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In this episode, we perceive the angst of a lady, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 264, penned by Umbarkkaattu Ilankannanaar. The verse is situated amidst the blooming white flowers of the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest landscape’ and sketches the suffering in being apart from a beloved.
மழை இல் வானம் மீன் அணிந்தன்ன,
குழை அமல் முசுண்டை வாலிய மலர,
வரி வெண் கோடல் வாங்கு குலை வான் பூப்
பெரிய சூடிய கவர் கோல் கோவலர்,
எல்லுப் பெயல் உழந்த பல் ஆன் நிரையொடு,
நீர் திகழ் கண்ணியர், ஊர்வயின் பெயர்தர,
நனி சேண்பட்ட மாரி தளி சிறந்து,
ஏர்தரு கடு நீர் தெருவுதொறு ஒழுக,
பேர் இசை முழக்கமொடு சிறந்து நனி மயங்கி,
கூதிர் நின்றன்றால், பொழுதே! காதலர்
நம் நிலை அறியார் ஆயினும், தம் நிலை
அறிந்தனர்கொல்லோ தாமே ஓங்கு நடைக்
காய் சின யானை கங்குல் சூழ,
அஞ்சுவர இறுத்த தானை
வெஞ் சின வேந்தன் பாசறையோரே?
In this trip to the forest, we encounter a rainy and cold climate, as we listen to the lady say these words to the confidante, in response to the confidante’s request to the lady to bear with the man’s parting:
“Akin to stars that fill a cloud-less sky, thick-leaved, white flowers of the midnapore creeper have blossomed. Wearing huge, bent flower clusters of the striped, white glory lilies, cowherds with forked sticks, along with their herd of many cows that had suffered in the day’s rain, with water dripping from their garlands, move towards the town. Rain clouds that have traversed a great distance pour down their shower, and so, exquisite floods of gushing water flows through the streets. With a huge, musical roar, a little confused, the day appears in this time of the cold season. At this time, if my lover does not understand my state, at least does he understand his own, as he resides there, in the battle camp of the furious king, surrounded by raging elephants and a fear-evoking army in the middle of the night?”
Time to soak in the rain of melancholy! The lady starts with a striking comparison between the midnapore flowers and the stars on a crystal-clear sky, bereft of clouds. You need to look at a picture of these flowers to relish the aptness of this simile. Returning, the lady points to the denizens of this space, cowherds who can be seen wearing white glory lilies on their heads, and wielding sturdy rods, so as to direct their huge herd of cattle back home, after a day of grazing in the rain. Far away, the rains are pouring with relish and the streets are overflowing with water, as the skies beat their drums, and in short, it’s the cold season, which arrives after the rainy season, the promised season of return, the lady details. She turns her attention to the man, who is presently at the battle-camp of the king, intent on war, surrounded by soldiers and elephants in the midnight hour, and concludes by wondering whether the man, who does not seem to care for her state, would at least care about his own!
The lady possibly means to ask if the man is aware of the consequences of her suffering and even losing her life in this long separation. Yet again, we perceive a simple time in life, when parting seems to be the greatest challenge in a relationship! In a way, sad to see this portrayal of a woman having nothing to do but to be focused on where her man was and what he is doing. Glad the modern times have endowed more agency for women to make something of their lives, no matter where their partners may be!
