Old Tamil Poetry

Kalingathup Parani – 39

O women who carry twin
lotus buds on the downy
stalk that rises from your navel,
open those dazzling doors!

உந்திச் சுழியின் முளைத்தெழுந்த
உரோமப் பசுந்தாள் ஒன்றில் இரண்டு
அந்திக் கமலங் கொடுவருவீர்
அம்பொற் கபாடம் திறமினோ.

Poet Jayamkondar sings to women to open their doors to hear the exploits of their hero Karunakara Thondaiman in Kalinga (modern day Odisha) war. 54 poems in Kalingathup Parani are erotica. The poems about war and its aftermath are rich in gory detail.

In this poem the poet equates women’s bosom as அந்திக் கமலம் – literally evening lotus. Lotus blooms at night. So in the evening it is a bud about to bloom. The doors are called அம்பொற் கபாடம் – that golden door. For easy readability I have translated it as  dazzling doors.