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In this episode, we perceive the consequence of loneliness in a lady, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 50, penned by Kundriyanaar. Set in the farmlands of ‘Marutham’, the verse speaks in the voice of the lady to the messengers, sent by the man, conveying her angst when they come seeking entry to her house.
ஐயவி அன்ன சிறு வீ ஞாழல்
செவ்வி மருதின் செம்மலொடு தாஅய்த்
துறை அணிந்தன்று, அவர் ஊரே; இறை இறந்து
இலங்கு வளை நெகிழ, சாஅய்ப்
புலம்பு அணிந்தன்று, அவர் மணந்த தோளே.
Adornment is the core of this verse! The opening words ‘ஐயவி அன்ன சிறு வீ ஞாழல்’ refer to ‘the small, fallen flowers of the senna sophera, which are said to look like mustard seeds’. Perhaps, the roundish petals of this tree’s flowers have made the poet place it in parallel to the white mustard seeds. Then, we move to another tree’s flowers in ‘செவ்வி மருதின் செம்மல்’ referring to ‘the fully mature, red flowers of the arjuna tree’. The phrase ‘துறை அணிந்தன்று, அவர் ஊரே’, which means ‘the shore in his town is adorned’ is significant for it introduces the core theme of adornment and for another reason, which we will delve into, shortly. Pining raises its head in ‘இலங்கு வளை நெகிழ’ meaning ‘shining bangles slip away’. Ending with ‘புலம்பு அணிந்தன்று, அவர் மணந்த தோளே’ meaning ‘the shoulders he married are now adorned with loneliness’, the verse invokes our empathy!
Shores adorned with flowers and shoulders adorned with solitude – What has caused this state of affairs? The context reveals that the man and lady had been leading a married life when the man took to keeping the company of courtesans. After a while, he realises his folly and sends messengers to his home, intending to allay his lady’s anger. To these messengers, the lady says, “Akin to mustard seeds, appear the small flowers of the ‘gnazhal’, and along with the red and mature flowers of the ‘maruthu’ tree, lie scattered, adorning the shores in his town; Whereas, crossing my wrists, my shining bangles slip away, leaving the shoulders he embraced to be adorned only with lonely suffering!’ With these words, the lady expresses her lament at the way the man had deserted her in his parting away to be with the courtesans.
Why could be the reason for the lady to talk about flowers and bangles? Listening to her words carefully, we first hear the lady talking about the ‘gnazhal’ flowers which she equates to mustard seeds and then, mentions the red flowers of the ‘marutham’ tree that had matured and fallen off the branches. She points to how both these flowers are lying together scattered on the shore of the lord’s town, adorning it with beauty! Note how she does not include herself in describing the town, for instance, she doesn’t say ‘our town’ but says ‘his town’ and in this subtle manner, reveals the ire in her heart. Then, she turns to her own form and points to how her bangles are no longer held back by her wrists but are now slipping and falling away, a sure-fire sign of pining and angst in a Sangam woman. Talking about how the shoulders that the man embraced and married seemed to be only decked with the ornaments of loneliness now, the lady concludes.
The contrast of joy in the world outside and sorrow in the world within strikes us in this verse! While the man’s town seems to be bubbling with joy, her own form is wrecked by misery, the lady seems to say. As if asking what right the flowers in the man’s town have, to adorn those shores with such beauty, when her own heart was left barren by his actions, the lady completes her words to the messengers. The helplessness of a lady in this situation can be sensed and hopefully, these words would keep the man from straying away again. In the end, the verse is an expression of inner feelings, which serve to bring the overlooked out into the open!
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