From: selvakum@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca (C.R.Selvakumar - Electrical Engineering)
Subject: Re: Thiruppaavai Verses 18-20
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 00:44:09 GMT

In article <1993Jan3.232454.18292@news.ysu.edu> ah724@yfn.ysu.edu (Sundara Pandian) writes:
>
>In a previous article, ah724@yfn.ysu.edu (Sundara Pandian) says:
>
> [ Some parts deleted ]
>
> [ some of Sundara Pandian's words deleted]

>   Selva has answered YES to my question whether the word `machchaan'
> in folk Tamil derived from `maiththunan'. I have been thinking about
> how some words in folk Tamil came to effect. It might be a good topic 
> in the net. I think that the word `aaththaa' in folk Tamil meaning
              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> `mother'  is derived from `akaththaaL'. The word `akam' meaning `il'
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> or `house' [family life] dates back to the Sangam age and this age
> classified the Tamil literature into `akam' and `puRam'. Though the
> word `akaththaaL' is not seen in Tamil literature, its equivalent
> `illaaL' occurs in many places in the `akam' literature in Tamil.
> [ In `ThirukkuRaL', for instance.]

     The suggestion you have made seems interesting, namely
     akaththaaL > aaththaaL just like 'akaththukku > aaththukku'.
     Although your suggestion can not be discounted, I think the
     word 'aaththaaL' is a pure Tamil word for mother. This word
     gives the import of one who has great love ( since 'aaththam'
      in Tamil means 'anbu' = love Cf. kazhaga akarathi) and a 
      very respectable one ( 'aaththan' means 'namba thakunthavan,
     kadavuL'). aaththaaL, aayi are pure tamil words for mother.
     However, the word 'aaththaa' is used in the sense of great 
     respect and love as to refer to Godess. In many villages in the
     Salem, Trichy side 'aaththaa' is used by villagers to refer to
     the lady-folks of the 'rich' or 'land-owning' families of the
     'upper caste' ( I think non-brahmin types). 'aaaththavaakiyam'
     or 'aaththaavaakku' means 'aruL-vaakku' ( = divine revealations). 

     Therefore, I think the word 'aaththaaL' is not a 'corrupted'
     or 'transmuted' word but a pure word for mother. 

>
>  Selva gave an interesting interpretation for the story of blind
> men and an elephant. The original parable, `Blind men and an
> elephant' given by Buddha has a different meaning however.

      One can give MANY examples to show that 'yaanai' refers to
      'yaan yenathu enum akanthai'. The story of Siva killing
       the 'elephant' with his 'ukir' ( = nail) is nothing but
       an allegory to him as a destroyer of ego ( this scene is
       depicted in many temples even in Belur. In Tamil naadu the
       VazhuvUr temple ). In some places the elephant is referred as 
       'kayasuran' ( gaja + sUran)..The Saiva saints have sung
       many songs about this and Agamas also talk about it.
       yaan > yaanai ( = I_ness  or ego )

       Can you please post the original Buddha's meaning.

>
>  I noticed the word `thattoLi' in verse 20 and Srinivasan has
> translated it as `mirror'. I find this word `thattoLi' interesting.
> This word looks like it is from Malayalam.

    Yes, this word 'thattoLi' is a very interesting word.
>
>
>-- 
>pax vobiscum,
>sundara pandian.
>ah724@yfn.ysu.edu
>

        anbudan
        Selva