99 Tamil Flowers – Kurunjipaatu – Introdution/Index
Before starting the blog I have to confess that the amount of hours I have spent to create this whole series is close to if not more time I have devoted for my course projects in my Masters. Around 75- 80 hours of work has been put into this blog to make it as accurate as possible. This is one of a kind material available in the web.
First I would like you to watch this video. This is Surya from Poovellam Kettuppar.
He mentions name of 100 flowers and nearly most of the flowers he has mentioned is taken from a poem from Sangam Literature.
Kapilar , one of the greatest poets in Sangam era had mentioned 99 flowers found in the Kurunji region(Mountainous region).Below are the lines from Kurunji paatu
வள் இதழ்
ஒண் செங் காந்தள், ஆம்பல், அனிச்சம்,
தண் கயக் குவளை, குறிஞ்சி, வெட்சி,
செங் கொடுவேரி, தேமா, மணிச்சிகை,
உரிது நாறு அவிழ் தொத்து உந்தூழ், கூவிளம், 65
எரி புரை எறுழம், சுள்ளி, கூவிரம்,
வடவனம், வாகை, வான் பூங் குடசம்,
எருவை, செருவிளை, மணிப் பூங் கருவிளை,
பயினி, வானி, பல் இணர்க் குரவம்,
பசும்பிடி, வகுளம், பல் இணர்க் காயா, 70
விரி மலர் ஆவிரை, வேரல், சூரல்,
குரீஇப் பூளை, குறுநறுங் கண்ணி,
குருகிலை, மருதம், விரி பூங் கோங்கம்,
போங்கம், திலகம், தேங் கமழ் பாதிரி,
செருந்தி, அதிரல், பெருந் தண் சண்பகம், 75
கரந்தை, குளவி, கடி கமழ் கலி மா,
தில்லை, பாலை, கல் இவர் முல்லை,
குல்லை, பிடவம், சிறுமாரோடம்,
வாழை, வள்ளி, நீள் நறு நெய்தல்,
தாழை, தளவம், முள் தாள் தாமரை, 80
ஞாழல், மௌவல், நறுந் தண் கொகுடி,
சேடல், செம்மல், சிறுசெங்குரலி,
கோடல், கைதை, கொங்கு முதிர் நறு வழை,
காஞ்சி, மணிக் குலைக் கள் கமழ் நெய்தல்,
பாங்கர், மராஅம், பல் பூந் தணக்கம், 85
ஈங்கை, இலவம், தூங்கு இணர்க் கொன்றை,
அடும்பு, அமர் ஆத்தி, நெடுங் கொடி அவரை,
பகன்றை, பலாசம், பல் பூம் பிண்டி,
வஞ்சி, பித்திகம், சிந்துவாரம்,
தும்பை, துழாஅய், சுடர்ப் பூந் தோன்றி, 90
நந்தி, நறவம், நறும் புன்னாகம்,
பாரம், பீரம், பைங் குருக்கத்தி,
ஆரம், காழ்வை, கடி இரும் புன்னை,
நரந்தம், நாகம், நள்ளிருள் நாறி,
மா இருங் குருந்தும், வேங்கையும், பிறவும், 95
அரக்கு விரித்தன்ன பரு ஏர்அம் புழகுடன்,
When I was reading Kurunjipaatu, I wondered how all these 99 flowers would look like. Then I decided I would try to make a blog on these 99 flowers like I have done before for few other flowers in my wordlist series. But this one was more arduous work than I thought.
Methodology:
I have used Nachinarkuiniyar commentary to identify flower names which is not in usage now. I have used Tamil Lexicon to find the scientific names/Latin names. Using google images I have found images for the flowers. Since Google images is not a very accurate source, I have gone through various other websites to confirm the common name and the scientific/latin name. The list here is mostly accurate and I have mentioned comments in the places I have varied from Lexicon or Nachinarkiniyar commentary. Some flowers mentioned here are categories (it could mean lot of flowers) rather than a flower itself. I have created disambiguation page for these flowers. Finally for serious readers I have provided a further study page which have link to more details on each flower. I have tried to provide common name, scientific name and alternate Tamil name for each entry. If any reader finds any discrepancies please inform me so that I can update it.
Lot of efforts is put into this blog so please leave your comments on this blog.
31. குறுநறுங்கண்ணி kuṟu-naṟu-ṅ-kaṇṇi
47. கஞ்சங்குல்லை kañcaṅ-kullai (page 643)
49. செங்கருங்காலி ceṅ-karuṅkāli
61. சிறுசெங்குரலி ciṟu-ceṅ-kurali
————————————————————————————————
Please post your comments.
