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In this episode, we listen to a passionate request put forth, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 234, penned by Peyanaar. The verse is situated amidst the buzzing bees of the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest landscape’ and sketches the speed of an envisioned journey.
கார் பயம் பொழிந்த நீர் திகழ் காலை,
நுண் அயிர் பரந்த தண் அய மருங்கின்,
நிரை பறை அன்னத்து அன்ன, விரை பரிப்
புல் உளைக் கலிமா மெல்லிதின் கொளீஇய,
வள்பு ஒருங்கு அமையப் பற்றி, முள்கிய
பல் கதிர் ஆழி மெல் வழி அறுப்ப,
கால் என மருள, ஏறி, நூல் இயல்
கண் நோக்கு ஒழிக்கும் பண் அமை நெடுந் தேர்
வல் விரைந்து ஊர்மதி நல் வலம் பெறுந!
ததர் தழை முனைஇய தெறி நடை மடப் பிணை
ஏறு புணர் உவகைய ஊறு இல உகள,
அம் சிறை வண்டின் மென் பறைத் தொழுதி
முல்லை நறு மலர்த் தாது நயந்து ஊத,
எல்லை போகிய புல்லென் மாலை,
புறவு அடைந்திருந்த உறைவு இன் நல் ஊர்,
கழி படர் உழந்த பனி வார் உண்கண்
நல் நிறம் பரந்த பசலையள்
மின் நேர் ஓதிப் பின்னுப் பிணி விடவே.
In this trip to the forests, we get a tour of a transport, as we listen to the man say these words to his charioteer, when he has completed his mission and intends to return home:
“At this time, when rains have poured productively and made the land flourish with water, as fine silt spreads around cool lakes, akin to geese that fly in a neat row, wield your speeding horses with sparse manes. Holding on firmly to their reins tied so gently, pressing down the many-spoked wheels, which cut across soft paths, making one confused if it’s the wind, climb on to the tall chariot, which is built according to the right rules, and which moves with such speed that it escapes the eyes, hasten and ride on, O victorious charioteer!
A naive female deer with a leaping trot, having had its fill of leaves, disliking any more, turns to unite with its mate and frolics without interruption, and a swarm of bees, with exquisite, soft wings, buzz around the fragrant flowers of the wild jasmine, scattering their fine pollen, in this evening hour, when the day has ended. Now, in the delightful village, so pleasant to stay amidst the forests, she would be with suffering soaring in her tear-brimming, kohl-streaked eyes, and her fine form coated with pallor. Ride on, O charioteer, so that the lightning-like tresses of my maiden will be rid of their tangles many!”
Let’s fly on and hear the man’s heartbeat amidst the hoof-beat! The man starts by talking about the time of the year, and to portray it, he mentions how the rains have poured and filled the land with much water and fertility. This is a subtle note to say that the rainy season, which is usually the promised season of return, had arrived. Now he compares his horses to geese, most probably the bar-headed geese that fly in a synchronised motion, high up in the skies, and asks his charioteer to hold on to their reins and direct them, as he sits on their well-etched chariot, which the man claims has been made to perfection. The man insists that the way the charioteer rides should confuse people if it’s just a chariot or the wind, so fast and steady must its motion be that it escapes even the eyes. The man’s thoughts then turn to the lady’s fine village in the forest, in the evening hour, when deers would be uniting with joy and bees would be delighting in the wild jasmine blooms. While there’s so much joy and beauty around, the man says the lady will be standing with tears brimming over in her eyes, and her form covered in pallor, pining for him. The man concludes by urging his charioteer to hurry on, so that his beloved’s hair would be rid of all those knots and tangles!
What has the man’s return got to do with the lady’s tresses? To understand its meaning, we have to know of the tradition of Sangam maiden not adorning their tresses, not even combing them, when their man is away! No doubt those thick tresses would end up matted after such a long absence! But the moment the lady learns of the man’s homecoming, she would groom her hair and bloom again like those wild jasmines, the man predicts. Glad the women of now have come a long way from such ancient traditions, and have uncoupled the act of taking care of their appearance and well-being, from the distance to their beloved!
