Know the Etymology: 187
Place Name of the Day: Wednesday, 09 February 2011

Maalu-vaadi,
Paravan-vaadi

மாலுவாடி, பரவன்வாடி
Māluvāṭi
Paravaṉvāṭi

Maalu+vaadi
Paravan+vaadi

The fishing camp
The camp of the Paravar (maritime) community

Vaadi	Camp such as a fishing camp, survey camp, military camp etc (Eezham Tamil); Waadiya: Rest house, any temporary building (Sinhala); Waadi-pæla: Temporary dwelling (Sinhala; Pæla: hut); Waati: Site of a house or building (Sinhala); Waata: Enclosure, any enclosed ground as a courtyard, orchard etc, wall surrounding a village or town (Sinhala); Vaa’lam: Circle (Madras Tamil Lexicon, Glossary of Historical Tamil Literature, vol 5; from Va’lai, Tamil, Dravidian Etymological Dictionary 5314); Waadi-lanawaa, Waadi-wenawaa: (verb) To take lodging, to lodge, to sit down (Sinhala); Padi: (verb) To settle, to rest, to roost, to settle down (Tamil, Dravidian Etymological Dictionary 3848); Pati: Bench (Malayalam, DED 3850); Padu: (verb) To sleep, lie down (Tamil, DED 3852); Paadu: Sleeping (Tamil, Changkam Diction, Ku’runthokai 5: 4-5); Paadi: Pastoral village, hamlet, town, city (Tamil, DED 4064); Paadi: Settlement, hamlet, village (Kannada, DED 4064); Paadi: Hut of kurubas (Kodagu, DED 4064); Paadu: Village (Telugu. DED 4064); Paadi: Army camp (Tamil, Changkam Diction, Mullaippaaddu 28); Paadik-koddil: Small hut, shed occupied by soldiers (Tamil, Perungkathai, 43: 199; 103: 109; Koddil: small hut); Paadi-kaaval, Paadi-veedu, Paadi-vaippu: Camp or check post of soldiers (Tamil); Paataka: A kind of village or part of a village (Sanskrit); Paa’laiyam: Army camp, war camp (Tamil, DED 4117); Camp, settlement, hamlet (Kannada, DED 4117); Paa’li: Military camp (Pingkalam lexicon 4: 177); Paazhi: Sleeping place, hermit’s abode, village, town, sleeping place for animals (Tamil, Glossary of Historical Tamil Literature, DED 4112); Vathi: To dwell, sojourn, sleep (Tamil, DED 5246); Vaadai: Hamlet (Tamil, Pingkalam Lexicon 4: 198, 10: 1019); Veedu: House, residence (Tamil, DED 5393). Also see column on Pa’l’lik-kudiyiruppu.
Maalu	fish (Sinhala); 1. Cognate of Mal: Fertility, richness; Malar: To abound; be plentiful, Malipu, Malivu: abundance; Malir: To flood, come frequently; Malku: Abound; Mallal: Abundance, fertility; Mallai: Fertility (Tamil, Dravidian Etymological Dictionary 4729); 2. Cognate of Mala, Mal: flower (Sinhala); cognate of Malar: Flower (Tamil, DED 4739); 3. Cognate of Maal: A kind of net (Tamil, DED 4823); A kind of net for fishing, carrying fruits etc (Malayalam, DED 4823); Maali: A coir net (Malayalam, DED 4823); Maal: Confusion (Tamil, DED 4822); Maalumi: Navigator, boatman, captain of a vessel (Tamil, Pingkalam Lexicon 5: 82 c. 10th century CE; Choodaama’ni Lexicon, c. 13th century CE); Maalimi: Navigator (Telugu)
Paravan	A male member of the maritime community of Paravar (Tamil/ Malayalam, Dravidian Etymological Dictionary 3957); Paraththi: Feminine form of Paravan (Tamil/ Malayalam, DED 3957); Paravan: Dwellers on the seacoast, a caste of fishermen (Malayalam, DED 3957); Paratar, Paratavar, Paravar: inhabitants of a maritime tract, fishing tribes, A caste of maritime people (Tamil, DED 3957); from Paravai: Expanse, breath, sea (Tamil DED 3949); Para, Paravu: (verb) To spread (Tamil, DED 3949); Paar: Expanse, earth (Tamil, DED 3949); Paravar: A maritime community that was engaged in navigation, pearl diving and conch shell diving on either side of the Gulf of Mannaar. Main distribution of the community is found today in Thooththukkudi in Tamil Nadu and Mannaar in Ilangkai; Barata: A clan, the chieftains of which are mentioned in the early Brahmi inscriptions of the island of Sri Lanka. These early inhabitants are identified with Paratar or Paravar (Sudharshan Seveviratne); Paravarayaa: Immigrant from Thooththukkudi (Sinhala)

