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In this episode, we unearth fascinating facts about life and love in the mountain country, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 351, penned by Madurai Kannathanaar. Set in the hills of ‘Kurinji’, the verse speaks in the voice of the confidante to the mother, suggesting the right cure for the lady’s pallor.
‘இளமை தீர்ந்தனள் இவள்’ என வள மனை
அருங்கடிப் படுத்தனை; ஆயினும், சிறந்து இவள்
பசந்தனள் என்பது உணராய்; பல் நாள்
எவ்வ நெஞ்சமொடு தெய்வம் பேணி
வருந்தல் வாழி-வேண்டு, அன்னை!-கருந் தாள்
வேங்கைஅம் கவட்டிடைச் சாந்தின் செய்த
களிற்றுத் துப்பு அஞ்சாப் புலி அதள் இதணத்து,
சிறு தினை வியன் புனம் காப்பின்,
பெறுகுவள்மன்னோ என் தோழி தன் நலனே.
The verse opens with ‘இளமை தீர்ந்தனள் இவள்’ meaning ‘she’s past her young age’ and makes us wonder who is being talked about and what they mean. ‘அருங்கடிப் படுத்தனை’ highlights the custom of ‘confining a lady to the house and placing her under guard’. The core issue in the situation is highlighted in the words ‘இவள் பசந்தனள்’, which means ‘pallor spreads on her’ and hints to us that the unmistakable symptom of pining is afoot. When we see the phrase ‘எவ்வ நெஞ்சமொடு தெய்வம் பேணி’, we infer that someone has been ‘seeking god’s help with an anguished heart’. Two trees welcome us in ‘கருந் தாள் வேங்கை’ meaning ‘black-trunked Indian Kino tree’ and ‘சாந்து’ meaning ‘sandalwood’. Learnt a new word for ‘skin’ in ‘அதள்’ and it curiously, comes in association with the word ‘புலி’ or ‘tiger’. ‘இதணம்’ is the ‘raised platform’, a structure used in mountain farming to guard the fields and ward off wild animals. Ending with ‘பெறுகுவள்மன்னோ என் தோழி தன் நலனே’ meaning ‘my friend will surely regain her health’, the verse intrigues our curiosity.
The man and lady had been leading a love relationship and the man had been trysting with her for a while. For a period of time, the man was unable to see the lady, owing to various reasons. As a result of this, the lady starts to pine for him. Seeing the changes in her daughter, the lady’s mother takes some crucial decisions. One day, the confidante comes near mother and says, “Thinking that she is past the age of girlhood, you have placed her under strict guard in our wealthy mansion. In spite of this, pallor afflicts her and you seem not to understand why. For many days now, with a troubled heart, you have been seeking god’s favour. Please do not worry so! Listen to me, dear mother. In between the branches of the black-trunked ‘vengai’ tree, sits a plank, carved out of sandalwood. On this platform, the skin of a tiger, which fears not an elephant’s strength, has been spread out. If my friend were to go thither and guard our expansive millet fields, then she will indeed regain her health!” With these words, the confidante averts mother’s plans to summon Velan’s ritual to appease god and provides a solution to cure the lady’s pallor.
Time to delve into the nuances! The confidante opens her statement by talking about what was in mother’s mind. Apparently, mother seemed to have come to the conclusion that the lady is past her girlhood. A moment to consider what this means. Has mother decided the lady is nearing puberty and therefore, not a young girl anymore? Were such decisions based on the changes in the lady’s appearance or the age factor? Holding on to our questions, let’s return to the verse. Here, we find that the consequence of mother’s thoughts about her daughter’s youth is that the lady is now placed under strict guard in her home, which the confidante qualifies as a prosperous one. There seems to have been an understanding that the lady’s health would be safeguarded only by such confinement. The confidante dispels that notion by saying that in spite of this action, the lady’s health has not returned and in fact, pallor spreads extensively on her skin. To a Sangam mother, this is cause for worry and she immediately seeks all the help she can. The first thought that seems to have struck mother is that this is the wrath of god and she seemed to be preparing to organise a ritual with Velan, the priest, to appease the said god. The confidante emphatically asks her to worry not in this fashion.
Pleading mother to listen, the confidante instead, turns mother’s attention to a raised platform that has been placed amidst the branches of the ‘vengai’ tree and we learn that this plank is made of sandalwood. So precious this wood is to us today that we cannot imagine a use beyond small pieces of the bark used as incense or perfume. But here, the tree’s wood has been used to build an entire structure, where a person can stay and guard the millet fields. An instance to highlight how this land was filled with such natural wealth! Returning, we hear the confidante mention that on this platform, the skin of a tiger that has never feared an elephant’s vigour, has been spread. This is to highlight the valour of lady’s father and brothers, who have hunted this very fearless tiger. The confidante finishes by saying that the lady’s health would return if the lady were to go to this loft, amidst the ‘vengai’ trees, and guard their millet fields. Tiger skin and sandalwood loft is the prescription handed out by this expert doctor, who specialises in the lady’s health! Pondering on these events, why does mother always assume god’s wrath when pallor spreads on her daughter? Wasn’t she once a girl herself? Wouldn’t she understand that this is simply a symptom of love and separation? Instead of assailing the creator with such queries on logic, let’s celebrate how a little song helps us sense the warmth and fragrance of life and love then!
// Pondering on these events, why does mother always assume god’s wrath when pallor spreads on her daughter? Wasn’t she once a girl herself? Wouldn’t she understand that this is simply a symptom of love and separation? // – True 😊👌