A Study of Female Psychology in Azhagar Killai Vidu Thoothu

Among the minor literary forms in Tamil, ‘Thoodhu Ilakkiyam’ (Messenger Literature) stands out as a primary medium for expressing emotions rooted in ‘Agam’ (the inner realm of love and emotion). ‘Azhagar Killai Vidu Thoodhu’, composed by Palapattadai Chokkanatha Pulavar, depicts a heroine deeply in love with Lord Azhagar of Thirumalirunjolai sending a ‘killai’ (parrot) as a messenger to convey her inner turmoil and affection to the deity. The primary objective of this study is to examine the heroine's hidden inner emotions, the anguish of separation, her internal struggles, and the dimensions of female psychology embedded within this framework. It deeply analyzes the heroine's states of lovesickness, dream-like visions, physical pallor (‘pasalai’) resulting from longing, and the psychological tendency to converse with elements of nature during her separation from her beloved. Her choice of the parrot as a messenger viewing its qualities of sweet speech, purity, and trustworthiness as reflections of her own feeling reveals her subconscious desires and personality traits. The literature highlights a natural psychological coping mechanism wherein the woman alleviates her mental stress by pouring out her pent-up helplessness and yearning to the messenger. Through the heroine's intense longing to receive the garland of Lord Azhagar, the study explores the subtle boundaries where devotion and romantic love converge.