D01121 Lesson 1 Aingurunuru- 1

    
This lesson offers an introduction to ‘Aingurunuru’, one of the most important works in Sangam literature. The lesson explores the structure of ‘Aingurunuru’ and presents brief biographies of the 5 poets who authored the verses in ‘Aingurunuru’.

Sangam literature comprises 2 major collection of works- viz ‘Pathupaatu’ or (The Ten Idylls) and ‘Ettuthogai’ or (Eight Anthologies). ‘Aingurunuru’ is one of the texts in ‘Ettuthogai’. It is a compendium of 500 small verses on ‘agaporul’- i.e., the themes of love, courtship, marriage and separation. The text is divided into 5 sections based on the 5 ‘tinais’ viz. Kurunji, Mullai, Marutham, Neithal and Paalai. These are the geographical landscapes each of which reflects a specific mindscape. The meeting, courtship, marriage and separation of the lovers are set against the backdrop of these landscapes. There are 100 songs under each ‘thinai’. The 100 songs in each ‘tinai’ are divided into 10 sets of 10 songs each. Each set of 10 songs is named either after the ‘uriporul’, ‘karuporul’, the speaker i.e., (‘Kuttru uraippor’) or the listener i.e., (‘Kuttru ketpor’). ‘Uriporul’ refers to the ‘ozhukkam’ i.e., (behaviour or emotions) attributed to a landscape. ‘Karuporul’ denotes the deity, people, flora, fauna, topography, musical instruments, and occupation pertaining to a specific landscape.

The verses in ‘Aingurunuru’ were written by 5 renowned poets. They are Orampokiyaar, Ammovanaar, Kapilar, Othalaanthaiyaar and Peyanaar. The first 100 songs in ‘Aingurunuru’ belong to the ‘Marutha tinai’. These were composed by Orampoyiyar who was patronized by the Chera king Aathan Avini. The second set of 100 songs pertaining to the ‘Neithal tinai’ was sung by Ammovanar. Kapilar is the author of the 3rd set of 100 songs that come under the Kurinji tinai. The 4th set of 100 songs belongs to the ‘Paalai tinai’ and was written by Olaanthaiyaar. Peyanaar composed the 5th and the last set of hundred songs that fall under the ‘Mullai tinai’.

The first group of 100 songs pertaining to the marutha tinai dramatizes the lovers’ quarrels against the backdrop of agricultural lands, plains and valleys. The 100 songs under Neithal tinai deal with the sorrow and grief caused by a brief separation of the lovers. The sea and the sea shore constitute the ‘mudarporul’ of this tinai. The union of lovers against the backdrop of mountainous regions is the theme of the 100 songs featured in the Kurunji tinai. The 100 songs under Palai tinai speak of the agony of long separation or the beloved anxiously waiting for her lover who has set out on a dangerous journey. Parched wastelands form the ‘mudarporul’ of this tinai. The last group of 100 songs pertaining to Mullai tinai describe the beloved patiently waiting for her lover. The ‘mudarporul’ of Mullai is forest and pasture.

The names of some of these 10 sets of songs denote the ‘karuporul’ of the tinai in which they are set. For example, one of the 10 sets of songs under Marutham called ‘Kalavan Pathu’ is named after the ‘kalavan’ or crab found in fields. Similarly, the 10 sets of songs in Neiithal called ‘Gnaazhar Pathu’ contain references to the Gnaazhar tree found in sea shores. The lesson gives the names of the 10 sets of songs in each of these 5 tinais and summarizes them very briefly.