Vaadi is a popular component in the Eezham Tamil and Sinhala place names, meaning a temporary residence of usually a group of people.

In Eezham Tamil usages Vaadi mostly means a fishing camp, a camp of labourers such as a survey camp, a military camp, a small fortification or a check post, etc.

In Sinhala, Vaadi/ Waadiya and related words have wider meanings in usage:

While Waadiya means a rest house, or any temporary building and Waadi-pæla is a temporary hut to reside, related verb phrases that are more commonly used in Sinhala, such as Waadi-wenawaa or Waadi-lanawaa mean, to sit down, to lodge and to take lodging.

Obviously Vaadi in the above shades of meaning is related to Padi (verb) and Padu (verb) in Tamil that are listed as words of Dravidian etymology (DED 3848, 3852).

Padi as verb in Tamil (Padithal, noun) means to settle, settle down, rest, roost etc., and Padu as verb means to lie down or sleep.

The derivate Paadi, in Tamil and other Dravidian languages, originally meaning a humble settlement such as a nomadic pastoral village, also meant a military camp, tent for soldiers, village, town etc in the literary and common usages. (See the table above)

A large number of place names in South India, in all the major Dravidian languages, have the component Paadi in them, used in an identical way to that of Vaadi in Eezham Tamil and Sinhala.

There are also examples in South India for the occurrence of the form Vaadi in the place names as an alternative for Paadi (P and V interchange is a common linguistic feature). The form Vaadai meaning a hamlet is found in the old Tamil lexicons themselves (Pingkala Nika’ndu 4: 198, 10: 1019).

Another etymological connection of Vaadi could be traced through the Sinhala words, Waati (site of a house or building) and Waata (enclosure, any enclosed ground as a courtyard, orchard etc, wall surrounding a village or town).

In the above shades of meanings, the words are related to Vaddam and Vaa’lam in Tamil from the root Va’lai (encircle, Tamil) listed as of Dravidian etymology (DED 5314).

The fortress meaning of Vaadi could probably be related to this etymology. Also related are the Tamil Va’lavu and Sinhala Va’lava (‘L and D/T interchange. Note the usage Chakkara-vaa’lak-koaddam in Ma’nimeakalai. Also see column on Mu’l’liya-va’lai)

Pa’l’li, Paa’laiyam (DED 4117, also see Pachchilaip-pa’l’li), Paa’li, Paazhi (DED 4112) in Tamil, Paataka in Sanskrit, Paadaa and Vaadaa in Marathi, Vathi (DED 5246) and Veedu (DED 5393) in Tamil are also related to the first set of etymology discussed above.

* * *

Maalu is a popular Sinhala word meaning fish.

There are no known Indo-Aryan etymological connections to this word.

But the word could be explained through three Dravidian etymological possibilities.

In the first possibility, Maalu is related to Maal in Tamil and Malaya’lam, which means a fishing net (Dravidian Etymological Dictionary 4823). Maali is a coir-net in Malayalam (DED 4823).

