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In this episode, we listen to a reflection on a joyous moment, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 317, penned by Vadamothankizhaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse etches the seasons and the changes they bring in vivid detail.
“மாக விசும்பின் மழை தொழில் உலந்தென,
பாஅய் அன்ன பகல் இருள் பரப்பி,
புகை நிற உருவின் அற்சிரம் நீங்க,
குவிமுகை முருக்கின் கூர் நுனை வை எயிற்று
நகை முக மகளிர் ஊட்டு உகிர் கடுக்கும்
முதிராப் பல் இதழ் உதிரப் பாய்ந்து, உடன்
மலர் உண் வேட்கையின் சிதர் சிதர்ந்து உகுப்ப,
பொன் செய் கன்னம் பொலிய, வெள்ளி
நுண் கோல் அறை குறைந்து உதிர்வன போல,
அரவ வண்டினம் ஊதுதொறும் குரவத்து
ஓங்கு சினை நறு வீ கோங்கு அலர் உறைப்ப,
துவைத்து எழு தும்பி, தவிர் இசை விளரி
உதைத்து விடு நரம்பின், இம்மென இமிரும்
ஆன் ஏமுற்ற காமர் வேனில்,
வெயில் அவிர் புரையும் வீ ததை மராஅத்துக்
குயில் இடு பூசல் எம்மொடு கேட்ப
வருவேம்” என்ற பருவம் ஆண்டை
இல்லைகொல்?” என மெல்ல நோக்கி,
நினைந்தனம் இருந்தனமாக, நயந்து ஆங்கு
உள்ளிய மருங்கின் உள்ளம் போல,
வந்து நின்றனரே காதலர்; நம் துறந்து
என்னுழியதுகொல் தானே பல் நாள்
அன்னையும் அறிவுற அணங்கி,
நல் நுதல் பாஅய பசலை நோயே?
In this trip to this domain, we hardly see the familiar spread of the land, and instead, take a ride through the changing seasons, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the lady, at a time when the man had parted away from the lady, prior to marriage, and gone in search of wealth:
“The cloudy skies had ceased their duty of pouring rains and dried up, and then came the season of winter, dressed in a garment in the shade of smoke, spreading darkness even during the day. Even that passed, and upon the sharp edges of the Coral tree buds, appearing, akin to reddened nails of maiden with sharp teeth and smiling faces, honeybees with a desire to feed on flowers, pounce and make many immature petals drop down. Akin to how small rods of silver, shortened when severed, drop and decorate a golden bowl, as buzzing bees swarm around, white Tarrenna flowers in the soaring branches drop down on fragrant buttercup flowers. The intermittent noise of bees that dive and rise, echo like the ‘Vilari’ tune, rising from the plucked strings of a lute, with a humming sound. In this desirable season of spring that delights animals many, burflower trees fill with flowers that appear like radiating sunlight, and cuckoos let out a huge uproar. He had said when you happen to hear that uproar, I shall be back with you. ‘Doesn’t this season he promised appear there where he is too?’, you had wondered about, looking outward softly. Just like how when something appears out of the blue the moment you desire and think of it, he came and stood there, that lover of yours! That which had been tormenting you for days together, revealing all to mother, that disease of pallor that had spread on your fine forehead, where did it run away now, deserting you?”
Time to dive deeper into the words of these maiden! The confidante starts by talking about how first the rainy season had come and the sky had filled with huge clouds, and once their job of pouring was done, they had parted away, and she continues as follows: Next came the season of winter when the whole world seemed to be dressed in the hue of smoke, confusing everyone if it was day or night. And now, the Coral tree buds, looking like the nails of smiling women, were buzzed upon by eager bees, making their buds drop down. The bees, not content with just the coral tree flowers, turn their attention to the radiant white Tarrena flowers and make these drop down on the buttercup flowers below, and this scene is so exquisitely placed in parallel to the image of silver sticks being cut and dropped onto a golden bowl.
After that expensive simile, the confidante turns to focus on the sounds around and equates the buzzing of these bees to the ‘Vilari’ tunes that hums from a lute. As if saying ‘Yes, you got it right!’, the confidante announces that this is the season of spring indeed! Now burflower trees are opening their buds and looking like little balls of sunshine, she sketches. Then the good friend recollects how the man had promised the lady that he would be back when the cuckoos sent out their loud calls in this very season and narrates how the lady had wondered whether there was no such season of spring wherever the man was. Just then, the man had appeared there, in the manner of attaining something the moment we desire it. The confidante concludes by asking with joy where that tormenting pallor that had taken residence on the lady’s forehead, snitching about her state to mother, had suddenly run away now!
A simple verse announcing the man’s arrival at the right moment, and making the lady’s heart spring forth with joy and relief. The highlight is the way this verse takes us from wherever we may be, and transports us to that moment in the past, and makes all our senses delight in the freshness of that pristine season of spring!
