Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,181

Date uploaded in London –  14 November 2025

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx  

Part 32

Item 191

In Akananuru verse 4, poet Kurunkudi Maruthanaar described the Mullai landscape, that is forest land.

The literary convention for this Mullai tract is wife or lady love longing for her lover’s return from business trip.

In this verse all the natural components of Mullai land such as Mullai flower, Kanthal flower, the monsoon rain and the happy deer drinking water from the stagnant ponds.

Love towards living beings

Two interesting things are in the poem.

1

The bees are sucking the nectar from the flowers and on seeing that, the man who is travelling in a chariot immediately stopped the cart and tied the bells in the neck of his horse/s. He did not want to disturb the  happy bees with the bell sound. This shows how much Tamils loved animals, from ant to elephant.

2

Second interesting thing is a simile of a music instrument Yaaz (English word Jazz is derived from it).

The buzzing of the bees is compared to the music of Yaaz. And the monsoon is also described. Woman’s beauty is compared to the blooming Kanthal flower.

In short, every line of the verse has some message.

The literary conventions of the age are seen not only in such gracious blending of the human passions with the beauties of nature but also in the classification of the sentiments of love in accordance with the different regions and assigning them to seasons and hours. This is one of the strangest things in Sangam Tamil poetry. That is not seen in Sanskrit poetry. Tamils not only divided the landscape into five regions, they also allocated flora, fauna and one love sentiment.

The regions are five

Kurinchi – mountain region,

Mullai- forest or pastoral tract,

Marutam – agricultural land,

Neital- coastal area,

Palai , paalai– arid, desert land .

Each of these has its own peculiar flora and fauna, different stages of love. These conventions prove that ancient Tamil poetry was inspired by acute observation of nature and its influence on human life in its different aspects. This is seen in Sanskrit poetry as well. We see it in the Ritu Samharam and Meghadutam of Kalidasa. But Tamils went one step ahead and allocated a specific human emotion to each area. Paalai land means the poet must talk about temporary separation husband or lover due to business trip or studies etc. Mullai means husband or lover hurrying back home before the monsoon.

Monsoon was an important factor in Hindu’s life. Even the ascetics observed Chaatur maasya Vratam (4 month vow) , i.e., they stayed in one place for four months. Other times they were always moving from one town to another. Spring means new season of love. Post harvest period means wedding season.

***

Akam verse five is composed by Paalai Paadiya Perun Kadungo.

It is like a monologue or apostrophe to his heart (mind). After seeing his wife’s face, he dropped the plan of his travel. She used to smile at him but now frowned at him when he said he wanted to go on a business trip.

The poet described the arid Palai land as a place where the falling gooseberries from the trees looked like crystal balls. They looked like the marbles children used to gather for playing.

One proverb is also used the poet. It is not right to part a loving wife was the proverb.

***

A painting simile is used by the poet.

Like Monalisa, paintings reflect the emotions of the people portrayed on it.  Here the poet says as soon as his wife saw my face changing she realised that I am planning a trip abroad. His face reflected his emotions like painting.

Then, what did he see?

He saw his wife smelling the fragrance of the flowers on her child’s head and shed tears. At once, the flowers wilted. Hidden meaning is how stone hearted you are to part me and your child.

***

In verse 4 following lines are to be noted

பாடல் 04 (முல்லை)

முல்லை வைந்நுனை தோன்ற இல்லமொடு

……………………….

தாதுண் பறவை பேதுறல் அஞ்சி,

மணிநா ஆர்த்த மாண்வினைத் தேரன்,

உவக்காண் தோன்றும் குறும்பொறை நாடன்,

****

In verse 5 following lines are to be noted

பாடல் 05 (அளிநிலைபெறா)

அளிநிலை பொறாஅது அமரிய முகத்தள்,

…………

குறுக வந்துதன் கூர்எயிறு தோன்ற

வறிதகத் தெழுந்த வாயல் முறுவலள் 5

கண்ணிய துணரா அளவை, ஒண்ணுதல்,

வினைதலைப் படுதல் செல்லா நினைவுடன்

முளிந்த ஓமை முதையலம் காட்டுப்,

பளிங்கத் தன்ன பல்காய் நெல்லி,

மோட்டிரும் பாறை ஈட்டுவட்டு ஏய்ப்ப, 10

இறப்ப எண்ணுதிர் ஆயின் – ‘அறத்தாறு

அன்று‘ என மொழிந்த தொன்றுபடு கிளவி

–subham—

Tags- Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia -Part 32; One Thousand Interesting Facts -Part 32