Sangam LitAganaanooru 355 – Is this the season to part?
In this episode, we perceive an opposition to a person’s plan, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 355, penned by Thankaal Porkollanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse brings out the transformations in the season of spring.
மாவும் வண் தளிர் ஈன்றன; குயிலும்
இன் தீம் பல் குரல் கொம்பர் நுவலும்;
மூதிலை ஒழித்த போது அவிழ் பெருஞ் சினை,
வல்லோன் தைவரும் வள் உயிர்ப் பாலை
நரம்பு ஆர்த்தன்ன வண்டினம் முரலும்;
துணி கயம் துன்னிய தூ மணல் எக்கர்,
தாது உகு தண் பொழில் அல்கி, காதலர்
செழு மனை மறக்கும் செவ்வி வேனில்
தானே வந்தன்றுஆயின், ஆனாது
இலங்கு வளை நெகிழ்ந்த எவ்வம் காட்டிப்
புலந்தனம் வருகம்; சென்மோ தோழி!
”யாமே எமியம் ஆக, நீயே
பொன் நயந்து அருள் இலையாகி,
இன்னை ஆகுதல் ஒத்தன்றால்” எனவே.
In this trip to the drylands, we avoid entering the domain entirely and instead focus on seasonal changes, as we listen to the lady say these words to her confidante, when the confidante informs the lady about the man’s intention to part away in search of wealth:
“Mango trees have sprouted lush leaves; Atop their branches, cuckoos sing in a chorus of pleasant, sweet voices; Shedding old leaves, the huge branch blooms with flowers, around which bees buzz around, akin to strings, resounding in the resonating rhythm of the ‘Paalai’ tune, in the hands of an expert musician. Upon pristine sand mounds, near ponds having clear water, staying in those cool groves, filled with pollen, lovers forget their wealthy mansions in the exquisite season of spring, which has arrived here already. And so, let’s go and show the suffering of how these shining bangles slip away incessantly, and quarrel with him, come my friend! We need to make him understand that leaving me here all alone, if he wished to leave, only desiring wealth, and refused to render grace, it’s not fitting for that noble stature of his!”
Time to witness the lady’s emotions in this situation! She starts by detailing the changes in the world around her, talking about mango trees being covered in tender, green sprouts, cuckoos singing from the branches of those trees, and branches shedding old leaves and blooming with new flowers, which send out an invitation to the bees, which come and buzz around, in the music of the ‘Paalai’ tune from a lute’s strings. Then the lady talks about how at this time those in love rest by cool ponds in moist groves and forget going to their homes, why because it was that picturesque season of spring. She connects by saying that season had arrived and if the man wanted to leave at this time, making her bangles slip away, then it was not right on his part at all. The lady concludes by requesting the confidante to accompany her as she goes and tells the man these thoughts, sulks with him and stops him!
Whether the lady will succeed in stopping the man, is a moot point. The thing to rejoice here is in the description of the arrival of spring with its newness, and painting how when nature blooms, love seems to do too! Curiously, this is not a thought that is unique to this time and place, for I have read numerous poems and scenes in novels where the season of spring seems to take centre stage when it comes to the story of love. Once again, we find that common thread running across human cultures and its perspectives on nature, regardless of space and time!
