Know the Etymology: 43
Place Name of the Day: Sunday, 28 May 2017

Kaṟ-pokkaṇai, Pokkaṇaik-kāṭu, Kūṭṭam-pokuṇa, Pokkuruṇi/ Poṟkēṇi

கற்பொக்கணை, பொக்கணைக்காடு, கூட்டம்பொ[க்]குண, பொக்குருணி/ பொற்கேணி
Kaṟ-pokkaṇai, Pokkaṇaik-kāṭu, Kūṭṭam-pokuṇa, Pokkuruṇi/ Poṟkēṇi

Kal+pokkaṇai
Pokkaṇai+kāṭu
Kūṭṭam+pokuṇa
Pokkuruṇi
Poṟkēṇi

The natural pond in the rock or the stone-built pond

The jungle of the natural pond or waterhole

The pair of ponds

The pond

Pokkaṇai	a small but deep natural pond, cistern or waterhole, usually found in rocks, limestone etc. Such a water source may be found with added construction (Eezham Tamil usage); hole on a ground, stone, tree etc., cleft in a rock (Tamil, DED 4452); cavern in stone, "Kal-vaḷai" (Tamil, Kathiraiverpillai); deep rice mortar, "Kuḻi-ural" (Tamil, Kathiraiverpillai); Pokkaṇai-ural: a kind of deep mortar (Tamil, Kathiraiverpillai, Eezham Tamil usage); Pokkaṇam: a deep cloth bag, cloth used as a sack (Tamil, MTL, Tēvāram, 6: 96: 4); Pokkaṇi: a deep rice mortar, "Kuḻi-ural"; a kind of drinking vessel (Tamil, Kathiraiverpillai, MTL cites Jaffna Dictionary for the latter meaning); Po: (verb) to make a hole (Tamil, DED 4452); Poy: (verb) to be hollowed (Tamil, DED 4452); Poykai: a natural spring or pond, tank (Tamil, DED 4533, Kuṟuntokai, 113: 1; Akanāṉūṟu, 96: 3, Tamil Brahmi, ETE 102); Poku: (verb) to make a hole (Tamil, DED 4452); Pokkai: little hole (Tamil, DED 4452); Pokku-vāy, Pokkai-vāy: toothless mouth (Tamil, DED 4452); Pokka: hole (Telugu, DED 4452), ditch (Kolomi, DED 4452); hole, cave (Naikri, DED 4452); Bokke: small hole made of rats etc. (Kannada, DED 4452); Pukkai: a spring-pond (Tamil, MTL, DED 4553); Bugge: spring of water (Kannada, DED 4533); Bugga: spring of water, fountain (Telugu, DED 4533); Bokka: gulf, creek (Sinhala, Clough); Boku: plural of Bokka, also as adjective means oval or hollow (Sinhala, Clough); Pōka, Phōkka, Bhōkka: hollow (Sanskrit, probable Dravidian origin noted, CDIAL 8391). Cognates are found in 16 Dravidian languages. Also see column 174 on Bokka/ Pokkai
Pokuṇa	(singular), Pokuṇu: (plural) natural or artificial cistern, pond, lake, reservoir (Sinhala, Clough); Etymology 1: see box on Pokkaṇai; Etymology 2: see box on Pokuruṇi
Pokuruṇi	pond, equated to Puṣkaraṇi (Sinhala, Sorata); Pokaraṇi: pond (usage seen in a Brahmi inscription of the island, IC, Vol I, 703); traced to Puṣkaraṇi: lotus pond, "Piyum ẹti tẹna" (Sinhala, Sorata); Puṣkara: a blue lotus flower, a lotus (Sanskrit, Atharva Vedic, CDIAL 8298a, Monier Williams; Puṣ: to flourish); Pukkhara: lotus (Prakrit, CDIAL 8298a); Pokkhara: lotus (Pali, Prakrit, CDIAL 8425); Puṣkarin: abounding in lotuses (Sanskrit, Monier Willams); Puṣkariṇī: a lotus pool, any pool or pond (Sanskrit, Rig Vedic, Monier Willams, CDIAL 8426); Pokkharaṇī: lotus pool (Pali, CDIAL 8426); Pokkaraṇi: lotus pond (Tamil, c. 10th century CE, Peruṅkatai, 53: 78-79); Puṭkaraṇi: lotus pond (Tamil, 7th century CE, Appar Tēvāram, 6: 75: 10); temple pond (Tamil, inscription, 1120 CE, SII, iv. 225); Pukkaram: pond (Tamil, 7th century CE, Campantar Tēvāram, 2: 73: 12)
Poṟkēṇi	also Pokkēṇi: further Tamilisation of Pokkaraṇi and Puṭkaraṇi conflated with Kēṇi in Tamil/ Dravidian (DED 1998) meaning a small constructed pond of underground water or a large well
Kūṭṭam	(plural), Kūṭṭama: (singular) pair, set of anything (Sinhala, Clough); "Yuvala, Jōḍuva" (Sinhala, Sorata); Kūṭṭu: (adjective) together with, joined, united (Sinhala, Clough); Kūṭṭam: union, meeting, association, group, companions (Tamil, DED 1882); Kūṭṭu: (verb) to unite, join, combine; (noun) fellowship, relationship (Tamil, DED 1882); Kūṭu: (verb) to come together, join, meet, assemble, combine, associate, cohabit (Tamil, DED 1882); cognates in 15 Dravidian languages
Kaṟ	conjunction form of Kal: stone, rock (Tamil, DED 1298). See column 46.
Kāṭu	jungle, forest, thicket, desert, wild place, field (Tamil, DED 1438). See column 75

