Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | RSS | More
In this episode, we perceive the feelings of a person in pursuit of another, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 338, penned by Madurai Kanakkaayanaar. The verse is situated amidst the soaring peaks of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain Landscape’ and brings out the glory of the three great kings of ancient Tamil land.
குன்று ஓங்கு வைப்பின் நாடு மீக்கூறும்
மறம் கெழு தானை அரசருள்ளும்,
அறம் கடைப்பிடித்த செங்கோலுடன், அமர்
மறம் சாய்த்து எழுந்த வலன் உயர் திணி தோள்,
பலர் புகழ் திருவின், பசும் பூட் பாண்டியன்
அணங்குடை உயர் நிலைப் பொருப்பின் கவாஅன்,
சினை ஒள் காந்தள் நாறும் நறு நுதல்,
துணை ஈர் ஓதி மாஅயோள்வயின்,
நுண் கோல் அவிர் தொடி வண் புறம் சுற்ற
முயங்கல் இயையாது ஆயினும், என்றும்,
வயவு உறு நெஞ்சத்து உயவுத் துணையாக,
ஒன்னார் தேஎம் பாழ் பட நூறும்
துன் அருந் துப்பின் வென் வேற் பொறையன்
அகல் இருங் கானத்துக் கொல்லி போல,
தவாஅலியரோ, நட்பே! அவள்வயின்
அறாஅலியரோ, தூதே பொறாஅர்
விண் பொரக் கழித்த திண் பிடி ஒள் வாள்,
புனிற்று ஆன் தரவின், இளையர் பெருமகன்,
தொகு போர்ச் சோழன், பொருள் மலி பாக்கத்து,
வழங்கல் ஆனாப் பெருந் துறை
முழங்கு இரு முந்நீர்த் திரையினும் பலவே!
In this trip to the highlands, rather than the comforting hills, we get to see more of historic portraits, as we listen to the man say these words to his heart:
“Of all the celebrated kings with courageous armies, who rule over domains with soaring peaks, the one who wields a sceptre that endows the right justice, is the Pandya King Pasumpoon Pandiyan, who has a form, praised by many, and sturdy arms, which never fail to soar with strength and slay the courage of his enemies in the battlefield. Akin to the radiant flame-lily that blooms bright upon its stem in his lofty ranges, where spirits roam, is the fragrant forehead of that dark-skinned maiden, crowned by moist and thick tresses.
Even though I do not attain the embrace of her intricate, rounded bangles, as it curves around my thick back, remaining forever as the supporting companion for my languishing heart, may my bond with her never find its end, akin to the timeless Kolli hills, with vast and dark forests, ruled by the Chera King Poraiyan, who wields a victorious spear, and possess an unswerving strength that shatters and ruins the nations of his enemies.
May the messages I send to her, never find an end, and continue on, more numerous than the waves in the roaring dark seas, around that huge shore, where movement of plentiful goods continues ceaselessly, surrounding that seaside town, ruled by the Chozha King, victorious in battles, the leader of warriors, who reclaim stolen pregnant cows, wielding a shining sword with a firm grip, which sends their foes to the skies!”
Time to listen to the man’s heartbeat reverberating in the mountain ranges! He starts by mentioning that the most celebrated of kings is King Pasumpoon Pandiyan. After showering praise of this king’s sense of justice, his charismatic appearance, unending strength and courage, the man takes us to the king’s hilly domain, possibly the Pothiyil mountains, and zooms on a flame-lily growing there, in those heavenly hills, only to compare its fragrance to that of the lady’s forehead. Then, the man travels to the battle-worthy Chera King Poraiyan’s Kolli hills and wishes that his bond with the lady lives long like those hills, even though he has not been able to attain her embrace. The man then travels to the sea shore to a rich and prosperous town, known for its sea trade, possibly Kaveripoompatinam, the domain of the Chozha kings, and turns to focus on the waves dashing against the shore. He concludes by wishing that the messages he sends to the lady remain relentless like those waves on the Chozha king’s shore.
A verse which packs the praise of three emperors, who ruled the ancient Tamil kingdom in perfect synchrony and kept invading forces from the north at bay from time immemorial. Seamless is the way the kings’ praise and the man’s persistence is etched here. Wishing success to this ancient lover to find joy in the company of his beloved, we can return with the satisfaction of traversing the length and breadth of this land, from the mountains of the Cheras and Pandyas, to the seas of the Chozhas!
