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In this episode, we perceive the pain of parting, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 361, penned by Eyinanthai Makanaar Ilankeeranaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse etches the yearning of the heart to turn back the hands of time.
”தூ மலர்த் தாமரைப் பூவின் அம் கண்,
மா இதழ்க் குவளை மலர் பிணைத்தன்ன,
திரு முகத்து அலமரும் பெரு மதர் மழைக் கண்,
அணி வளை முன்கை, ஆய் இதழ் மடந்தை
வார் முலை முற்றத்து நூல் இடை விலங்கினும்,
கவவுப் புலந்து உறையும் கழி பெருங் காமத்து
இன்புறு நுகர்ச்சியின் சிறந்தது ஒன்று இல்” என
அன்பால் மொழிந்த என் மொழி கொள்ளாய்,
பொருள் புரிவுண்ட மருளி நெஞ்சே!
கரியாப் பூவின் பெரியோர் ஆர,
அழல் எழு தித்தியம் அடுத்த யாமை
நிழலுடை நெடுங் கயம் புகல் வேட்டாஅங்கு,
உள்ளுதல் ஓம்புமதி, இனி நீ, முள் எயிற்று,
சில் மொழி, அரிவை தோளே பல் மலை
வெவ் அறை மருங்கின் வியன் சுரம்,
எவ்வம் கூர இறந்தனம் யாமே.
In this trip to this familiar domain, we take an inward journey, as we listen to the man say these words to his heart, having parted from the lady and in the middle of his journey through the drylands, in pursuit of wealth:
“Having an exquisite face, akin to a pristine lotus, upon which dark-petalled blue-lilies are fused as eyes, which are huge, exquisite and rain-like, and wearing beautiful bangles on her forearms, is that maiden with alluring lips. I had said with much love to you, O heart, that there is no greater pleasure than dwelling with that huge passion that resides, fusing as one, parting not even a thread’s distance from the spread of her bosoms. And yet, you were filled with the confusion of seeking wealth! Akin to a turtle, which has been placed in the burning sacrificial pit, as an offering to those elders, who wear unfading flowers, the one which yearns to be back at its shaded, wide pond, don’t you keep thinking about that maiden with thorn-like teeth, few words, for leaving behind her arms, crossing many mountains, we have come to this scorching, wide space filled with suffering now!”
Time to listen to the man’s chat with his heart! The man starts by describing his beloved calling her face, a lotus, and her eyes, a pair of blue-lilies. He then tells his heart how earlier he had said there was no greater joy in the world than being fused as one with her, not even parting a thread’s distance from her bosoms. At that time, his heart had refused to heed his warning and had pushed him to seek wealth, he says. He turns to his heart and talks about how they have come a long way, crossing many mountains, and concludes with an admonishment to his heart saying, ‘Having pushed me in this direction, now you have no right to think and yearn for the lady, like a turtle, which yearns to be back in its pond, when it finds itself in a burning, sacrificial pit, as an offering to the gods’.
The highlight of this verse is the simile of the turtle in the middle of a sacrificial pit. Imagine the helplessness of that being, which was happily swimming about in its cool pond, finding itself amidst the burning flames. One may argue that the turtle had no say for it was brought there by human hands, whereas the man had the option of staying back. However the point here is that the man feels the force of his heart that pushed him into seeking wealth was beyond his power to tame, just like that little turtle. A verse which makes us reflect on the power that our dreams and desires seem to exert upon us and sometimes leave us in seemingly helpless paths in life! Where we go from there all depends on our ‘why’!
