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In this episode, we perceive a subtle technique of persuasion, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 232, penned by Kodimangalathu Vaathuli Narchenthanaar. The verse is situated amidst the blooming Kino trees of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain landscape’ and describes a ritual performed in Sangam times.
காண் இனி வாழி, தோழி! பானாள்,
மழை முழங்கு அரவம் கேட்ட, கழை தின்,
மாஅல் யானை புலி செத்து வெரீஇ,
இருங் கல் விடரகம் சிலம்பப் பெயரும்
பெருங் கல் நாடன் கேண்மை, இனியே,
குன்ற வேலிச் சிறுகுடி ஆங்கண்,
மன்ற வேங்கை மண நாட் பூத்த
மணி ஏர் அரும்பின் பொன் வீ தாஅய்
வியல் அறை வரிக்கும் முன்றில், குறவர்
மனை முதிர் மகளிரொடு குரவை தூங்கும்
ஆர் கலி விழவுக் களம் கடுப்ப, நாளும்,
விரவுப் பூம் பலியொடு விரைஇ, அன்னை
கடியுடை வியல் நகர்க் காவல் கண்ணி,
‘முருகு’ என வேலற் தரூஉம்
பருவமாகப் பயந்தன்றால், நமக்கே.
In this trip to the mountains, we get to hear the confidante say these words to the lady, pretending not to notice the man, who has arrived for his tryst with the lady, but making sure he’s in earshot:
“See this, my friend, may you live long! In the middle of the night, hearing the thunderous roar of the rain cloud, a huge elephant feeding on bamboos, frightened that it’s a tiger, runs away trumpeting aloud, making the huge mountain range resound in the man’s mountain country. In a small hamlet, fenced by peaks, the Kino tree in the village centre blooms brightly announcing auspicious days of marriage, and shed golden flowers from sapphire-hued bud stalks, which spread on wide rocky spaces, in the front yard of mountain men, who perform ‘Kuravai’ dance with mature maiden, in those spaces of festivity, filled with uproar. Akin to that, every day, spreading flowers and sacrifice, mother wishing for protection of the well-guarded, fine mansion, seeks blessings of ‘Murugu’ with rituals of ‘Velan’. Your relationship with the man from the mountain country has bestowed upon us, such a time in our lives!”
Time to take a trek amidst the rocky terrain and learn of the challenges in the lady’s life! The confidante starts by beckoning her friend’s attention. Then she goes on to describe the man’s mountain country, and to do that, she brings forth an image of an elephant, startled by the sound of thunder, in the middle of the night, and thinking it’s the roar of the tiger, it scuttles away trumpeting, making the entire mountain range echo in fear. After that description of the man’s mountain country, the confidante goes on to describe how the ‘Vengai’ trees are in full bloom, and they are announcing the season of weddings had arrived. As these golden flowers fell on the rocky spaces in the front yards, mountain men and women perform the ‘Kuravai’ dance with much joy. Appearing akin to that field of festivities, was their own home, the confidante continues, why because mother had decided to curry favour with God ‘Murugu’, using the professional services of ‘Velan’ the priest and seek protection for their house, and to this end, the mother had spread flowers and other sacrificial offerings. Now, the confidante connects these happenings to the lady’s relationship with the man and concludes by wondering at the state they find themselves in now.
To unravel the meanings, we have to understand the reason Mother is starting her ‘Murugu’ worship was because she had noticed the changes in her beloved daughter, who is apparently happy when she’s with the man, and whenever he leaves, she falls into despair and mother’s sharp eyes have caught this. Not knowing that the man is the reason for that, she goes about seeking Murugu’s help to alleviate the lady’s symptoms, implies the confidante. This is also reflected in the scene of the elephant, mistaking thunder for a tiger, and echoes how the lady’s family has mistaken the consequence of the man’s relationship in the lady as ‘Murugu’s ire’. All this is to nudge the man to give up his temporary trysting, take steps to reinstate the lady’s honour and seek her hand in marriage. Yet again, the confidante choreographs that seamless ‘Kuravai’ dance between nature and culture to bring about permanent joy in the lady’s life!