A net probably gained the name Maal because it traps and confuses (Maal: confusion; Tamil, DED 4822). In this etymological explanation, what is caught by a Maal, is Maalu

The second possibility is that the word Maalu for fish is related to Mal and Mallai standing for fertility, abundance etc, and Malir/ Malivu meaning abundance or anything that comes in abundance (Tamil, Dravidian Etymological Dictionary 4729)

Fish come in shoals.

It should be noted in this context that cultivators and fisher folk are traditionally bound by a belief to always use an auspicious word of fertility or abundance to call their produce, so that it will increase.

For instance, farmers have to strictly use only the word Poli (Tamil, to increase as verb and abundance as noun) to call paddy, while the threshing takes place in the field. All other words are prohibited in the cultivation field. They believe that use of the other words will affect the produce.

In the third possibility, the word Maalu may have connections with Mal/ Mala in Sinhala, and Malar in Tamil, meaning a flower (Dravidian Etymological Dictionary, 4739).

Like the comparison in Tamil between a fish and a star by the use of the word Meen (from min: shining), there is also a comparison between a fish and a flower as in the Bengali practice of calling fish as Ganga-pushpa (the flower of the Ganges).

Probably the Tamil word Maalumi and its Telugu cognate Maalimi, meaning a navigator, might have originally meant a fisherman boating for Maalu (fish). The word Maalumi meaning a navigator is listed in the old Tamil lexicons Pingkalam (c. 10th century CE) and Choodaama’ni (c. 13th century CE). The word is mostly of Eezham Tamil usage (Madras Tamil Lexicon).

The word Maalu is rarely used in Eezham Tamil too, especially among the coastal communities, as could be seen in the place names Maalu-vaadi in Mannaar and Maalu-santhai in Point Pedro.

The presence of Maalu in Sinhala, a basic word for the vocabulary of an island language, is very significant in showing how there was a common Dravidian substratum, but Sinhala developed from it in unique ways with word formations that are not found in other Dravidian languages.

* * *

The name of the maritime community of Paravar, Parathar or Parathavar has come from the Tamil/ Dravidian word Paravai, meaning sea. It is from the root Paa, Paar, Parappu etc, meaning, an expanse, spread etc (Dravidian Etymological Dictionary, 3949).

Note the following usages in early Tamil literature for Parappu, Paravai, Paravan, Paravar, Parathar and Parathavar:

Parappu: “தெண் நீர்ப் பரப்பின் இமிழ் திரைப் பெருங் கடல்” (புறநானூறு, 204:5)
“The’n neerp parappin imizh thiraip perung kadal” (The great sea of the expanse of water and roaring waves; Pu’ranaanoo’ru 204:5)

Paravai:"பரவை பாழி பனி நீர் அடி அளந்த மாயன் அவற்கு" (பேயாழ்வார் பாசுரம் 36)
“Paravai paazhi pani neer adi a’lantha maayan avatku” (Sea is the sleeping place for Vishnu who scaled the bottom of it; Peayaazhvaar paasuram 36)

Paravan:"பட்டன மீன் பல பரவன் வலை கொணர்ந்திட்டான்" (திருமந்திரம் 2031)
“Paddana meen pala paravan valai ko’narnthiddaan” (The Paravan brought the net and fell the many fish on it; Thirumanthiram 2031)

Paravar as chieftains or kinglets: “பரவரைப் பாழ்படுத்தி” (தமிழ்க்கல்வெட்டு)
“Paravaraip paazhpaduththi” (causing destruction to the Paravar; Tamil inscription, dated 771 CE; Epigraphia Indica XVII 16)

Parathavar as chieftains or kinglets: “தென் பரதவர் மிடல் சாய” (புறநானூறு 378:1)
“Then parathavar midal chaaya” (conquering the Parathavar of the south; Pu’ranaanoo’ru 378:1)

