In this episode, we listen to an account of a jubilant bull taming, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Kalithogai 102, penned by Chozhan Nalluruthiran. The verse is situated in the ‘Mullai’ or ‘Forest Landscape’ and sketches the determination of a young man to win the one he loves.

தலைவன்
கண் அகன் இரு விசும்பில் கதழ் பெயல் கலந்து, ஏற்ற
தண் நறும் பிடவமும், தவழ் கொடித் தளவமும்,
வண்ண வண் தோன்றியும், வயங்கு இணர்க் கொன்றையும்,
அன்னவை பிறவும், பல் மலர் துதைய,
தழையும் கோதையும் இழையும் என்று இவை
தைஇயினர், மகிழ்ந்து, திளைஇ விளையாடும்
மட மொழி ஆயத்தவருள் இவள் யார் உடம்போடு
என் உயிர் புக்கவள் இன்று?

பாங்கன்
ஓஒ! இவள், ‘பொரு புகல் நல் ஏறு கொள்பவர் அல்லால்,
திரு மா மெய் தீண்டலர்’ என்று, கருமமா,
எல்லாரும் கேட்ப, அறைந்து அறைந்து, எப்பொழுதும்
சொல்லால் தரப்பட்டவள்

தலைவன்
‘சொல்லுக!’

சுற்றத்தார்
‘பாணியேம்’ என்றார்;
‘அறைக’ என்றார் பாரித்தார்,
மாணிழை ஆறாகச் சாறு

சாற்றுள் பெடை அன்னார் கண் பூத்து, நோக்கும் வாய், எல்லாம்
மிடை பெறின், நேராத் தகைத்து
தகை வகை மிசைமிசைப் பாயியர், ஆர்த்து உடன்
எதிர்எதிர் சென்றார் பலர்
கொலை மலி சிலை செறி செயிர் அயர் சினம் சிறந்து,
உருத்து எழுந்து ஓடின்று மேல்

எழுந்தது துகள்;
ஏற்றனர் மார்பு;
கவிழ்ந்தன மருப்பு;
கலங்கினர் பலர்

அவருள், மலர் மலி புகல் எழ, அலர் மலி மணி புரை நிமிர் தோள் பிணைஇ
எருத்தோடு இமிலிடைத் தோன்றினன்; தோன்றி,
வருத்தினான்மன்ற அவ் ஏறு
ஏறு எவ்வம் காணா எழுந்தார் எவன்கொலோ
ஏறு உடை நல்லார் பகை?
மடவரே, நல் ஆயர் மக்கள் நெருநை,
அடல் ஏற்றெருத்து இறுத்தார்க் கண்டும், மற்று இன்றும்,
உடல் ஏறு கோள் சாற்றுவார்!

ஆங்கு, இனி
தண்ணுமைப் பாணி தளராது எழூஉக
பண் அமை இன் சீர்க் குரவையுள், தெண் கண்ணி,
திண் தோள், திறல் ஒளி மாயப் போர், மா மேனி,
அம் துவர் ஆடைப் பொதுவனோடு, ஆய்ந்த
முறுவலாள் மென் தோள் பாராட்டி, சிறுகுடி
மன்றம் பரந்தது உரை!

Another song detailing the events around a bull fight. The words can be translated as follows:

“Man:
Accepting and fusing with the abundant downpour from the vast and huge sky, the cool and fragrant wild jasmines, pink jasmines on the spreading vines, the colourful flame-lilies, sparking clusters of the golden shower, and many other such flowers have bloomed. Wearing leaf garments, garlands and ornaments adorned with these flowers, with joy, the herder maiden with naive words play together. Among them, who might she be, the one who has bewitched me with her form and has become one with my life now?

Friend:
Oh! She is the one, who has been announced in the earshot of many, accompanied by the beating of drums, with the words, ‘Other than the one who subdues the fiery, fight-loving, fine bull, no one can touch her dark and divine form’!

Man:
So, tell them!

Lady’s Kin:
Saying ‘There shall be no delay’, they said to the announcers, ‘Beat the drums’, calling for the festivities, paving the path to attain the maiden wearing precious jewels.

In the festival, tall lofts many were built with thought, for the maiden to watch with their eyes shining. To pounce upon the many different bulls, with enthusiasm, many men went and stood facing them. In the manner of bows that do the task of killing, filled with fury, the bulls too leaped and ran towards them.

Dust scattered;
Chests awaited;
Horns pierced;
Anguished, were so many;

Among them, one man, with his garland, full of flowers swaying, held on to the bull’s hump with his sapphire-hued hands; And there, pinning it down, he caused anguish to that bull. Those who owned the bull rose up, unable to bear the sight of its suffering. Why should they be so furious? Aren’t they foolish to let the strong herder men fight with their bulls, after seeing someone subdue an attacking bull yesterday?

And now, with the beats of the ‘thannummai’ drum soaring unceasingly, singing perfect tunes of the ‘Kuravai’, praising the union of the maiden with a gentle smile and soft arms with the herder man, wearing a beautiful red attire upon his dark skin, the one with a shining garland and strong arms that fought with radiant strength, let’s dance and celebrate in the town centre of our little hamlet!”

Time to delve into the details. The verse is situated in the context of bull taming to win the hand of a beloved and the words are spoken by the man, his friend and the lady’s relatives in this one. The man opens the scene by remarking on the beautiful maiden, who have gathered to play, wearing the flowers that have bloomed in the rain such as the wild jasmines, pink jasmines, flame-lilies and golden shower as their attire, garlands and ornaments. What fragrant accessories indeed! Looking at all of them, the man points to the girl who has captured his heart and asks his friend who she is. The friend informs the man that she is the daughter of a herder, who has announced that he would give her hand only to the man who tames their bull. The man accepts the challenge and asks his friend to inform them. Hearing his proposal, they too agree to start the festivities for the bull taming immediately, calling their drummer to announce it all around. This is followed by an account by the lady’s kin, of what happened in the festivities, where tall platforms were installed for women to watch the proceedings without any fear of getting hurt, and down below, the men stood facing the bulls and the bulls too, were intent on their role of killing and attacking. In montage shots, the scene is brought alive and we see the dust of the arena soaring to the skies in one, the wide chests of men awaiting their fate, the bulls racing towards them and dipping their horns; the torment and tears of many.

Continuing that racy scene, one man’s successful subduing of his bull is brought to the fore and the anguish of those who owned the bull is depicted too. Questions are raised about why they should be angry because isn’t it a good thing that a worthy man is winning over the bull! The presence of strong men, who have brought down fierce bulls is highlighted, depicting how it was an ingrained custom in those days. The lady’s kin end by calling for a celebration in their village, filled with dance to the tune of beating drums, for the gentle maiden has found the perfect match in the strong and handsome herder man! The joy that the world feels in a happy union can be sensed in this ancient verse. A feeling that lives on, even in the cynical world of today, where many of us would have felt the joy in witnessing a wedding and seeing the coming together of two hearts in love!