Natrinai 399 – Forehead and Future

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In this episode, we delight in the lush scenes of a mountain country, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Natrinai 399, penned by Thol Kabilar. Set in the hills of ‘Kurinji’, the verse speaks in the voice of the confidante to the lady, passing on a hidden message to the man, listening nearby.

அருவி ஆர்க்கும் பெரு வரை அடுக்கத்து,
குருதி ஒப்பின் கமழ் பூங் காந்தள்
வரி அணி சிறகின் வண்டு உண மலரும்
வாழை அம் சிலம்பில், கேழல் கெண்டிய
நிலவரை நிவந்த பல உறு திரு மணி
ஒளி திகழ் விளக்கத்து, ஈன்ற மடப் பிடி,
களிறு புறங்காப்ப, கன்றொடு வதியும்
மா மலை நாடன் நயந்தனன் வரூஉம்
பெருமை உடையள் என்பது
தருமோ-தோழி!-நின் திரு நுதல் கவினே?

The verse opens with the words ‘அருவி ஆர்க்கும் பெரு வரை’ meaning ‘tall mountains that resound with the sound of waterfalls’, instantly transporting us to a fertile spot, possibly in the Western Ghats, situated between the current-day Indian states of Tamilnadu and Kerala. An intense flower greets us in ‘குருதி ஒப்பின் கமழ் பூங் காந்தள்’ meaning ‘the fragrant flame lily, which is akin to blood’, talking about the crimson hue of this striking flower. When flowers are in full bloom with such appeal, can bees be far behind? As predicted, we catch a glimpse of the ‘வரி அணி சிறகின் வண்டு’ meaning ‘a winged bee with beautiful lines’, conjuring a cartoon honeybee in stripes of yellow and black! In addition to flowers and insects, we also take in a ‘கேழல்’ or ‘wild pig’ and an entire family of elephants in ‘மடப் பிடி’ or ‘young female elephant’, ‘களிறு’ or ‘male elephant’ and ‘கன்று’ or ‘calf’. Ending with ‘நின் திரு நுதல் கவினே’ meaning ‘the beauty of your illustrious forehead’, the verse highlights yet again, the importance accorded to this body part and welcomes us to peer into the minds within!

The man and lady had been leading a love relationship and the man had been trysting with the lady. Perceiving that the man seemed intent only on trysting, the lady starts to lose her health. Her good friend, the confidante decides to take the matter into her hands, and one day, when the man arrives by, to tryst with the lady, pretending not to notice him, but making sure he’s in earshot, the confidante tells the lady, “In those tall mountain ranges, resounding with the roar of cascades, the fragrant flame-lily blooms in the hue of blood, attracting bees with beautiful lines on their wings. In these slopes, filled with plantain, wild pigs dig up the land, unearthing many precious gems in varying shapes and leaving them to shine brightly above. In this bright light of the gems, a young female elephant that has recently given birth, stands with its calf, as the male stands guard. Such scenes are to be seen in the great mountain country of the lord. Will it grant you, the pride of making your beloved seek your hand, my friend, the beauty of that esteemed forehead of yours?” With these words, the confidante urges the lady to bear with the man’s delay in seeking her hand and at the same time, nudges the man to do what it takes to restore happiness and health to the lady.

Time to take a trek through the hills! Our tour guide, the confidante, first hushes the chattering expedition party and makes us focus on the sound of waterfalls, resounding far away. From sounds, she turns our attention to the sight of a blood-red flame-lily that not only entrances our eyes but our sense of smell too, sending out its fragrance in the air. Accepting this invitation, arrive the winged bees to feed on its honey, and yet another sense, that of taste, tingles in our tongues, with this reference. As we have seen in many other Natrinai poems, the flame-lily seems to have a preference for blooming next to a plantain. Moving through the plantain trees, the confidante points to a patch of land that has been dug up by wild pigs and turns our attention to the fragments of light that seem to be emanating from various points here. On investigating, we find that these are precious gems in various shapes and hues that have been unearthed by the action of some wild pigs. Not only is this land rich in natural resources that delight our senses but it seems to be filled with mineral wealth as well!

The confidante then points out to a family that seems to be residing in the glow of these gems. We glimpse at a female elephant that has just given birth and the male standing guard of the new mother and its calf. As if these scenes have been mentioned only to describe the man’s land, the confidante concludes. Then, she puts forth a question to the lady, asking whether the beauty of her forehead will bring the lady the pride of having the man seek her hand without any further prompts. Within the question, the confidante hides a ‘yes’ to the lady, saying indeed, your forehead has that power, akin to the flame-lily that invites the bees, and subtly nudges her to present herself with a happy countenance. To the man, the confidante puts forth a ‘will you?’, and points to him, through the scene of the male elephant standing guard over its female and calf in the light of precious gems, a metaphor for the happy future he will have with the lady in his wealthy home. Let’s hope the man gets the message and brings lasting joy to that exquisite forehead! Speaking of which, isn’t it fascinating how Sangam literature seems to focus on a forehead so much, as if it were the seat of all health and beauty. Reflecting, the forehead does encase the part of the brain that has differentiated humans from all other beings on earth, the seat of cognition, and perhaps, this is a Sangam salute to the power of the mind!