Pokkaṇai/ Pokuṇa and Pokuruṇi/ Poṟkēṇi seem to have come from two different etymological origins, and probably there was a conflation in usage later.

Pokkaṇai meaning a small natural pond, waterhole etc. in Eezham Tamil usage is likely to have come from the word basically meaning a hole, hollow or cleft in Tamil/ Dravidian (DED 4452). Also note another usage of the word in Eezham Tamil meaning objects such as a deep wooden mortar.

In tracing the etymology of Pokkaṇai to hole, hollow or depth, the verbs in Tamil/ Dravidian are Po and Poku, meaning to make a hole and Poy, meaning to be hollowed. Sinhala having a cognate Bokka, meaning hollow, also strengthens the case of hole/ hollow-related origins of Pokkaṇai/ Pokuṇa. The Sanskrit cognates Pōka, Phōkka and Bhōkka meaning hollow are traced to probable Dravidian etymology (CDIAL 8391)

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Hole/ hollow/ depth connections of the root Po and the terms Pokku/ Poy/ Pokkaṇai:

"பொக்கு பொத்து பொய் பொதும்பு பொள்ளல் பொந்து ஆம் மரம் எனப் புகன்றனர் புலவர்" (பிங்கலம், 9: 204)

"Pokku pottu poy potumpu poḷḷal pontu ām maram eṉap pukaṉṟaṉar pulavar" (Piṅkalam, 9: 204)

Pokku, Pottu, Poy, Putumpu, Poḷḷal mean a hole (Pontu) in a tree, say the learned


"பொக்கணமும் புலித் தோலும் புயத்தில் கொண்டார்" (அப்பர் தேவாரம், 6: 96: 4)

"Pokkaṇamum pulit tōlum puyattil koṇṭār" (Appar tēvāram, 6: 96: 4)

Siva having tiger skin and a deep bag on his shoulder [Pokkaṇam: a deep shoulder bag carried by mendicants]


Poykai from the verb root Po/ Poy meaning a natural pond:

"ஊர்க்கும் அணித்தே பொய்கை" (குறுந்தொகை, 113: 1)

"Ūrkkum aṇittē poykai" (Kuṟuntokai, 113: 1)

The natural pond is close to the village

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Pokaraṇi/ Pokkaraṇi/ Pokkuruṇi/ Pokuruṇi meaning a pond, especially a lotus pond, in Prakrit and in medieval Tamil, is traced to Puṣkaraṇi in Rig Vedic Sanskrit, meaning the same. The etymology in this case is related to Puṣkara meaning lotus and Puṣkarin meaning abounding in lotuses in Indo-Aryan. The verb root Puṣ in Sanskrit means to flourish.

