In this episode, we listen to an account of mother’s nature, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 60, penned by Kudavaayil Keerathanaar. Set amidst the roaring waves of the ‘Neythal’ or ‘Coastal landscape’, the verse etches a unique instance of persuasive communication.

பெருங் கடற் பரப்பில் சேயிறா நடுங்க,
கொடுந் தொழில் முகந்த செங் கோல் அவ் வலை
நெடுந் திமில் தொழிலொடு வைகிய தந்தைக்கு,
உப்பு நொடை நெல்லின் மூரல் வெண் சோறு
அயிலை துழந்த அம் புளிச் சொரிந்து,
கொழுமீன் தடியொடு குறுமகள் கொடுக்கும்
திண் தேர்ப் பொறையன் தொண்டி அன்ன எம்
ஒண் தொடி ஞெமுக்காதீமோ தெய்ய;
”ஊதை ஈட்டிய உயர் மணல் அடைகரை,
கோதை ஆயமொடு வண்டல் தைஇ,
ஓரை ஆடினும் உயங்கும் நின் ஒளி” எனக்
கொன்னும் சிவப்போள் காணின், வென் வேற்
கொற்றச் சோழர் குடந்தை வைத்த
நாடு தரு நிதியினும் செறிய
அருங் கடிப் படுக்குவள், அறன் இல் யாயே.

In this seaside vacation of ours, we hear the lady’s confidante saying these words to the man, when he comes to the lady’s home to tryst by day:

“Making red shrimp in the vast sea quiver by throwing an exquisite net, fitted with red rods, for the severe task of capturing fish, on a tall boat, immersed in his profession, stands father. For him, with the paddy, got in barter for salt, his young daughter cooks and serves hot white rice, along with delicious tamarind curry, made with ‘ayilai’ fish, and also fleshy pieces of fatty fish, in the town of Thondi, ruled by ‘Poraiyan’, renowned for his sturdy chariots. Akin to the beauty of this town is the lady, and pray, do not press her shining bangles with force, and leave imprints. Saying, ‘On the shores, piled with towering heaps of sand, brought by the northerly winds, with your garlanded friends, even if you build sand houses or play ‘orai’ games, your glow might fade’, mother would get angry for no reason. If she were to see these imprints on the lady’s hands, even more than the protection put up in Kudanthai, around the tributes of all those nations, under the rule of royal white umbrella of the Chozhas, she would put up a stern guard around the lady. Such is the nature of this unjust mother!”

Time to take in the wafting scent of sour fish curry in the seashore! The confidante starts by describing a girl’s father, intent at his work in the sea, standing on a tall boat. He seems to be making shrimp shiver by throwing his well-stitched net, fitted with red rods. When this father returns home, his young daughter has a tasty meal prepared. Even before this fisherman came home with the catch, the women of the family have bartered their salt for paddy and have prepared a hot meal of cooked white rice. Then, on this white rice, that young girl adds a tamarind curry made of Indian mackerel fish, and also, places fleshy pieces of fish on the side. A moment to pause and relish how this very preparation of fish in tamarind curry and fish fry is a staple in many Tamil homes, even today.

Returning, we learn that the confidante has mentioned this meal only to say that this is happening in the prosperous port town of Thondi, ruled by the famous Poraiyan. And as we have seen in many instances, when a prosperous town is mentioned, it would in most cases be, to place it in parallel with the beauty of the lady. Thus, this confidante refers to her friend, and instructs the man to avoid pressing the lady’s bangles and leaving visible imprints. She goes on to say why because the lady’s mother is a person who would get angry for meaningless things and say that the lady shouldn’t even play ‘Orai games’ in the sands with her friends because her beauty may fade. And if at all mother catches a glimpse of these marks, then the lady would be put under a strict guard, stricter than the one around the tributes received from many nations in the Chozha capital of Kudanthai, the confidante concludes. 

In essence, the confidante is conveying the message of ‘Marry her, marry her’ to the man, to make him let go of the temporary trysting with the lady, by revealing the danger of discovery. The highlights of this verse however, are the description of Thondi’s ceaseless wealth and tasteful food, that subtle point about how the women of the household did some trading on their own by bartering salt to put food on the table, and finally, the huge wealth of the Chozhas in their capital, as illustrated by the heaps of tributes they have received from the nations under their rule, talking about the power and fame of these ancient Tamil kings. Indeed, the confidante has cooked a fine meal with places and people to cure the man of his inaction and energise him to move in the direction of permanent happiness!