Parathar as elite merchants equivalent to the royalty: “அரச குமரரும் பரத குமரரும்” (சிலப்பதிகாரம் 5:159)
“Arasa kumararum paratha kumararum (The princes and the sons of Parathar merchants; Chilappathikaaram 5:159)

Parathar as merchants: “பரதர் தந்த பல்வேறு கூலம்” (மதுரைக்காஞ்சி, 317)
“Parathar thantha palvea’ru koolam” (The various cereals brought by the Parathar merchants; Mathuraikkaagnchi, 317)

Parathar as a maritime community: “வங்கம் மேவு கடல் வாழ் பரதர்” (சம்பந்தர் தேவாரம் 1: 68: 1)
“Vangkam meavu kadal vaazh parathar” (The Parathar who live in the sea traversed by ships; Champanthar Theavaaram 1: 68: 1)

Parathar as fisher folk: “பரத-மாக்கள்” (அகநானூறு 30:3)
“Paratha-maakka’l” (The Parathar folk; Akanaanoo’ru 30:3)

Parathavar as fisher folk: “நுண்வலைப் பரதவர் மடமகள்” (குறுந்தொகை 184: 6)
“Nu’nvalaip parathavar madamaka’l” (The young daughter of the Parathavar who wield the fine net; Ku’runthokai 184: 6)

* * *

While Paravar or Pa’ravar is the term commonly used in Tamil today, Paravan and Paraththi are singular masculine and feminine forms for the members of the community in Malayalam. Paravan is also the reference to the community in Malayalam usage (DED 3949).

As seen from the examples, the maritime clan of Paravar/ Parathar/ Parathavar were not only a fisher folk, but they were navigators, maritime traders, had own chieftaincies and the higher echelons of them were treated on par with royal princes.

Until the first half of 20th century, the Paravar clan in Thooththukkudi, in Tamil Nadu, retained their kinglets or chieftains having the title Paa’ndiyapathi in Tamil and the official name in Portuguese. For instance the Paravar kinglet, died in 1914 had the name Don Michael Parathavarma Paa’ndiyan. (Joe d’ Cruz, Kotkai, 2009)

Since very early times the Paravar clan was specialised in pearl diving and conch shell diving, and their distribution was on both sides of the Gulf of Mannaar, the waters of the pearl banks.

Paravar are one of the earliest recorded clans in the island of Sri Lanka. The clan name in the form of Barata/ Bata, appear in a number of early Brahmi inscriptions of Sri Lanka. They are referred to as chieftains and merchants in the inscriptions of the island. (Indrapala K., 2005; Sudharshan Seveviratne, 1985).

“Seneviratne demonstrates the links between the epigraphic evidence on the one hand and the non-Brahmi symbols associated with the Baratas and the Iron Age burial siteslocated near the provinance of the Barata inscriptions. Through this study he shows how the Early Brahmi inscriptions in fact shed a great deal of light on the commercial connection of the Baratas.” (Indrapala,K., 2005).

The interactions of the Paravas on both the sides of the Gulf of Mannaar as a closed-knit clan and their Tamil identity had its continuity throughout history. They were one of the first people in the region – both in the island and in Tamil Nadu - to accept Catholic Christianity. Today they are identified by their typical Portuguese names.

In the island of Sri Lanka the distribution of the clan is particularly found in the coastal stretch from Mannaar to Colombo. Their Sinhalicisation in the southern districts is a recent phenomenon.

Probably a related community of Paravar in the Jaffna peninsula are Parampar, the caste of which is found only at one place, Chaavat-kaddu in Aanaikkoaddai, Jaffna.

Similar to the word Paravai that gave birth to the name and identity Paravar, the word Parampu also could mean expanse, sea etc. (Parampa = parava; Glosary of Historical Tamil Literature).

Like the Paravar in the Mannaar – Colombo stretch, the Parampar of Jaffna are also people specialised in conch shell diving. Until a few decades back, they were diving and exporting conches to Bangaladesh.

