D01122 Lesson 2 Aingurunuru-2

    
This lesson discusses the principles of ‘Agathinai’ found in ‘Aingurunuru’. It also explains ‘mupporulgal’, ‘ullurai’, ‘iraichi’, ‘enai’, ‘uvamam’ and ‘thinai mayakkam’. ‘Aingurunuru’ is an anthology of verses that celebrate and dramatize love, courtship, marriage and separation against the backdrop of the 5 ‘tinais’ or geographical landscapes.

Mudharporul signifies the landscape, the time and seasons i.e., (pozhuthu) appropriate to the landscape.

Karuporul denotes the deity, people, flora, fauna, topography, musical instruments, and occupation pertaining to a specific landscape.

Uriporul refers to the ‘ozhukkam’ i.e., (behaviour or emotions) attributed to a landscape. Kurinji concerns the union of lovers. The beloved patiently waiting for her lover is dramatized against the backdrop of mullai. The emotion associated with neithal is sorrow and grief caused by a brief separation of the lovers. Lovers’ quarrels are set against the backdrop of marutham while palai signifies the agony of long separation or the beloved anxiously waiting for her lover who has set out on a dangerous journey.

Sometimes the ‘mudarporul’, ‘karuporul’ and ‘uriporul’ pertaining to a specific landscape or ‘tinai’ may occur in a verse belonging to another ‘tinai’. This transgression is called ‘tinai mayakkam’. For eg., in verse 308, which belongs to palai tinai, there is a reference to Lord Muruga who is the deity of Kurinji tinai and hence the karuporul of that tinai.

The ‘uvamai’ i.e., (comparisons) in agathinai are classified into 2 types. They are ‘Ullurai Uvamam’ and ‘Enai Uvamam’. ‘Ullurai Uvamam’ falls in line with the tradition of agathinai. ‘Aga unarvu’ or the emotions pertaining to love cannot be spoken explicitly. Ullurai Uvamam is the poetic technique of expressing the feelings concerning love, courtship, marriage and separation through subtle and implicit comparisons. Like ‘Ulluruai Uvamam’, ‘Iraichi’ is another poetic device that is unique to agam poetry. ‘Iraichi’ is the technique of conveying one’s emotions indirectly through suggestion. ‘Enai Uvamam’ is explicit comparison or the technique of expressing one’s emotions in a way that is immediately understood by everyone.