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In this episode, we listen to words of passion, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 198, penned by Paranar. The verse is situated amidst the soaring peaks of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain landscape’ and echoes the beating heart of man in love.
கூறுவம்கொல்லோ? கூறலம்கொல்?’ எனக்
கரந்த காமம் கைந்நிறுக்கல்லாது,
நயந்து நாம் விட்ட நல் மொழி நம்பி,
அரை நாள் யாமத்து விழு மழை கரந்து
கார் விரை கமழும் கூந்தல், தூ வினை
நுண் நூல் ஆகம் பொருந்தினள், வெற்பின்
இள மழை சூழ்ந்த மட மயில் போல,
வண்டு வழிப் படர, தண் மலர் வேய்ந்து,
வில் வகுப்புற்ற நல் வாங்கு குடைச் சூல்
அம் சிலம்பு ஒடுக்கி அஞ்சினள் வந்து,
துஞ்சு ஊர் யாமத்து முயங்கினள், பெயர்வோள்,
ஆன்ற கற்பின் சான்ற பெரியள்,
அம் மா அரிவையோ அல்லள்; தெனாஅது
ஆஅய் நல் நாட்டு அணங்குடைச் சிலம்பில்,
கவிரம் பெயரிய உரு கெழு கவாஅன்,
ஏர் மலர் நிறை சுனை உறையும்
சூர்மகள்மாதோ என்னும் என் நெஞ்சே!
This trip to the highlands is all about reverence, and we get to hear the man say these words, after a tryst by night with his lady:
“The hidden love within me, about which I was deliberating, ‘Should I tell? Should I not?’ failed to heed my shackles, and so, I sent good words to her with much desire. Trusting in these words, in the midnight hour, waiting for the pouring rain to cease, having tresses fragrant with the scent of rain, wearing an intricate attire made of fine threads that enveloped her, akin to a naive peacock descending down from a cloud-covered mountain, clad in moist, well-woven flowers, which were swarming with bees, adorned with exquisite anklets with hollow tubes, curving akin to a bow, taking care to silence the sound of the said anklets, with fear she came walking, and when the town entire was sleeping in that hour, she embraced me and parted away. That great woman, who shines with her deep chastity, is not just a beautiful, dark-skinned young maiden; In the southern lands, in the fearsome mountain slopes, in the fine country of ‘Aay’, called as ‘Kaviram’, there are formidable mountain ranges, filled with picturesque flowers and brimming springs. My heart says she is surely a heavenly maiden from thither!”
Let’s go on that midnight trek in the mountains and learn more! The man starts by reminiscing about the past when he was hesitating about expressing his love for the lady. Beyond all bounds of logic, his love seemed to brim over and he had sent word about the promise of his affections to the lady, and she too had come there to him, in the middle of the night, at a time when there was a break in the rains, with her moist, flower-decked hair, wearing a dainty attire, and taking care to still the sound of her exquisite anklets, embraced him and left from there, the man describes. Now the man reflects on this noble and chaste maiden and concludes by saying that his heart was convinced that she was no ordinary maiden but surely a goddess, the one who is said to reside in the ‘Kaviram’ mountain ranges in Chieftain Aay’s domain!
That feeling of awe and admiration, inevitable elements in the first stages of love, seems to resonate in this mountain song from long ago. So many songs and poems over the ages have echoed this very bewilderment about a beloved – Am I dreaming? Is this life real? Is the other person merely human or could they be an angel in disguise? – A sentiment oft-heard from those in the throes of love, no matter the place or time!
