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In this episode, we perceive a subtle technique of persuasion, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 159, penned by Vadama Vannakkan Perisaathanaar. The verse is situated in the hills of ‘Kurinji’ and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, passing on a hidden message to the man, listening nearby.
‘தழை அணி அல்குல் தாங்கல் செல்லா
நுழை சிறு நுசுப்பிற்கு எவ்வம் ஆக,
அம் மெல் ஆகம் நிறைய வீங்கிக்
கொம்மை வரி முலை செப்புடன் எதிரின;
யாங்கு ஆகுவள்கொல் பூங்குழை?’ என்னும்
அவல நெஞ்சமொடு உசாவாக்
கவலை மாக்கட்டு-இப் பேதை ஊரே.
This verse is all about a girl’s physical changes at puberty. The opening words ‘தழை அணி அல்குல் ‘ meaning ‘leaf-clad loins’ depict the attire of young women in Sangam times, who seem to have worn a skirt of leaves around their hips. Whether this was true of other regions such as the farmlands or not, here in the mountains of Kurinji, we see more frequent references to clothes made of leaves. Next, the verse moves on to ‘நுழை சிறு நுசுப்பு’ meaning ‘slender waist’ followed by ‘அம் மெல் ஆகம்’ meaning ‘gentle bosom’. Shortly thereafter, the word ‘செப்பு’ appears in the meaning of ‘a rounded vessel’. In Sangam verses, we have often seen how the lady is personified with the jewels she wears and in that theme, here we find ‘பூங்குழை’ meaning ‘lady wearing earrings which have flower designs’. From physical attributes, the focus shifts to the emotional in ‘அவல நெஞ்சமொடு’ meaning ‘with a suffering heart’. Ending with the words ‘இப் பேதை ஊரே’ meaning ‘this foolish village’, the verse welcomes us to investigate the folly of that ancient hamlet.
A shapely young girl and suffering hearts seem to hold secrets within. The context reveals that the man and lady were leading a love relationship and the man was trysting with the lady for a while. One day, when the man arrives to meet with the lady, the confidante pretending not to notice him, but making sure he’s in earshot, says to the lady, “Unable to bear those leaf-covered loins, her slender little waist suffers. Her beautiful chest swells into rounded and lined bosom, akin to metal pots. What will become of this maiden bedecked with flowery earrings? They, seem not to have a heart that worries about her state, those wretched people of this foolish village!” With these words, the confidante indirectly informs the man that the lady’s parents are intending to confine the lady to the house and so, the man should give up the temporary pleasures of trysting and seek the permanent path of marriage.
How does the mention of the lady’s bodily changes convey the urgency of seeking the lady’s hand to the man? Let’s follow the confidante’s words to find out. She starts by talking about the lady’s hips that are struggling to hold the leaf-attire and then moves upwards to describe her narrow waist and then, on to the lady’s bosom and how it has matured into rounded shapes, spotted with lines, akin to metal pots. Here, the confidante seems to be describing the blooming hour-glass figure of a young lady at the onset of puberty. From the bosom, the confidante turns her attention to the lady’s hanging earrings, designed to resemble a flower blossom. After sketching the lady for us, the confidante concludes by mentioning their foolish town, which seems to have no worry about what would become of the lady.
Description of the female body comes easily to Sangam poets, which makes me wonder if these poems could have been the biology lessons in ancient times. From a culture that was open about the human anatomy, we have changed in the last few centuries to become reserved about it. Many a comedy series dwells on the shyness of contemporary Biology teachers in explaining these vital facts to growing minds. Could it be the influence of Victorian ideals under the British rule or something else? Let’s leave that question to historians and sociologists and delve into the emotions of this verse. By describing how the lady is maturing, the confidante is hinting to the man, the lady’s kith and kin will confine her from leaving the house. While she calls their village as foolish, she actually means the lady’s family for they seem not to understand where the lady’s heart is. And so, that being the situation, the man must get proactive and seek the lady’s hand to enjoy the pleasure of her company forever, the confidante implies. Let’s hope the confidante’s plan works and those floral-jewel-decked ears of the lady hears wedding bells!
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