Kalithogai 107 – On garlands and good news

Sangam Lit

In this episode, we listen to an amusing conversation, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 107, penned by Chozhan Nalluruthiran. The verse is situated in the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest Landscape’ and paints both the confusion and the relief in the mind of a lady.

தலைவி
எல்லா! இஃதொன்று கூறு – குறும்பு இவர்
புல்லினத் தார்க்கும், குடம் சுட்டவர்க்கும், எம்
கொல் ஏறு கோடல் குறை எனக் கோவினத்தார்
பல் ஏறு பெய்தார் தொழூஉ

தொழுவத்து,
சில்லைச் செவி மறைக் கொண்டவன் சென்னிக் குவி முல்லை
கோட்டம் காழ் கோட்டின் எடுத்துக்கொண்டு ஆட்டிய
ஏழை இரும்புகர் பொங்க, அப் பூ வந்து என்
கூழையுள் வீழ்ந்தன்று மன்
அதனைக் கெடுத்தது பெற்றார் போல் கொண்டு யான் முடித்தது,
கேட்டனள் என்பவோ யாய்?
இஃதொன்று கூறு

தோழி
கேட்டால் எவன் செய்ய வேண்டுமோ? மற்றிகா
அவன் கண்ணி அன்றோ அது?

தலைவி
பெய் போது அறியாத் தன் கூழையுள் ஏதிலான்
கை புனை கண்ணி முடித்தாள் என்று யாய் கேட்பின்
செய்வது இல் ஆகுமோ மற்று?
இஃதொன்று கூறு

தோழி
எல்லாத் தவறும் அறும்;

தலைவி
ஓஒ அஃது அறும் ஆறுமாறு?

தோழி
ஆயர் மகன் ஆயின், ஆயமகள் நீ ஆயின்,
நின் வெய்யன் ஆயின், அவன் வெய்யை நீ ஆயின்,
அன்னை நோதக்கதோ இல்லை மன்; ……..

தலைவி
………………………………. நின் நெஞ்சம்
அன்னை நெஞ்சு ஆகப் பெறின்!

தோழி
அன்னையோ!
ஆயர் மகனையும் காதலை கைம்மிக,
ஞாயையும் அஞ்சுதி ஆயின், அரிது அரோ,
நீ உற்ற நோய்க்கு மருந்து

தலைவி
மருந்து இன்று யான் உற்ற துயர் ஆயின், எல்லா!
வருந்துவேன் அல்லனோ யான்?

தோழி
வருந்தாதி!
மண்ணி மாசற்ற நின் கூழையுள் ஏறு அவன்,
கண்ணி தந்திட்டது எனக் கேட்டுத் ‘திண்ணிதாத்
தெய்வ மால் காட்டிற்று இவட்கு’ என, நின்னை அப்
பொய் இல் பொதுவற்கு கொடை சூழ்ந்தார் தந்தையோடு
ஐயன்மார் எல்லாம் ஒருங்கு.

After those long, long songs on bull taming, we witness one in a light, conversational style! The words can be translated as follows:

“Lady
Hey dear! Wish to speak to you about something: To goatherds, who rove the mountain villages, and the cowherds, who gather pots of milk, the cattle owners announced, ‘Our killer bulls are ready for the fight’, and let in many bulls into the arena.

In that arena, as a man captured a bull by its ears, marked with dots, the wild jasmine flowers on his curving head garland got caught in the horns of the bull. Shaking it, when the poor huge tawny bull leaped, those flowers flew and fell near my tresses! I picked it up instantly like one who had found a long lost thing, and tied it tightly. Won’t mother ask about it? Tell me what to do!

Confidante
Isn’t it his garland? What do think we should do?

Lady
If mother sees my tresses, which had not any flowers, and notices that I have tied the well-etched garland of a stranger, won’t she be furious? Isn’t there anything we can do? Please tell me!

Confidante
All that’s worrying you will soon end.

Lady
Oh! In what way, will it end?

Confidante
He’s a herder’s son and you are a herder’s daughter. You love him and he loves you. What is there for mother to lament about?

Lady
How I wish your heart was mother’s heart!

Confidante
Is that so? Your love for that herder’s son brims over. At the same time, you fear mother. If that’s the case, isn’t it hard to find a cure for your affliction?

Lady
If my sorrow has no cure, my dear friend, won’t I suffer so much?

Confidante
Don’t you worry! Hearing that the bull threw his garland on your flawless, perfect tresses, your father and brothers have together declared that it’s a crystal clear sign from the gods and have decided to offer you in marriage to that honest herder!”

Time to delve into the details. The verse is situated in the context of bull taming and its significance in the married life of the man and lady and these words are exchanged between the lady and her confidante. The lady starts by narrating an incident that happened in the midst of the bull taming festivities. Without going into lengthy discussions on all the bulls and players, the lady zooms on to one particular herder, who’s holding a tawny bull by its ears, and just then, his wild jasmine garland gets caught in the horns of the said bull. The bull twists and turns to shake him off, and in the process, the garland flies and falls near her, says the lady. She describes how she grabbed it, like a person who had lost something long ago and has found it. She seems to have tied it tightly in her tresses. With much worry, the lady asks her confidante what will mother say if she sees this. The confidante decides to play with the lady and says, ‘Why what have you got to worry about?’. The lady replies that mother knows I went with no flowers in my tresses and now I return wearing the garland of a stranger, and won’t this make her mad. The confidante cryptically answers that whatever the lady is worrying about will be no consequence. Hearing this, the lady presses her, asking how will that happen. Quite logically, the confidante says you both belong to the tribe of herders and you both are in love. When that’s true, why should mother crib about this?, she asks. The lady replies, ‘Oh my goodness, I wish mother had your good heart!’. To this, the confidante laughingly remarks to the lady saying there’s so much love in you for your man, and so much fear for mother. If this is the case, where can we go for the cure. The lady, with a sad face, asks whether this fate of suffering is to be hers. That’s the cue for the confidante to stop her teasing and give the lady the good news that the lady’s family have accepted the man, hearing that the bull threw his garland to their girl, taking it as a sign from the gods! An adorable conversation that not only reveals facets about sport, faith, love and marriage of the ancients but also highlights the warmth and joy that unfolds, when two girl friends have a heart to heart conversation, then or now!