LESSON - 1

D02121 Varaiviyal- I
(Nambi Agaporul - Varaiviyal, Karpiyal, Ozhibiyal)

This lesson focuses on ‘Varaiviyal’, the third chapter of the famous treatise ‘Nambi Agaporul’ written by Naarkavirasa Nambi.

“Nambi Agaporul” is an extensive treatise on the different aspects of agathinai. Agathinai is a literary convention that prescribes and codifies the emotions, conduct and behaviour pertaining to love, courtship and marriage.

‘Varaithal’ or ‘Varaivu’ refers to the ceremony of marriage through which the lovers seek to sanctify their love. Varaivu may happen either before or after the lovers are discovered. There are 2 types of ‘varaivu’- marriage sanctified by the parents and marriage without the consent of the parents.

The chapter on ‘Varaiviyal’ also contains a compilation of the codes of conduct or (ozhukkam) associated with varaivu. These are called ‘kilavi thogai’. ‘Varaiviyal’ has 2 ‘kilavi thogaigal’- i.e. ‘varaivu malithal’ and ‘arathodu nitral’. This lesson defines these 2 ‘kilavi thogaigal’ and discusses their sub divisions.

‘Varaivu malithal’ codifies the various events and deliberations that finally lead to the marriage of the thalaivan and the thalaivi. The efforts to unite the lovers in marriage are classified into 4 important events: ‘varaivu muyalvu unartthal’, ‘varaivu ethirvu unartthal’, ‘varaivu arinthu magizhthal’ and ‘paraaval kandu uvathal’. ‘Varaivu Malithal’ is further divided into 7 ‘kilavi thogaigal’ or behavioural codes.

‘Arathodu nitral’ codifies the act of ending ‘kalavu’- the clandestine meetings of the lovers. ‘Arathodu nitral’ paves way for ‘varaivu’ or the marriage ceremony. There are 2 ways of conveying the thalaivi’s clandestine meetings or (kalavu) with the thalaivan. They are ‘munnilai mozhi’ and ‘munnilai puramozhi’. ‘Munnilai mozhi’ refers to the act of openly disclosing the thalaivi’s ‘kalavu’ to everyone. Sometimes the thalaivi’s ‘kalavu’ is conveyed to others around her through suggestion. This is ‘munnilai puramozhi’. Usually it is the ‘paangi’ or (thalaivi’s friend) who conveys the thalaivi’s kalavu to others, which is called ‘paangi arathodu nitral’ and when the sevili or thalaivi’s nurse conveys the thalaivi’s kalavu to others, it is called sevili arathodu nitral. The latter, ‘sevili arathodu nitral’. ‘Arathodu nitral’ is further classified into 7 ‘kilavigal’ or behavioural codes.

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