tremors in the lady. That true reason was the lady’s worry about what would happen to her love relationship, which was then being threatened by the ‘Veri’ rituals with Velan, arranged by the lady’s parents to ascertain the cause of illness in her. Apparently, the lady could only worry and the person to do something about it turns out to be the confidante! This thoughtful friend, observing the lady in excessive anxiety, decides it’s time to reveal the lady’s relationship to her parents. So, first, she talks to her mother, who also happens to be the lady’s foster mother, who then reveals it to the lady’s birth mother and who, finally reveals the same to the lady’s father and the rest of the family. It’s this elaborate process that the confidante mentions as ‘efforts taken, step by step’. Hearing the confidante’s words, the lady would be overjoyed to have her dream of uniting with the man fulfilled. Here, I cannot help thinking what a curious set-up this is, where the lady’s health and life is entrusted to the perception and care of a friend. Imagine how sensitive and kind this friend must be, to make the lady’s life, one filled with happiness! Inspired by this paragon of friendship, can we do a little more for our friends?
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