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In this episode, we listen to a lady’s lament, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 364, penned by Madurai Maruthankizhaar Maganaar Perunkannanaar. The verse is situated amidst the blooming trees of the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest Landscape’ and sketches the picturesque changes in the season of rains.
மாதிரம் புதையப் பாஅய், கால் வீழ்த்து,
ஏறுடைப் பெரு மழை பொழிந்தென, அவல்தோறு
ஆடு களப் பறையின் வரி நுணல் கறங்க,
ஆய் பொன் அவிர் இழை தூக்கியன்ன
நீடு இணர்க் கொன்றை கவின் பெற காடு உடன்
சுடர் புரை தோன்றிப் புதல் தலைக் கொளாஅ,
முல்லை இல்லமொடு மலர, கல்ல
பகு வாய்ப் பைஞ் சுனை மா உண மலிர,
கார் தொடங்கின்றே காலை; காதலர்
வெஞ் சின வேந்தன் வியன் பெரும் பாசறை,
வென்றி வேட்கையொடு நம்மும் உள்ளார்;
யாது செய்வாம்கொல்? தோழி! நோதகக்
கொலை குறித்தன்ன மாலை
துனைதரு போழ்தின், நீந்தலோ அரிதே!
In this trip to this moist landscape, we get to see pleasant sights, as we listen to the lady say these words to her confidante, when the man continues to remain parted away, having left her on a mission of war:
“Spreading in a such a way as to bury all sense of direction, descending down, along with thunder, huge rain clouds have poured down. Striped toads in many pits resound akin to drums in a festivity. As if exquisite, radiant ornaments are hung down, the golden shower tree with long clusters makes the forest glow with beauty. Akin to lamps, the flame-lily blooms atop bushes, and along with wild jasmines, the clearing nut tree too blooms. All the wide-mouthed, fresh springs in the mountains fill up for animals to savour. Such is the hour when the rainy season has begun. At this time, that lover of mine, who’s at the wide battle camp of the furious king, with his intention focused on victory, has no thought about me. What should I do, my friend? When the evening hour arrives beside me with much haste, as if intent on murder, it would be impossible to prevail over!”
Let’s soak in the rain of emotion! The lady starts by talking vividly about how the rains have showered, and as a consequence, toads are croaking, akin to festival drums, the golden shower tree is all ablaze, as if adorned with hanging ornaments, flame-lilies seem to light up with lamps, and as if all these splendours were not enough, the wild jasmines and clearing nut tree flowers have bloomed in synchrony. Further, to render relief to all thirsting animals, the watering holes in the mountain paths were brimming over. After stating that everything was blooming in the season of rains, the lady explains that her state was in contrast, for her lover was locked in a king’s battle, and so intent on victory was he that he had no thought about her. She concludes by wondering what she would do, when the murderous evening hour arrived and stood beside her! Reading these lines, it occurred to me how these poets have visualised a woman as a vine that would collapse if not for the sturdy support of her beloved.
Moving beyond the lady’s sorrow which no doubt the man would soon allay, it was a sensory delight to hear the toads croaking, see the dangling golden shower clusters, inhale the fragrance of the wild jasmines, taste the cool mountain springs and sense the magic that the rains seem to cast upon the earth!
