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In this episode, we listen to words allaying anxiety, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 211, penned by Kaavanmullai Poothanaar. Set in the drylands of ‘Paalai’, the verse speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, in response to the lady’s words of worry about the man, who had parted away.
அம் சில் ஓதி ஆய் வளை நெகிழ
நொந்தும், நம் அருளார் நீத்தோர்க்கு அஞ்சல்
எஞ்சினம் வாழி-தோழி!-எஞ்சாது
தீய்ந்த மராஅத்து ஓங்கல் வெஞ் சினை
வேனில் ஓர் இணர் தேனோடு ஊதி,
ஆராது பெயரும் தும்பி
நீர் இல் வைப்பின் சுரன் இறந்தோரே.
‘He left without a care, you should care not’ says this verse! In the opening words ‘அம் சில் ஓதி ஆய் வளை நெகிழ’ meaning ‘making the etched bangles of the maiden with beautiful, fine hair slip away’, we are given a glimpse of pining that attacks the lady. The phrase ‘தீய்ந்த மராஅம்’ refers to ‘a scorched bur flower tree’ and ‘a single flower in summer’ is painted with the words ‘வேனில் ஓர் இணர்’. We glance at two different insects ‘தேன்’ referring to ‘a honeybee’ and ‘தும்பி’ referring to ‘a dragonfly’. Ending with the words ‘சுரன் இறந்தோரே’ meaning ‘he parted away to the drylands’, the verse welcomes us to explore more.
Twin bees and a burnt tree, we see! The context reveals that the man and lady were leading a married life when the man parted away to gather wealth. As time passed, the lady worried that thinking about her pitiable state, the man would return without completing his task. To the worried lady, the confidante says, “Making the well-crafted bangles of the maiden with beautiful, fine tresses slip away, he parted without kindness even when in suffering. Remove your worry with regard to him, my friend! With barely anything left, scorched stands the ‘maraam’ tree, in summer. On its high, parched branch, blooms a single flower, and along with a honeybee, a ‘thumbi’, searches for nectar and not finding it, flies away from those waterless spaces of the drylands through which he traverses!” With these words, the confidante assures the lady there’s no need to worry about the man returning halfway, considering the person he is!
How is the confidante so sure? She starts by talking about how the man went without considering the lady would suffer in pining, as witnessed by the slipping away of her bangles. So, she tells the lady not to fear about the man returning halfway when he sees scenes of nature echoing the loneliness of the lady. Then, she goes on to describe the drylands path through which the man is walking through. Owing to the effects of a sweltering summer, a bur flower tree is all but burnt. On a high, withering branch, a single flower is blooming. And, around this flower, not only a honey bee but also a dragonfly, can be seen buzzing around. No matter how much these insects poke and pry, there’s no nectar to be savoured. And, these insects fly away defeated in that arid drylands, where the man is now walking through, the confidante concludes.
What the confidante is trying to tell her friend is that the man was so determined that he went away inspite of knowing the lady would suffer. And so, even if he sees these buzzing insects give up their quest, he’s not going to change his mind and return halfway. In essence, the confidante is telling her friend not to worry too much about the man and to find the strength within to bear with the separation. Perhaps, a subtle note to remove anxiety about what others would say and do, and instead focus on what one can, in a moment of crisis!
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