In this episode, we relish the beauty of changing seasons, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 23, penned by Orodakathu Kantharathanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse echoes the anxiety of a maiden waiting for the return of her beloved.

மண்கண் குளிர்ப்ப, வீசித் தண் பெயல்,
பாடு உலந்தன்றே, பறைக் குரல் எழிலி;
புதல்மிசைத் தளவின் இதல் முட் செந் நனை
நெருங்கு குலைப் பிடவமொடு ஒருங்கு பிணி அவிழ,
காடே கம்மென்றன்றே; அவல,
கோடு உடைந்தன்ன கோடற் பைம் பயிர்,
பதவின் பாவை முனைஇ, மதவு நடை
அண்ணல் இரலை அமர் பிணை தழீஇ,
தண் அறல் பருகித் தாழ்ந்துபட்டனவே;
அனையகொல் வாழி, தோழி! மனைய
தாழ்வின் நொச்சி, சூழ்வன மலரும்
மௌவல் மாச் சினை காட்டி,
அவ்அளவு என்றார், ஆண்டுச் செய் பொருளே!

In this verse, although the theme is firmly set in the drylands domain signifying parting, the images we get to see are the contrasting elements of showers and flowers. The lady renders these words to her confidante, when the man is away gathering wealth:

“Making all earth to cool, pouring down with moist showers, rainclouds, roaring like a drum, have ended the suffering of the land’s barrenness. The pink jasmine buds have spread atop bushes, akin to claws of quails, and along with the thick-clustered wild jasmine, have bloomed together in synchrony, making the forest entire waft with fragrance. After eating the green stalks of white glory lilies, appearing akin to broken conch shells, as well as grazing on wild grass, satiated by fullness, an esteemed male deer with a haughty gait, drinks up the cool waters in the stream, and then embracing its beautiful mate, lies down content. Remember how he said pointing to the low-hanging, dark branches of the chaste tree, and the surrounding vines of wild jasmine, the time it takes to bloom, that’s how long he would take to make the wealth he desired! Hasn’t that time come and gone, my friend? May you live long!”

Let’s delight in the surprising rain shower in our walk through the drylands! The lady starts by talking about all the changes in the world around her, pointing how the rains have poured and ended the summer suffering of the land. When the showers are done, can flowers be far behind? We get to see the blooming of pink jasmine buds, an aspect of a plant, which is then connected in Sangam style to an animal part, namely a quail’s claws. Not only are the pink jasmines in bloom but so are the wild jasmines, making that forest entire fill with a delicious smell! Imagine taking a walk in those pristine woods!

Returning, we find the lady sketching an image of a male deer that has fed to its full, not only on the stalks of glory lilies but also wild grass, and hunger satiated, it goes for a refreshing drink in the rain-fed, cool streams, and then embracing its mate, lies down and rests. After such scenes that would normally bring joy to a person, the lady reveals how it has only brought worry to her, for it was this time of the year the man said he would return, promising he would be back when the chaste tree and jasmine vines around it bloomed. She concludes wondering why his mission of gathering wealth is still keeping him away in this season of togetherness.

Once again, the focus is on the pain of parting in the season of rains. Going beyond the oft-repeated thought, I would like to shift your attention to this beautiful way of keeping time, in the changes of the world outside, the sound of rain drops, the blooming of flower buds, and the mood of wild animals rather than the watches, schedules, to-dos and calendars of today. An era where no doubt the mindfulness of the world around was a medicine in itself!