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In this episode, we listen to a mother’s yearning words, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 195, penned by Kayamanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse reveals the questions that arise in a Sangam mother’s heart at the moment of her daughter’s elopement.
”அருஞ் சுரம் இறந்த என் பெருந் தோட் குறுமகள்
திருந்துவேல் விடலையொடு வரும்” என, தாயே,
புனை மாண் இஞ்சி பூவல் ஊட்டி,
மனை மணல் அடுத்து, மாலை நாற்றி,
உவந்து, இனிது அயரும் என்ப; யானும்,
மான் பிணை நோக்கின் மட நல்லாளை
ஈன்ற நட்பிற்கு அருளான் ஆயினும்,
இன் நகை முறுவல் ஏழையைப் பல் நாள்,
கூந்தல் வாரி, நுசுப்பு இவர்ந்து, ஓம்பிய
நலம் புனை உதவியும் உடையன்மன்னே;
அஃது அறிகிற்பினோ நன்றுமன் தில்ல;
அறுவை தோயும் ஒரு பெருங் குடுமி,
சிறு பை நாற்றிய பல் தலைக் கொடுங் கோல்,
ஆகுவது அறியும் முதுவாய் வேல!
கூறுகமாதோ, நின் கழங்கின் திட்பம்;
மாறா வருபனி கலுழும் கங்குலில்,
ஆனாது துயரும் எம் கண் இனிது படீஇயர்,
எம் மனை முந்துறத் தருமோ?
தன் மனை உய்க்குமோ? யாது அவன் குறிப்பே?
It’s more about the dunes of the mind in this trip to the drylands, as we listen to the lady’s mother say these words, at a time when the lady has left with the man, seeing no other way to sustain her love relationship:
“They say that thinking my daughter with beautiful, thick arms, who parted away to the formidable drylands, will come home, with the young man carrying a well-etched spear, his mother, spreads red mud on the well-adorned, outer walls of their house, scatters fresh sands in front of the home, decorates the spaces by hanging garlands, and goes about many such tasks with much joy.
Even if he does not honour me for having given birth to that naive, good woman, with the gaze of a female deer, he should know that it was me, who cared for that helpless, young girl, with a fine smile, for many days, by combing her tresses, carrying her on my hips, and rendering all I could to enhance her beauty. If he understands this, it will be good.
O wise Velan, clad in white cloth, having a huge tuft, carrying a many-spoked, curving rod, from which hangs a small bag, you are someone who knows what is about to transpire! Won’t you tell me, seeing the spread of your beans, will he render sweet sleep to my eyes, which cease not from crying, filled with suffering, on this dark night, by bringing her first to my home? Or will he take her to his? Pray tell me, what his mind seeks!”
Time to pause and listen to another’s angst! Mother starts by talking about another mother, and this happens to be the man’s mother, about whom the lady’s mother had received some news, saying she was getting ready to welcome her son and the lovely maiden he had chosen as his mate. To this end, she was spreading red mud on their walls, scattering fine sand in front of the house, and tying garlands everywhere. In short , it’s going to be one joyous welcome for the couple, who had eloped and are traversing a harsh domain just then. The lady’s mother continues by saying, ‘All that’s well and fine. But that man should consider it was me who had brought his beloved to this world, and even if he doesn’t care about that, he should have some gratitude for all those days I took care of my girl, when she was a helpless little thing, and I made sure she grew up with much health and beauty’. After this declaration of her predominance in the lady’s life, mother turns to Velan, who is performing some divining with his Molucca beans, and concludes, by asking him, whether the man would do the honour of bringing the lady to her house and slay the sleeplessness and suffering of her eyes or will the man take the lady to his own house.
Didn’t the lady just leave her own house because she thought her mother and relatives were against her love relationship with the man? What would make her return? Perhaps it’s a depiction of a state of mind that we all go through, when things have gone too far in the opposite direction, and yet we cling on to the possibility that we can go back to being how we were! Seeing it from another angle, perhaps like the lady’s mother mentions, the man might think of the lady’s parents and all that they have done for the lady and what they must be going through, and might bring back the lady and seek their approval for their marriage. I know, a slim sliver of a possibility, and that’s exactly what mother’s clinging on, dreaming about clasping her precious daughter back in her arms, somehow! A classic case of ‘hope against hope’!
