Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | RSS | More
In this episode, we bask in an abundance of similes that turns out to be a history lesson, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 265, penned by Paranar. The verse is set in the mountain country of ‘Kurinji’ and speaks in the voice of the man to his heart, passing on a subtle message to the lady’s confidante, listening nearby.
இறுகு புனம் மேய்ந்த அறு கோட்டு முற்றல்
அள்ளல் ஆடிய புள்ளி வரிக் கலை
வீளை அம்பின் வில்லோர் பெருமகன்,
பூந் தோள் யாப்பின் மிஞிலி, காக்கும்
பாரத்து அன்ன-ஆர மார்பின்
சிறு கோற் சென்னி ஆரேற்றன்ன-
மாரி வண் மகிழ் ஓரி கொல்லிக்
கலி மயில் கலாவத்து அன்ன, இவள்
ஒலி மென் கூந்தல் நம் வயினானே.
The verse opens with ‘இறுகு புனம்’ meaning ‘dried grass’ and registers a subtle note of dejection in the man’s voice. When we glimpse at ‘அறு கோட்டு முற்றல்’ meaning ‘a maturity that makes antlers fall off’, we understand that the poem is describing a period of rutting in a deer’s life. The period of rutting which precedes breeding, is when the male’s antlers slowly peel and fall off. As predicted, we see the animal in question in ‘புள்ளி வரிக் கலை’ meaning ‘male deer with spots and lines’. Thereafter, in succession, we glance at the rulers ‘பூந் தோள் யாப்பின் மிஞிலி’ meaning ‘Mignili with graceful armoured shoulders’, ‘சிறு கோற் சென்னி’ referring to ‘a Chola king in the Chenni clan, who wields a small sceptre’ and also ‘வண் மகிழ் ஓரி’, ‘the generous king Ori’, whom we have met in Natrinai poems 6 and 52. It’s not only these valorous chiefs that we get to meet, but also their domains, as depicted in the words ‘பாரம்’, ‘ஆரேறு’ and ‘கொல்லி’. The word ‘கலாவம்’ that we recently encountered makes an appearance again in this verse in ‘கலி மயில் கலாவத்து’ referring to a ‘proud peacock’s tail’. The verse ends emphatically with ‘நம் வயினானே’ meaning ‘It’s ours!’, inviting us for this tour through the cities of yore to know more!
The man had seen the lady in his travels and had fallen in love with her. The lady too seems to reciprocate his feelings. However, as was the custom then, the man had to win the confidence of the lady’s confidante to further his relationship with the lady. The confidante, not knowing what dwells in the heart of the lady, rebuffs the man when he tries to approach her. Seeing these repeated failures, the man’s heart falls dejected. One day, seeing the confidante walk past him, the man says to his heart, “After grazing on dried grass, the spotted and lined, mature, male buck with its antlers about to fall off, plays in the mud, as whistling arrows speed past it. Arrows, which are wielded by the lord of archers, Mignili, the one with graceful shoulders covered with armour, the protector of the town of ‘Paaram’. The Chola kings of the ‘Chenni’ clan, who wield a small sceptre and wear ‘aaram’ garlands around their neck, rule over the town of ‘Aareru’. My lady is akin to these towns of ‘Paaram’ and ‘Aareru’. In the rain-rich ‘Kolli’ hills ruled by the generous Ori, roams a proud peacock. The lady’s tresses, akin to that peacock’s tail, belongs to me, for sure!” With these words, the man is subtly informing the confidante of his prior acquaintance with the lady and also, is spreading hope and cheer to his dejected heart.
Time to delve into the details! The man opens his conversation by bringing forth the scene of a male deer, whose antlers are about to fall off. As noted before, this is the season of rutting in the male deer’s lifecycle. It’s a time of fury and angst for the male deer and when the man references this animal in this period, the man is bringing to the fore, his own yearning to be with the lady. In some palm-script versions, another line follows this scene depicting a female deer as startled by the appearance of this male. This could be a metaphor for the confidante, who seems to be avoiding the man’s approaches. However, in most of the verses, this line is mentioned in connection with the arrows whizzing towards the described deer. Arrows which are coming from the bow, wielded by the strong and graceful shouldered Mignili, who is said to be a chief in the army of King Nannan, and also, the protector of the town of ‘Paaram’. Then, the man describes a Chola king from the ‘Chenni’ clan and his town of ‘Aareru’. Now, we have noted before that Sangam poets loved comparing a city to a lady. And here, the lady is said to be akin to not just one but two different ancient cities. The man does not stop with this double compliment. He then summons king Ori, renowned for his generosity, and his domain of Kolli hills. In these hills, a peacock spreads its feathers as rain clouds gather above. This picturesque scene is called in so that the peacock’s tail stands in parallel to the lady’s tresses. The man finishes his speech declaring that the said lady’s tresses belongs to him. What a statement to make!
Why is the man claiming this lady’s tresses as his own? The answer lies in the social belief then, that a lady’s tresses existed only to belong to the man she would marry. Now, we understand why, in other poems, the lady doesn’t wear garlands and shudders in pain when a flower seller shouts out her wares when the man is away from her. The man, by declaring that the lady’s tresses were his, hints to the confidante that he sees his future with the lady. Hearing these words, the confidante would be moved to accept the man’s advances and help the man and lady further their relationship. The thing that is striking in this verse is the man’s unreserved claim over the lady, and this humbles us with the wisdom that we humans are mere instruments of the times we live in and remind us that many of our taken-for-granted actions have to stand in the piercing gaze of a different future!
Share your thoughts...