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In this episode, we perceive the promise of a return, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 233, penned by Maamoolanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse mentions an act of ritual offering by a famous Sangam era king.
அலமரல் மழைக் கண் மல்கு பனி வார, நின்
அலர் முலை நனைய, அழாஅல் தோழி!
எரி கவர்பு உண்ட கரி புறப் பெரு நிலம்
பீடு கெழு மருங்கின் ஓடு மழை துறந்தென,
ஊன் இல் யானை உயங்கும் வேனில்,
மறப் படைக் குதிரை, மாறா மைந்தின்,
துறக்கம் எய்திய தொய்யா நல் இசை
முதியர்ப் பேணிய உதியஞ் சேரல்
பெருஞ் சோறு கொடுத்த ஞான்றை, இரும் பல்
கூளிச் சுற்றம் குழீஇ இருந்தாங்கு,
குறியவும் நெடியவும் குன்று தலைமணந்த
சுரன் இறந்து அகன்றனர்ஆயினும், மிக நனி
மடங்கா உள்ளமொடு மதி மயக்குறாஅ,
பொருள்வயின் நீடலோஇலர் நின்
இருள் ஐங் கூந்தல் இன் துயில் மறந்தே.
In this trip to the drylands, we get to see much of this harsh domain, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the lady, when the man continues to remain parted away, having left in search of wealth:
“With your bewildered, rain-like eyes, brimming over with tears, and moistening your blossomed breasts, cry not, my friend! Feasted upon by flames, with a black surface, extends the huge land, which rain clouds have abandoned, scuttling away to other proud and fertile regions. Here, flesh-less elephants rove about in the heat of summer. Such are the drylands.
King Uthiyan Cheral, had spread out great offerings of rice, celebrating his ancestors, who had commanded over a courageous army of horses, who had lived with an undying fame and an unswerving strength, and who had attained the heavens. Akin to the forms of many dark demons in a horde, which had assembled at that time, to gorge on those offerings, soar around many short and tall peaks in the drylands.
Though he has parted away thither, with his relentless heart urging him on to seek wealth, and making him confused, he is not someone, who will delay his return, forgetting the sweet sleep he has savoured on your darkness-like, five-part tresses!”
Time to brave the heat of this terrain and explore on! The confidante starts by talking about the lady’s state of crying ceaselessly, pining for the man who has left. Then she goes on to describe the place to which the man has left, the land which fire has engulfed, a possible reference to wild-fire breakouts, and charred as a result. She also talks about how the rain clouds have given this land the cold shoulder, preferring to associate with other elite lands of fertility. And on such a scorched and barren land, elephants rove around with sagging skin, bereft of flesh, in the heat of summer, the confidante comments.
Then to talk about how this region is surrounded by many tall and short hills, the confidante brings forth a historical reference, describing the time when a Chera King Udhiyan spread out huge offerings of food in honour of his ancestors. This, is a believable fact, for indeed many people here, are known to honour their ancestors with such offerings even to this day. However, the confidante talks about demonic figures that come to feed on these offerings, and it’s those figures she places in parallel to those tall and short hills around the scorching drylands. The confidante concludes by telling the lady though the man, yearning for wealth, nudged by his heart, and much confused, has left to such a place, he is not someone who can possibly stay there, forgetting the peaceful moments of slumber he had experienced on the lady’s tresses.
Those tresses again! What is it about a Sangam maiden’s tresses that so many poets keep singing about it over and over again? Something to do with the scent of a woman and its powerful influence on attraction, no doubt! In this version of ‘Worry not, your beauty will bring the man back’, we got to say hello to a bit of fantasy fused as one with history!
