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In this episode, we listen to the echo of total trust in a beloved, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kurunthogai 170, penned by Karuvoor Kizhaar. Set in the mountains of ‘Kurinji’, the verse speaks in the voice of the lady to her confidante, who was worried that the lady would be unable to bear with the man’s parting.
பலரும் கூறுக, அஃது அறியாதோரே-
அருவி தந்த நாட் குரல் எருவை
கயம் நாடு யானை கவளம் மாந்தும்
மலை கெழு நாடன் கேண்மை
தலைபோகாமை நற்கு அறிந்தனென், யானே.
‘I know for sure’, says a voice in this verse! The opening words ‘பலரும் கூறுக அஃது அறியாதோரே’ meaning ‘others are saying things for they do not understand’ indirectly talks about what the speaker knows and believes, even if those around don’t. In ‘நாட் குரல் எருவை’, we glimpse at ‘freshly bloomed bamboo reeds’. Plant life is followed by mention of ‘கயம் நாடு யானை’ meaning ‘an elephant seeking water’. Learnt of an interesting word in ‘தலைபோகாமை’, which literally translates as ‘not losing the head’ and actually means ‘a quality of not being severed’, a negative framing for something which will endure forever. Ending with the words ‘நற்கு அறிந்தனென் யானே’ meaning ‘I know it well’, the verse once again speaks of realising something deeply.
What is that which is seen to be an epitome of truth? The context reveals that the man and lady were leading a love relationship when the man parted away to gather wealth for their wedding. At this time, the confidante became worried that the lady will not be able to bear with his absence and starts speaking words of consolation. In response, the lady says, “Let them say what they want – they, who do not know! The newly sprouted stalks of ‘bamboo reed’ brought down by the cascade, is relished as its food by the elephant seeking out waterholes in the mountains of the lord. I know fully well that his relationship with me is unending!” With these words, the lady conveys to the confidante that there was no need to worry about the lady’s ability to bear with the man’s parting.
Bamboo reeds and elephants seem to hold a sizeable message to the lady! She first declares in an offhand manner, ‘let those who want to unknowingly talk, talk’. Who is the lady referring to, thus? Let’s wait to find out. Next, she moves on to a description of the man’s country talking about how the waterfalls seize freshly sprouted bamboo reeds and bring it down to a pond, where an elephant had arrived wanting water to slay its thirst. Seeing the cluster of bamboo reeds, the elephant savours it as its food! As if describing the man’s mountain country, the lady says these words and finishes by declaring that she was totally confident that her relationship with the man was forever!
Now, to solve the last few riddles herein. In the opening line, the lady is actually referring to her confidante indirectly saying here she’s so worried and speaking so many words to make me feel okay when it’s not needed at all! Why is not needed? For this, we have delve into the scene of the elephant finding its food unexpectedly in a place where it came for a drink of water. This is a metaphor for how the lady took no efforts to seek the man’s relationship but it came to her on its own. That was destiny and that made her sure her man would not forsake her and would return to claim her hand. Reading this verse, I smiled to think of how many times we have encountered this situation when the confidante worries about the lady, as the man parts away. In one case, the lady agrees with her confidante that she’s miserable and that she doesn’t know how she can bear with the parting, and there has also been times when she has cast doubts about the man’s promise to her and so on. Here, it’s a refreshingly positive way of approaching the situation by trusting totally. This makes me wonder if Sangam verses are telling us with wisdom and compassion that there are many different ways to approach a situation and it’s up to us to choose the one that feels right for us!
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