Aganaanooru 223 – Flaming forest and blazing beauty

In this episode, we listen to words of assurance, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 223, penned by Paalai Paadiya Perunkadunko. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse illustrates both the fierce nature of this domain and the gentle beauty of the lady. ‘பிரிதல் வல்லியர், இது, நத் துறந்தோர்மறந்தும் அமைகுவர்கொல்?’ என்று எண்ணி,ஆழல் வாழி, தோழி! கேழல்வளை மருப்பு உறழும் முளை நெடும் பெருங் காய்நனை முதிர் முருக்கின் சினை சேர் பெருங்கல்,காய் சினக் கடு வளி எடுத்தலின், வெங் காட்டுஅழல் பொழி யானையின் ஐயெனத் தோன்றும்நிழல் இல் ஓமை நீர் இல் நீள் இடை,இறந்தனர்ஆயினும், காதலர் நம்வயின்மறந்து கண்படுதல் யாவது புறம் தாழ்அம் பணை நெடுந் தோள் தங்கி, தும்பிஅரியினம் கடுக்கும் சுரி வணர் ஐம்பால்நுண் கேழ் அடங்க வாரி, பையுள் கெட,நன் முகை அதிரல் போதொடு, குவளைத்தண் நறுங் கமழ் தொடை வேய்ந்த, நின்மண் ஆர் கூந்தல் மரீஇய துயிலே? In this trip to the drylands, we get to see some striking images, as we listen to the confidante say these words to the lady, when the man continues to remain parted away, having left in search of wealth: “Thinking ‘He seems to be capable of parting away from me; Would the one, who has forsaken me so, also be capable of remaining there, forgetting me?’, cry not, my friend! May you live long! As the coral tree, having long and huge petals, akin to the curved horns of a male boar, extends its branch upon a huge boulder nearby, in the midst of hot winds that blow fast, it appears strikingly as if an elephant is surrounded by flames in a dry scrub jungle, in those waterless long paths, filled with shadeless toothbrush trees. Even though that lover of yours has left to such a place, how will his eyes close? Your tresses hang low on your back, having curly, five-part braids that appear akin to a swarm of bees, in a fine, rich hue, neatly oiled and combed, and ending all sorrow, tied with fine buds of wild jasmine with pollen, along with cool and fragrant flowers of blue-lily woven together, and are adorned with fragrant pastes! Indeed, how can he forget that sleep he relished on your beautiful, bamboo-like arms, resting on these tresses of yours?” Time to brave the hot winds of the drylands and explore on! The confidante starts by repeating what’s going on in the lady’s mind, talking about how she’s thinking, ‘It was unthinkable earlier that he would leave me and part away, but he seems to have done that easily. In the same way, would he also forget about me and remain there?’. Logical question, of course! But the confidante answers this question in a different way. First she acknowledges the reality that the man has indeed left to the drylands, and she sketches this place vividly, pointing to how a coral tree branch with its red, claw-like petals, which resemble a boar’s curving horns, extending upon a rock, and shaking in the hot wind, appears as if an elephant is on fire in the searing, dry atmosphere of the place. With that image and describing the drylands as shadeless and waterless, having only toothbrush trees, the confidante paints a dreary image of where the man is at. From there, she zooms on to the beauty of the lady’s tresses, highlighting how it’s long, black, thick and curly, like a swarm of bees. This simile and description brings to mind the unique hair texture of many modern Africans. Could this line possibly point to genetic similarities between people of the Sangam era with prehistoric migrant populations from Africa? Science will validate in the future, no doubt! Returning, the confidante has been going on about the lady’s five-part braids and tresses coated with many fragrant pastes only to conclude by saying, ‘How is it humanly possibly for the man to forget the sleep he enjoyed on your arms, caressing your tresses, and remain in that forsaken place faraway?’. An effective technique of contrasting the dreariness of the drylands and the heavenliness of the lady’s beauty, to assure the lady that the man will indeed return to her. What a boost to the sinking morale of the lady to be reminded of her power to pull back the man, ...