The form Pokaraṇi is noticed in a Brahmi inscription coming from Tissamahārāma.

Puṭkaraṇi, Pukkaram and Pokkaraṇi are the forms seen in Tamil literature and inscriptions since early medieval times and the terms were used specifically to mean a lotus pond or a temple tank.

Poṟkēṇi is a form seen in some Eezham Tamil toponyms.

Pokuṇa in Sinhala mean a natural pond as in Baṁbara-pokuṇa or an artificial one as in Kūṭṭam-pokuṇa

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Pokaraṇi seen in a Brahmi inscription of the island:

"மஹரஜ₂ஸ₂ அயக பருமக புஸ₂தெ₃வஹ பொகரணி" (Brahmi inscription, Tissamahārāma, IC, Vol I, 703)

"Maharajhaśa ayaka parumaka Puśadevaha pokaraṇi" (Brahmi inscription, Tissamahārāma, IC, Vol I, 703)

The pond of the chief Phussadeva, the revenue officer of the great king (Paranavitana, IC, p. 53)

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Puṭkaraṇi, Pokkaraṇi and Pukkaram meaning a lotus pond or temple tank in Tamil:

"பாசடைத் தாமரை ஆம்பலொடு பயின்று புள் புகன்று உறையும் ஓர் பூம் பொக்கரணி" (பெருங்கதை, 53: 78-79)

"Pācaṭait tāmarai āmpaloṭu payiṉṟu puḷ pukaṉṟu uṟaiyum ōr pūm pokkaraṇi" (Peruṅkatai, 53: 78-79)

A flower pond abounding with green-foliaged lotuses and lilies, and yearningly resided by birds


"பொற்றாமரைப் புட்கரணி" (அப்பர் தேவாரம், 6: 75: 10)

"Poṟṟāmaraip puṭkaraṇi" (Appar Tēvāram, 6: 75: 10)

The pond of golden lotuses [a reference to the Maturai temple tank]


"புட்கரணி கல் சாத்துவித்தோன்" (Tamil inscription, 1120 CE, SII, iv. 225)

"Puṭkaraṇi kal cāttuvittōṉ" (Tamil inscription, 1120 CE, SII, iv. 225)

The person who inlaid the sides of the temple tank with stones


"புக்கரஞ் சேர் புறவஞ் சீர்ச் சிலம்பனூர்" (சம்பந்தர் தேவாரம், 2: 73: 12)

"Pukkarañ cēr puṟavañ cīrc cilampaṉūr" (Campantar Tēvāram, 2: 73: 12)

The good village Cilampaṉūr having a flower grove coupled with a pond

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Kūṭṭam meaning a pair and Kūṭṭu meaning joined or united in Sinhala, correspond to the Tamil/ Dravidian verbs Kūṭu and Kūṭṭu, meaning to unite, join, combine etc. (DED 1882).

See columns 46 and 75 on Kaṟ/ Kal and Kāṭu

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Kaṟ-pokkaṇai is a locality in Kantarōṭai/ Uṭuvil in Valikamam South division of Jaffna district.

Pokkaṇaik-kāṭu is a locality in Iḷavālai, Jaffna district (info: Rajaratnam, Iḷavālai)

Kūṭṭam-pokuṇa is the name of a pair of stone-built ponds or large cisterns found in the archaeological site at Anuradhapura in Anuradhapura district.

Pokkuruṇi is a place in Thampalakamam division of Trincomalee district.

Poṟkēṇi is another way of writing the place name Pokkuruṇi in Thampalakamam division of Trincomalee district (HAM temple records). Also see the other Poṟkēṇi names under related place names.

