Kurunthogai 242 – Rain-soaked rooster and homebound chariot

December 12, 2021

In this episode, we relish the joy of a mother in seeing her daughter happily married, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 242, penned by Kulatrathanaar. Set in the forests of ‘Mullai’, the verse speaks in the voice of the lady’s foster mother to the lady’s birth mother, on returning after a visit to the lady’s marital home.

கானங்கோழிக் கவர் குரற் சேவல்
ஒண் பொறி எருத்தில் தண் சிதர் உறைப்பப்
புதல் நீர் வாரும் பூ நாறு புறவில்
சீறூரோளே, மடந்தை; வேறு ஊர்
வேந்து விடு தொழிலொடு செலினும்,
சேந்து வரல் அறியாது, செம்மல் தேரே.

The verse paints ‘a pleasant place filled with love and care’. In the opening words ‘கானங்கோழிக் கவர் குரற் சேவல்’ meaning ‘the wild rooster with an alluring voice’, a jungle fowl delights our eyes and ears. A one-line description of a picturesque place can be seen in ‘புதல் நீர் வாரும் பூ நாறு புறவில்’ meaning ‘in the forest land, filled with the fragrance of flowers, where bushes drip water’. In ‘வேந்து விடு தொழிலொடு செலினும்’ meaning ‘even if it leaves on the king’s mission’, we see the importance rendered to the orders of a monarch. Ending with the words ‘செம்மல் தேரே’ meaning ‘the great man’s chariot’, the verse welcomes us to take a ride.

Wild roosters, moist bushes and the king’s orders – Sounds like an intriguing recipe! The context reveals that the man and lady had recently married, and the lady’s foster mother happened to visit the lady in her new home. After a while, the foster mother returns to the lady’s family and narrates her experiences. To the lady’s birth mother, she says, “A wild rooster calls with an enchanting voice to its jungle hen. Its throat, adorned with bright, little dots, is coated in water droplets from the cool bushes that drip moisture in the flower-fragrant forest land. Here, in a little hamlet, the naive maiden resides. Even if it leaves to another town, to fulfil a mission as commanded by the king, it doesn’t know how to stay there and come in a delayed manner – That chariot belonging to her man!” With these words, the foster mother talks about the happiness and love in the lady’s married life.

With that talk of roosters in the wild and chariots on the road, how does the foster mother convey the lady’s joy? To understand, let’s follow her words closely. The foster mother starts by talking about a wild rooster with shining dots on its neck, one that entices its mate with its rousing call. Like an expert cinematographer, the foster mother zooms the camera up close on the rooster’s neck and we observe how this is drenched in droplets. From ‘effect’, the foster mother moves to ’cause’ and points to the bushes under which the rooster had been hopping about and we see how this bush is dripping with water. Such is the scene in the fragrant forest land, where the lady now lives, the foster mother connects. A moment to pause and consider the significance of this description. The words ‘moisture-soaked’ and ‘rain-dripping’ may not sound so appealing to some cultures but here, this was an indicator of fertility. The rains were a source of delight and were welcomed into the land and life of these ancients. And so, through this description of moisture in the soil, on the bushes, and the rooster’s throat, the foster mother conveys to the lady’s mother that this is a rich and prosperous land that the lady had taken abode with her man.

As if the place you live is the only thing that matters, you may say! In response, the foster mother talks about something else – about the way the man’s chariot leaves their house only on the orders of the king and even when it does, it never stays late and returns promptly back home. It’s only the movement of a vehicle being described but within, the foster mother layers so many intricate details. A prominent man in society then was bound by the king who reigned over him and if the king so requests, the men were expected to drop everything and rush to his aid. And that’s why, the foster mother talks about the man leaving on the king’s mission. One may think that such a mission would keep the man away for days together, making the lady miss her man and lose her health. However, the foster mother dispels such doubts saying, even if the man leaves on the king’s mission, he would return promptly home. And through that, the foster mother paints a glowing portrait of a loving husband, who has thoughtfulness and care towards his young wife. In short, the foster mother tells the birth mother that their daughter was in a beautiful place and that too, with a kind person. Words that would certainly soak a mother’s heart with satisfaction!

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