* * *

Both Maalu-vaadi and Paravan-vaadi are places in the Mannaar Town division of Mannaar district


Some related place names:


Vaadi: Eezham Tamil

Vaadiyadi: The locality of the fortress; Poonakari town, Poonakari division, Ki’linochchi district. There is a little fortress at this place, which served as a check post during Dutch times. There is another Vaadiyadi at Koayil Vayal, Iyakkachchi, in the Pachchilaippa’l’li division of Ki’linochchi district, which was also a small fortress and check post during Ductch times

Choanaka-vaadi: The camp or temporary settlement of Muslims (probably a fishing camp of native Muslims or a camp of foreign Muslims; Trincomalee Town and gravets, Trincomalee district

Kosukku-vaadi: Probably the small camp, or the fishing camp to catch Kossaa fish; Mannaar Town, Mannaar district


Waadiya/ Waadi: Sinhala

Lansiya-wadiya: The fort or camp of the Dutch; Katana division, Gampaha district. Lansi, Landeasi: Dutch, Hollanders (Sinhala)

Wadiya-goda: The hillock or bank of the camp or rest house; Delthota division, Kandy district; Mawathagama division, Kurunegala district

Othara-wadiya: The post to collect taxes; Divulapitiya division, Gampaha district; Otu (plural) Otta (singular): Tax, tithe, duty, (Sinhala); Oddu: Tax payable to government as agreed before (Tamil inscriptions, 1174 CE, Kadamai I’rukkumidaththu munpu oddupadiyaal I’ruththu varuki’ra nel; SII, vi, 438, GTI); Oddu, Ottu: A wager, stake, vow, solemn promises, oath (Tamil/ Kannada, DED 959); Oppu/ Oththu: Acceptance agreement (Tamil, DED 924)

Wadiya: The camp or rest house; Beliatta division, Hambantota district

Gal-wadiya: The camp or rest house built in stone; Weeraketiya division, Hambantota district

Wadina-gala: The rocky hill having a camp or rest house; Damana division, Ampaa’rai district

Wadi-gamangawa: The camp for bullocks; Aanamaduwa division, Puththa’lam district

Kos-wadiya: The camp near a breadfruit tree; Mahawewa division, Puththa’lam district

Parangiya-wadiya: The camp or military post of the Portuguese; Horowpothana division, Anuradhapura district. Parangki: Portuguese (Tamil)

Bandara-wadiya: The camp of the prince; Madulla division, Moneragala district

Kalugaha-wadiya: The camp or rest house near the black tree; Medagama division, Moneragala district

Wadiya-thenna: The place of the camp or rest house; Mawanella division, Kegalle district

Mora-wadiya: The camp or rest house near a Mora tree; Kolonna division, Ratnapura district


Vaadi: Tamil Nadu

Mahendra-vaadi: The village or encampment of Mahendra Pallava (580- 630 CE). This is a historical place having a cave temple excavated by Mahendra Pallava; Near Arakonam, Northern Tamil Nadu

Vaadi: The village/ encampment; There are two villages one near Sivakasi and another in the Thirunelvely district in southern Tamil Nadu


Vaadaa: Andhra

Vijaya-vaadaa: The place or encampment of victory; This place located at a traditional crossing point of the Krishna River is a major city in Andhra Predesh today.


Paadi: Tamil Nadu

Katpadi: Kaaddup-paadi: The hamlet or encampment in the jungle; A major junction town in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu

Vaa’niyam-paadi: The hamlet or camp of traders; A highway town on the Chennai – Bangalore highway

Thiru-mazha-paadi: The village or encampment of the dynasty of Mazhavaraayar; Ariyalur Taluk, Ariyalur district.

Thiru-munaip-paadi: the village or encampment of the dynasty of Munaiyaraiyar.

Paadi: The Hamlet or encampment; There are several places in Tamil Nadu having this name. Examples could be seen within Chennai city limits and in Thiruvalloor district

First published: Wednesday, 09 February 2011, 20:56