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In this episode, we perceive a thoughtful way of communicating something, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 367, penned by Madurai Maruthan Ilanakanaar. The verse is situated in the mountains of ‘Kurinji’ and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, showing her the way to carry on.
கொடியோர் நல்கார்ஆயினும், யாழ நின்
தொடி விளங்கு இறைய தோள் கவின் பெறீஇயர்,
உவக்காண்-தோழி!-அவ் வந்திசினே-
தொய்யல் மா மழை தொடங்கலின், அவர் நாட்டுப்
பூசல் ஆயம் புகன்று இழி அருவி
மண்ணுறு மணியின் தோன்றும்
தண் நறுந் துறுகல் ஓங்கிய மலையே.
‘Come here and look at his hill’, says a voice in this verse. The opening words ‘கொடியோர் நல்கார்ஆயினும்’ meaning ‘even if the wicked one does not care to do the right thing’ seem to characterise someone close as a source of disappointment. In ‘இறைய தோள் கவின் பெறீஇயர்’ meaning ‘to make those curving arms regain their beauty’, we see the motive behind the words rendered. It’s the setting of the hills and the predominant weather pattern here is painted by ‘தொய்யல் மா மழை’ meaning ‘the soaking huge rains’. The phrase ‘மணியின் தோன்றும்’ meaning ‘appears like blue gems’ reminds one of the frequently mentioned precious element in Sangam verses. Ending with the words ‘தண் நறுந் துறுகல் ஓங்கிய மலையே’ meaning ‘the high hill with moist and fragrant boulders’, the verse welcomes us to investigate further.
What is the deeper meaning of these precious sights in the mountains? 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 predicted, the lady languished in his absence. After a while, the confidante received the news that the man was about to arrive to seek the lady’s hand in marriage. At this time, the confidante goes to the lady and says, “Even if the cruel man renders not his grace, to make your bangles shine and to make your arms beautiful again, come here and look thither, my friend! Soaking the earth, heavy rains have begun. And so, uproarious maiden in his land love to take a dip in those waterfalls, which descend with desire, and drench the cool and fragrant boulders, making these shine like sapphires on that soaring hill!” With these words, the confidante conveys the news of the man’s imminent arrival in a thoughtful manner to the lady.
Instead of directly telling the lady the man was here to claim her hand, why does the confidante talk about the man’s hill and what thoughtfulness could possibly hide therein? To understand, let’s delve into the friend’s words. Although she knows the man was about to arrive, she starts by presenting a case wherein that does not happen. Even if he is not kind enough to come to the lady, so as to make her bangles stay put and her arms be radiant, the lady must do something, the confidante says, and that something, is to come closer and look ahead. And, what is to be seen there? It’s the man’s mountains, where rains have poured down with much gusto, inspiring the region’s noisy girls to relish bathing in the waterfalls, which by the way, descends down from high, with love, and makes mere boulders shine like precious sapphires! This reference to mountains shining like blue gems reminds me of the name of a Western Ghats region in Tamilnadu. It’s the ‘Nilgiris’ and this word translates as ‘blue mountains’, the very image, the confidante beckons the lady to look ahead and take in!
In effect, the confidante is telling the lady that she must draw strength by seeing the man’s mountains even if he himself does not render the grace of his company. There’s something different that’s striking in each verse – It could be a single image, a deep emotion, or even, an interesting character! Here, the highlight is the context. Just because the confidante thinks that she must not incapacitate the lady by expressing the jubilant news of the man’s arrival, she presents it as a gift wrapped in doubt. And, she illustrates that thoughtfulness is needed not just for conveying a sorrowful news but even one that would cause extreme happiness. With a deep knowledge about her friend, the confidante chooses these words. However, in the scene of the waterfall descending with love and making the boulder shine like a precious stone, the confidante places a metaphor for how the man is heading the lady’s way to make her glow with joy. As this Sangam confidante seamlessly acts, is it truly possible to know so much and care so much about a friend, in these isolated times of self-focus? Time and thought seems the key to reaching this laudable quality!
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