Aganaanooru 92 – Come by in the day

Sangam Lit

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13d ago 4:47

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In this episode, we perceive a technique of hidden persuasion, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 92, penned by Madurai Paalaasiriyaar Natraamanaar. The verse is situated amidst the flowing cascades and blooming flame-lilies of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain landscape’ and relays an alternate plan of action.

நெடு மலை அடுக்கம் கண் கெட மின்னி,
படு மழை பொழிந்த பானாட் கங்குல்,
குஞ்சரம் நடுங்கத் தாக்கி, கொடு வரிச்
செங் கண் இரும் புலி குழுமும் சாரல்
வாரல் வாழியர், ஐய! நேர் இறை
நெடு மென் பணைத் தோன் இவளும் யானும்
காவல் கண்ணினம் தினையே நாளை
மந்தியும் அறியா மரம் பயில் இறும்பின்
ஒண் செங் காந்தள் அவிழ்ந்த ஆங்கண்,
தண் பல் அருவித் தாழ்நீர் ஒரு சிறை,
உருமுச் சிவந்து எறிந்த உரன் அழி பாம்பின்
திருமணி விளக்கின் பெறுகுவை
இருள் மென் கூந்தல் ஏமுறு துயிலே.

An eventful trip to the mountains awaits us in this one, where we get to hear these words from the confidante to the man, when he leaves after a nightly tryst with the lady:

“In the middle of the night, when blinding the eyes, lightning flashes in the tall mountain ranges, and heavy rain pours down, attacking an elephant and making it shiver, the red-eyed, huge tiger with curving stripes roars aloud. Do not come by at this time, O lord, may you live long! The lady, having perfect wrists and slender, bamboo-like arms, and I, are planning to go guard the millet fields tomorrow. If you come then, to that thick forest with trees that even monkeys know not, where bright red flame-lilies are in full blossom, where the cool, heavy cascade flows down on side, in the light of the fine gem spit out by a snake, whose strength was ruined by the fury of thunder, you will attain a pleasant sleep on her darkness-like, soft tresses!”

Let’s talk a walk in those lush hills and learn more! The confidante starts by asking the man to not come when the lightning is flashing, rains are pouring, in the middle of the night, when a tiger roars after attacking an elephant. She then tells the man that she and the lady were planning to go guard the millet fields the next day and asks him to come by at that time. The confidante concludes by promising that if the man were to come then to those dense forests, with trees that even monkeys know not about, where the flame-lilies are at their peak blossom, and where the cascades are flowing so invitingly, then in the light of a gem that has been spit out by a snake, ruined by thunder, the man would find sweet sleep amidst the thick, black tresses of his beloved.

First, let’s turn our attention to the two seemingly bizarre facts mentioned about snakes: One is that snakes are destroyed by the fury of thunder, and two, these snakes spit out gems. These statements portray beliefs held by Sangam people. We know not what this implies but it’s just one of those things people of a certain era are so sure about, but looks incomprehensible in hindsight. Turning to the essence of the verse, it is a refusal of nightly trysts, but the highlight is in the way the confidante delivers this rejection. It’s not ‘No and be gone’. Rather, it’s ‘No. But why don’t you?’ She offers an alternate plan. However, even within that, she conceals the danger of discovery, for people will abound in that space to pluck those flame-lilies and play in the cascades. So, ultimately the confidante is asking the man to ‘marry the lady’ but saying it in such a way that the man arrives at this conclusion himself, rather than the confidante demanding the same of him. Another effective lesson in communication for behaviour transformation!

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