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In this episode, we listen to the distress of a lady, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 206, penned by Madurai Maruthan Ilanaakanaar. The verse is situated amidst scenes of wandering buffaloes in the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and etches the emotions of a jilted woman.
என் எனப்படும்கொல் தோழி! நல் மகிழ்ப்
பேடிப் பெண் கொண்டு ஆடுகை கடுப்ப,
நகுவரப் பணைத்த திரி மருப்பு எருமை
மயிர்க் கவின் கொண்ட மாத் தோல் இரும் புறம்,
சிறு தொழில் மகாஅர் ஏறி, சேணோர்க்குத்
துறுகல் மந்தியின் தோன்றும் ஊரன்,
மாரி ஈங்கை மாத் தளிர் அன்ன
அம் மா மேனி, ஆய்இழை மகளிர்
ஆரம் தாங்கிய அலர்முலை ஆகத்து
ஆராக் காதலொடு தார் இடை குழைய,
முழவு முகம் புலரா விழவுடை வியல் நகர்,
வதுவை மேவலன் ஆகலின், அது புலந்து,
அடுபோர் வேளிர் வீரை முன்துறை,
நெடு வெள் உப்பின் நிரம்பாக் குப்பை,
பெரு பெயற்கு உருகியாஅங்கு,
திருந்துஇழை நெகிழ்ந்தன தட மென் தோளே?
It’s all about the players in this trip to the farmlands, as we listen to these words said by the lady to a female dancer, who had come as a messenger from the man, seeking entry into the lady’s house, after the man had left seeking the company of courtesans:
“Akin to hand gestures of a trans-feminine dancer, shaped with nuance, are the thick, curving horns of a buffalo. Climbing atop the handsome, hair-clad, dark-skinned sides of the beast, young children, always upto many little antics, appear akin to monkeys hopping on a boulder, to those faraway in the town of the lord. As for him, he only seeks to unite with those maiden, who have a beautiful, dark complexion, akin to tender sprouts of a touch-me-not tree, clad in exquisite ornaments. He intends to lie with ceaseless love, amidst the garlands adorning their necklace-clad, blooming bosoms, and remain at their festive mansion with unending drum beats. Hating this, akin to tall mounds of salt in the shores of ‘Veerai’, ruled by the battle-worthy Velirs, which melt away in a huge downpour, these well-etched ornaments slip away from my curving, soft arms! How will this state of mine be talked about, my friend?”
Let’s take in the lush landscape and learn more! The lady starts by making one of those rare references in Sangam literature regarding transgender persons. Here, she seems to be talking about a trans-feminine person, who performs as a dancer. The way the arms of the said dancer would be muscular but the hand gestures would be graceful, is placed in parallel with the thick but delicately curving horns of a buffalo. The buffalo has been brought into the picture by the lady to present an image of young children, who fear nothing, climbing on to the back of this buffalo, and the way they appear as monkeys jumping on a rock to those standing faraway. She renders this scene as a description of the man’s prosperous town and goes on to talk about the man’s current state of being lost in the company of courtesans, always seeking to remain at their mansions, filled with festivities. Owing to this, her ornaments were slipping away from her arms, just the way tall mounds of salt on the shores of ‘Veerai’ ruled by Velir Kings, would melt away in a heavy unexpected downpour, the lady concludes. A pictorial depiction of the man’s thoughtless actions and its consequences on the lady’s state of mind!
