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In this episode, we learn of aspects that disturb the lady in the man’s absence, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 289, penned by Perunkannanaar. The verse is situated in the forest regions of ‘Mullai’ and speaks in the voice of the lady to the confidante, in response to the confidante’s worry that the man had not returned in the promised season.
வளர்பிறை போல வழிவழிப் பெருகி,
இறை வளை நெகிழ்த்த எவ்வ நோயொடு
குழை பிசைந்தனையேம் ஆகி சாஅய்,
உழையர் அன்மையின் உழப்பது அன்றியும்,
மழையும்-தோழி!-மான்றுபட்டன்றே;
பட்ட மாரி படாஅக்கண்ணும்,
அவர் திறத்து இரங்கும் நம்மினும்,
நம் திறத்து இரங்கும், இவ் அழுங்கல் ஊரே.
‘A worry more than mine’ is at the core here! The opening words ‘வளர்பிறை போல’ meaning ‘like a crescent in the growing phase’ bring to fore that celestial object of growth in the night sky. When we see ‘வளை நெகிழ்த்த’ meaning ‘making bangles slip away’, we know that pining is afoot. In ‘குழை பிசைந்தனையேம்’ meaning ‘akin to how a tender leaf is squashed to a pulp’, there’s an indication of a cruel act. In the phrase ‘பட்ட மாரி படாஅக்கண்ணும்’ meaning ‘the rain falls when it shouldn’t’ seems to indicate knowledge about the schedule of the rains. Ending with the words ‘நம் திறத்து இரங்கும் இவ் அழுங்கல் ஊரே’ meaning ‘this slanderous town that seems to worry on our behalf’, the verse invites us to explore more.
A feeling of being defeated arises out of this one! The context reveals that the man and lady were leading a love relationship when the man parted away to gather wealth for their wedding. As time passes, the lady languishes and the confidante starts to worry that the man won’t return as promised. To the worrying confidante, the lady says, “Akin to a waxing moon, this suffering-filled illness grows more and more, and causes my forearm bangles to slip away and makes me lose my beauty, akin to a leaf that is crushed. I am sad not only that my beloved is not beside me, but also about this rain, my friend, which is filled with confusion and falls even before it should. And, more than us, who worry thinking about him, this slanderous village seems to worry about us!” With these words, the lady indicates how the people in their village were the reason for her soaring sadness.
Time to explore the nuances. The lady starts by bring into view the moon in its waxing phase. She then takes what’s considered a positive image, at least in astrology, the period when the crescent grows into a full moon, and compares it to how her own distress is growing, as bangles slip away because of that suffering-filled disease of pining. Not only that, that disease leaves her stripped of health and beauty, making her feel like a just-sprouted pink-green leaf that is being mashed to a pulp. Anyone’s heart would melt on hearing this reference. She then relates how that not only is she worried that the man is not here, but also that the rains seem to be pouring when it shouldn’t. This indicates that the man had mentioned that he would return by the rainy season and the lady has decided that the rains were at fault rather than doubt the promise of her man. She concludes with the statement that more than her, who worried about the man, their village seemed to worry on account of her.
Worrying about another is a good thing, right? Why would the lady blame the village for that? To understand we have to delve into the worry of that village a little closely. The lady means that the village folk worry about her only for the sake of blaming the man and casting aspersions on his behaviour. They want to gossip and spread rumours and that’s why they seem so interested in her state of mind, the lady relates. That goes on to show how even concern can be seen as interference, when not expressed in the right manner. A subtle lesson in modern interpersonal communication in the midst of a Sangam lady’s pining in parting!
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