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Some related place names:

Pokkaṇai:

Puḷiyam-pokkaṇai: Kandavalai, Kilinochchi

Ampalavan-pokkaṇai: Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu

Nākar-pokkaṇai: Mannampiṭṭi, Batticaloa

Māṉā-pokkaṇai: Mātakal, Jaffna (Arul Subramaniyam). Māṉā: a kind of grass

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Pokuṇa:

Luṇu-pokuṇa: Colombo, Colombo. Luṇu: salt, salty

Mańgul-pokuṇa: Wattala, Gampaha; Welikanda, Polonnaruwa. Mańgul: = Magul, Maṅgalaya, auspicious, sacred (Sinhala, Sorata)

Kerańga-pokuṇa: Wattala, Gampaha

Ran-pokuṇa-gama: Attanagalla, Gampaha

Pokuṇu-viṭa: Horana, Kalutara

Ahas-pokuṇa: Kundasale, Kandy. Ahas: 1. Celestial, "Āhāśaya"; 2. A mineral, "Miṇi-ran" (Sinhala, Sorata); Miniran: talc, plumbago (Sinhala, Clough)

Pokuṇa-vatta: Galle Four Gravets, Galle

Sūriya-pokuṇa: Angunakolapelessa, Hambantota

Guru-pokuṇa: Tangalle, Hambantota. Guru: red chalk

Ińdi-pokuṇa-goḍa: Tangalle, Hambantota

Kaduru-pokuṇa: Tangalle, Hambantota

Tiṁbiri-pokuṇa: Giribawa, Kurunegala

Vīra-pokuṇa: Giribawa, Kurunegala; Bingiriya, Kurunegala. Vīra: a tree

Hat-pokuṇa: Polpithigama, Kurunegala

Neḷum-pokuṇa: Madampe, Puttalam; Medirigiriya, Polonnaruwa. Neḷum: blue lotus

Candana-pokuṇa: Hinkurakgoda, Polonnaruwa. Candana: Sańdun, sandalwood (Sinhala, Sorata; Sanskrit, Pali, CDIAL 4658); Cāntu, Cāntam: sandal (Tamil, DED 2448; from the verb, Cāttu: to daub, smear, anoint)

Nāga-pokuṇa: Hingurakgoda, Polonnaruwa

Kusum-pokuṇa: Medirigiriya, Polonnaruwa. Kusuma: flower in general (Sinhala, Clough); flower (Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, CDIAL 3377)

Kuḍā-pokuṇa: Welikanda, Polonnaruwa. Kuḍā: small

Ridī-pokuṇa: Welikanda, Polonnaruwa. Ridī: silverly

Bim-pokuṇa: Dimbulagala, Polonnaruwa. Bim: ground; probably meaning subterranean in this case

Mẹdi-pokuṇa: Uva Paranagama, Badulla. Mẹdi: middle

Baṁbara-pokuṇa: Haldummulla, Badulla. Baṁbara: a large kind of honeybee, also a tree

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Pukuṇu:

Pukuṇu-vala: Dehiovita, Kegalle. Pukuṇu: seems to be a variation of Pokuṇu

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Poṟ-kēṇi:

Periya-puḷḷaicci-poṟkēṇi: Musali, Mannar. Periya-puḷḷaicci: elder daughter, see Ciṉṉa-puḷḷaicci-poṟkēṇi an adjacent place. Puḷḷai: < Piḷḷai (Tamil, DED 4198); Icci: feminine affix

Ciṉṉap-puḷḷaicci-poṟkēṇi: Musali, Mannar. Ciṉṉa-puḷḷaicci: younger daughter, see Periya-puḷḷaicci-poṟkēṇi, an adjacent place

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Pokkēṇi:

Kal-pokkēṇi: Manmunai West, Batticaloa

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Kūṭṭu:

Kūṭṭaik-kēṇi: Kokkuttoṭuvāy North, Karaithuraippattu, Mullaiththeevu (Kokkilai OIS). Kūṭṭai: joint, twin

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Revised: Sunday, 28 May 2017, 18:30

First published: Sunday, 29 July 2007, 01:00