Follow me in twitter http://twitter.com/vairam
Link to my orkut community http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=49797549
The philosophy of love marriage – Kurunthokai 115
Kurunthokai 115
When a person does a great good,
would there be any one who wouldn’t praise it?
Though she has little goodness ,
let your desire for her attain greatness,
put an end to your love quarrel
and protect her esteem.
You are the resident of the mountain,
where wild cows with its slow steps
eat leaves from other trees
and sleep in the slopes of the mountain
under the cool excellent shade
spread out by the swaying mature bamboos.
She doesn’t have anyone other than you!
What her friend said to the Hero after urging him to elope with her in time.
Poet: Kapilar
Translated by me.
Situation:
Thalivan and Thalaivi have met , fallen in love and had natural sexual union . The people from girls side doubt girls action, so they keep her guarded. Thalaivan and Thalaivi can no more bare the feeling of being separated , hence the Panki(Thalaivi’s friend ) arranges their elopement and utters the following advice to the Thalaivan before he leaves with the Thalaivi.
Meaning :
The outer layer:
Panki tells Thalaivan that the girl is young and has only few good habits with her, so it was the duty of him to take care of her by always loving her and stop having any fights and sulking with her. She reminds him that Thalaivi now has no one to support her except Thalaivan as she is running away from her family and she no more has a family of her own.
Imagery:
Thalaivan come from a hill country where
மரையா marai-y-ā
, n. < id. +. Wild cow. See கவயம்¹. மரையா மரல்கவர (கலித். 6).
கவயம்¹ kavayam
, n. < gavaya. Bison, wild cow, Bos gaurus; காட்டுப்பசு. (திவா.)
கவர்பு kavarpu
, n. < கவர்²-. Differing; வேறு படுகை. கவர்பு முண்டோ கற்றோய் (ஞானா. 66, 13).
Whereas Shanmugam Pillay and David Ludden take the following meaning,
கவர்¹-தல் kavar-, 4 v. tr. [K. M. kavar.] 1. To seize, grasp, catch, capture, take by force, steal; அகப்படுத்துதல். மூங்கிற் கவர்கிளை போல (பதிற்றுப். 84, 12). 2. To rob, plunder, pillage; கொள்ளையிடுதல். வீடறக் கவர்ந்த வினைமொ ழிந்தன்று (பு. வெ. 3, 15, கொளு). 3. To get control of, charm, captivate; வசப்படுத்துதல். உள்ளங்கவர் கள்வன் (தேவா. 61, 1). 4. To desire; விரும்புதல். (திவா.) 5. To receive; பெற்றுக் கொள்ளுதல். வறியோர்கவர . . . எறிந்து (தஞ்சைவா. 26). 6. To experience, enjoy; நுகர்தல். கனி யிருப்பக் காய்கவர்ந் தற்று (குறள், 100). 7. To have sexual connection with; முயங்குதல். கவர் கணைச் சாமனார் தம்முன் (கலித். 94, 33). 8. To churn, reduce by trituration or attrition; கடை தல். (திவா.) 9. To call, summon; அழைத்தல். கானக்கோழிக் கவர்குரற் சேவல் (மலைபடு. 510).
So if we go by Shanmugam Pillay and David Ludden would the meaning of the poem change? actually not!
The meaning now would be the wild cows stole the leaves from bamboo and settled below the bamboo tree in its shadow.
Now refer to meaning 6,7 of the word கவர்¹-தல். The word means steal and also means enjoy experience – to have sexual connection. Now this way it means Thalaivan has had sexual union with Thalaivi and hence he should always be under her shade and not stray away as she gets old.
Either way the philosophy of love marriage is :
Beauty and sexual pleasure which satisfies your physical needs only last for while but for the rest of your life you have be grateful to your wife and keep her happy by showing her unconditional love for what she has given you.
Hence you can infer all love starts with attraction and physical beauty, but it should move past the lust and remain life long as pure affection!
ஒரு பெரிய நன்மையை செய்தல் , பாராட்டாதவர்கள் யாரும் உண்டோ ?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Reference:
Sips from Sangam Cup by A.V.Subramanian
Kurunthokai – translation by Shanmugam Pillay and David Ludden
Kurunthokai urai by U.V.Swaminathan Iyer
Tamil Lexicon
Kalithokai – Translation – Dr.V.Murugan
401 Kathal Kavithaikal by Sujatha
——————————————————————————————————
Please post your comments.
Follow me in twitter http://twitter.com/vairam
Follow blog in Face book http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=83270822979&ref=mf
Orkut community http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=49797549
Tamil Proverbs – Part 15
This the 15 part of the Tamil proverb series.
