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In this episode, we perceive the message in a rain cloud, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 237, penned by Kaarikkannanaar. The verse is set in the drylands of ‘Paalai’ landscape and speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, surprised at the lady’s equanimity as the man continues to stay away on his mission.
நனி மிகப் பசந்து, தோளும் சாஅய்,
பனி மலி கண்ணும் பண்டு போலா;
இன் உயிர் அன்ன பிரிவு அருங் காதலர்
நீத்து நீடினர் என்னும் புலவி
உட்கொண்டு ஊடின்றும் இலையோ?-மடந்தை!-
உவக்காண் தோன்றுவ, ஓங்கி-வியப்புடை
இரவலர் வரூஉம் அளவை, அண்டிரன்
புரவு எதிர்ந்து தொகுத்த யானை போல,
உலகம் உவப்ப, ஓது அரும்
வேறு பல் உருவின், ஏர்தரும் மழையே!
The poem opens with ‘நனி மிகப் பசந்து’ talking about ‘pining affecting in excess’ and brings us instantly to the core of the ‘Paalai’ landscape and its theme of separation. ‘தோளும் சாஅய்’ pertains to the next symptom in separation, which is the ‘thinning of arms’. The third obvious side-effect is penned by ‘பனி மலி கண்ணும்’ meaning ‘eyes filled with tears’. The phrase ‘இன் உயிர் அன்ன’ describes ‘that which is akin to sweet life’. Wonder what that might be? The question ‘ஊடின்றும் இலையோ’ establishes the essence of the verse in its surprise about ‘why there is no resentment’! When we see ‘அண்டிரன் ‘, we greet a famous Sangam king, whom we have already met in Natrinai 167, the generous Ay Andiran. Let’s explore what he has to do with this song and much more!
The man and lady had been leading a happy, married life when the man had to part away with her to go on a mission. Before he leaves, the man comforts the lady and tells her that he would be back before the rains. Days go by and the lady suffers, missing the man’s presence. One day, the confidante turns to the lady and says, “As the pallor of pining spreads excessively on your form, your arms have become thin, your eyes brim with tears and you appear not like how you used to. That lover of yours, sweet as life itself, has parted away from you. Thinking that he has extended his stay beyond the promised time, you do not worry and let resentment fester in your heart! How is this possible, O naive maiden? Look over there at what appears high above! Like the column of elephants that King Andiran assembles, in anticipation of what he must provide for the awed seekers, who will arrive in his court, making the whole world delight, appearing in hard-to-express shapes many, rises those rainclouds in the sky!” With these words, the confidante conveys her wonder at how the lady is able to be without a drop of resentment at the man, who has not returned still as the promised time approaches, and indirectly, is providing the positivity needed to bear this separation.
Now, for the nuances! The confidante starts the conversation by describing the current symptoms of the lady saying that the pallor of pining shrouds her form, her arms are thin and her eyes brim with tears. I wish to take a moment and reflect on how loss seems to affect people then and now. In modern times, we hear of the phrase ‘stress eating’ and cases of people gaining weight, when they are going through depression or loss, whereas it seemed to be the opposite case two thousand years ago. We can only blame the junky, calorie-filled, processed food, invented by man, that seems to be available in excess, especially when it’s not needed! Returning to the poem, the confidante then asks the lady, that given the situation the man has not returned and seems to be prolonging his stay in yonder land, how come the lady doesn’t harbour any anger or resentment at the man! She comes to this conclusion looking at the clouds rise in the skies, an indication that the rainy season was upon them, which happens to be the promised time for the man’s return!
As the confidante points to the clouds, she brings in a rich simile to describe them. She calls the clouds as an assembly of elephants. And, not just any random herd of elephants, but the columns of elephants, which have been arranged, waiting to be donated to the poets and suppliants in the court of King Ay Andiran. In another poem, we heard of this king giving out bell-adorned chariots to those who came seeking and here, there’s talk of this king giving away elephants. Precious gems and gold is understandable, but what can these poets possibly do with elephants and chariots! It could be a hyperbole to talk about the extent of generosity in that king’s heart or could be the reality too, we never know. The confidante talks about another aspect of these clouds as taking many different shapes that cannot even be described and this brought to my mind, the lazy game that many of us may have played, looking up at the skies and seeing our imagination carve the shape of the floating clouds above! Returning from these musings on clouds, I see a subtle reason for the confidante’s wonder at the lady’s calmness. Before the lady could see the clouds and thereby, be reminded of the man’s promise, causing her to breakdown, the confidante beats her to it and with an innocent tone, seems to ask how the lady can be so calm. Through this intricate manipulation of the mind, the confidante shows the lady that the calmness she supposedly sees in the lady, is indeed the way to be!
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