"If it is true that liberal education should "liberate" by demonstrating the cultural values and norms foreign to us, by revealing the relativity of our own values, then the "discovery" and enjoyment of Tamil literature, and even its teaching should find its place in the systems of Western training and instruction in the humanities." - Kamil Zvelebil in his book, The Smile of Murugan , The Tamil literature of South India

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Sentinel of rainy hills



Ainkurunooru 206
Sung by poet Kapilar, depicted as the words spoken by the thozhi (heroine's friend) to the 
thalaivi (heroine). It is a Kurinji thinai (click to know more about this) song. 
"annaai vazhi vendu annai uvakkaan
maari kundraththu kaappaal annan
thoovalin nanaindha thodalai olvaal
paasi soozhndha perungazhal
thannpani vaikiya varikkach sinane"
For the original poem in Tamil, please click here to go to my Tamil site.

Poem meaning: Long live my mother! Look there, In the pretense of guarding the rainy mountains, he has come with his bright sword wet with raindrops, his striped belt cold with dew and moss clinging to his anklet of valor.

Description: Thalaivan (the hero) has come for a secret meeting with the thalaivi (heroine). His land is mountaneous and is guarded usually in the night. So pretending to be a sentinel to guard the hills that 
rainy night, the hero has come to meet the heroine. Seeing him, the heroine's friend informs the heroine.
This is refered to as 'varavunarththal' in Tamil, meaning 'letting know about the arrival'.
Its a rainy night and the standing water bodies in the mountains will have moss. The hero has come through 
that without minding the hardship. It was a rough terrain and it would have been very dangerous in the rainy 
night. The hero's bright hanging sword is wet with raindrops, his hip belt is covered with dew and moss has clinged on to his anklets of valor. These anklets are special anklets wore around the ankles of a man, symbolizing his courage and bravery. The heroine's friend understands the love the hero has for her friend, 
the heroine. She cannot be more happier for her friend and proud too. So with happiness and pride, she tells 
the heroine about the arrival of the hero. Here the word 'mother' means 'friend', as it was typical to call so, 
and indeed today too.

Words Meaning: annaai - mother, vaazhi - long live, vendu annai- please listen, uvakkaan - look there, maari - rain, kundraththu - of the hills, kappaal - one who guards, annan - like, thoovalin - raindrops, nanaindha - wet, thodalai - hanging, ol - shining/bright, vaal - sword, paasi - moss, soozhndha - covered by, perungazhal - special war-anklet, thann - cold, pani - dew, vaikiya - tightly, varikkach sinane - man who has worn the cold belt

My English Version:
"Long live my friend! Listen!
Look at him who has come!
Shining sword wet with raindrops,
Striped belt cool with dewdrops;
As a sentinel of the rainy hills,
Anklets of valor covered with moss;"

10 comments:

  1. Love the english poem.. learnt a word 'sentinel'

    ReplyDelete
  2. அருமை கிரேஸ்! அருமையான அழகான எளிய விளக்கம்.
    தாமத வருகைக்காக நான்தான் வருந்துகிறேன். ஆங்கில விளக்கமும், ஆங்கில ஆக்கமும் மிகவும் தமிழ்ப்பகுதியை விடவும் அருமை! அங்குதான் Grace becomes Greats! Keep it up ma. My Heartful greets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No problem anna, you have lots of work. Thanks a lot anna.

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. வாளுடன் உருப்படியாய்க் கிடைக்கவில்லை அண்ணா..இதில் வாளும் மழையும் சேர்ந்து இருந்தது.

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. thank you sir.
      I found this pic with sword and rain, that's why.

      Delete

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