—
1.எட்டினால் குடுமியைப் பிடிக்கிறது , எட்டாவிட்டால் காலைப் பிடிகிறது.
2.கொல்லைக்குப் பல்லி , குடிக்குச் சகுனி
kollaikku palli, kudikku saguni
He acts as a Palli plant to the garden, and as Saguni to the family.
Explanation:
கொல்லைப்பல்லி kollai-p-palli
, n. < id. +. A parasitic plant, Buchnera asiatica; பூடுவகை. (W.)
Buchnera asiatica (Striga asiatica) is a serious agricultural pest as it parasitises important crop species including corn, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane, often causing substantial yield reductions.
And its well know story of Sakuni’s act to destory the race of the Pandavas and Kauvravas.
Said to people who will do bad deeds to the place where they are.
Striga asiatica - Kalli
http://www.magalieskruin.com/images/2006_0501rietvlei0043.jpg
3.முளையில் கிள்ளாதது முற்றினால், கோடாலிகொண்டு வெட்ட வேண்டும் .
mulayil killathathu muttrinal, kodali kondu vetta vendum.
What is not plucked at the bud is left to mature, it will have be cut using an axe.
Explanation:
Bad habits should be stopped at the start, else it will be really difficult to stop it.
Neglected evil is hard to destroy.
4.தாழ்ந்து நின்றால் , வாழ்ந்து நிற்பாய்.
Thaalnthu ninral , vaalnthu nirpaai.
If you are ready to bow , you will grow high in life.
Explanation:
If you are humble , you will be successful in your life.
” Better bend the neck than bruise the forehead.”
5.பேச்சுப் பேச்சு என்னும் ; பெரும் பூனை வந்தால் கீச்சுக் கேச் சென்னும் கிளி .
pechu pechu ennum; perum poonai vanthal keechu keechu ennum kili.
The parrot will immitate your voice , but when the big cat comes its voice will start to screech.
Explanation:
Said of people who boast a lot when their superiors aren’t around.
6.ஓடுகிற கழுதை வாலைப் பிடித்தால் , உடனே கொடுக்கும் பலன் (உதய்).
oodugira kaluthai vaalai pidithaal, udane kodukkum palan (uthai).
If you catch the tail of a running donkey you will get immediate result(you will be kicked)
Explanation:
Avoid getting into companion ship with bad people. You will get into deep trouble with such relationship.
” Beware of the hind part of a mule, and all sides of a priest.”
7.பூவுடன் கூடின நாரும் மனம் பெற்றற்போல் .
poovudan koodina naarum manam petrathu pol.
Like the fiber which holds the flower, gets the fragrance of the flower.
Explanation:
If you live with good surrounding then you would also tend to be good. So its better to live with good people.
8.தேன் ஒழுக பேசி , தெருவழியே விடுகிறது .
Then oluga pesi, theruvaliye vidugirathu.
He would speak honey coated words and then lead you to the streets.
Explanation:
Said of people who speak sweet words but never actually help you in any way. The deeds are just in words not in action.
“Sugared words generally prove bitter.”
9.இன்பமும் துன்பமும் எடுத்த உடலுக்கு இயல்பு .
Inbamum thunbamum edutha udalukku iyalbu.
It is natural for this body to experience happiness and sadness.
Explanation:
The life is filled with experience and some are happy ones and some are sad ones. You can lead a steady life if you understand both happiness and sadness are part of life.
10.குலத்துக்கு ஈனம் கோடாலிக்காம்பு.
kulathukkum eenam kodalikkaambu.
The handle of the axe degrades its race.
Explanation:
The axe handle which is made of wood aids in humans felling the tree . This proverb is said to people who act as a degradation to their own family.
————————————————————————————–
Reference : A classified collection of Tamil Proverbs by Rev. Herman Jensen
————————————————————————————————–
Related post:
Tamil Proverbs:
- Ancient Wisdom – Tamil Proverbs
- Tamil Proverbs – Part 2
- Tamil Proverbs – part 3
- Tamil Proverbs – Part 4
- Tamil Proverbs – Part 5
- Tamil proverbs – part 6
- Tamil Proverbs – Part 7
- Tamil Proverbs – Part8
- Tamil proverbs – Part 9
- Tamil Proverbs – Part 10
- Tamil Proverbs – Part 11
- Tamil Proverbs – Part 12
- Tamil Proverbs – Part 13
- Tamil Proverbs – Part 14
————————————————————————————————
————————————————————————————————
My title
38 comments