|
|
Know the Etymology: 386
Place Name of the Day: Tuesday, 06 January 2015 Maruthang-kea'ni, Mathurang-kea'ni, Kumbukkan-oyaமருதங்கேணி,மதுரங்கேணி, கும்புக்கன் ஒய Marutaṅ-kēṇi, Maturaṅ-kēṇi, Kumbukkan-oya Marutham+kea'ni Mathuran+kea'ni Kummbukkan+oya Kumbuk+kan+oya The constructed pond identified with Terminalia arjuna trees The river identified with Terminalia arjuna trees or the forest of those trees
 Maruthu, Marutham, Kumbuk, Terminalia arjuna [Image Courtesy: INTECH, B.C. Nagaraja, C. Sunil, R.K. Somashekar]
The majestic and sprawling tree, known by the names, Maruthu, Marutham and Marutha-maram in Tamil/ Dravidian (DED 4718), is largely identified by the botanical term Terminalia arjuna. The large-girthed tree of rich foliage usually grows along the sides of water sources such as rivers, tanks and ponds. Often the presence of the tree in other localities indicates availability of potable underground water and helps water diviners in selecting spots to dig wells. It is one of the most sacred trees in South Asian cultures. Because of the conspicuous presence of the tree in the landscape of water sources, the hydraulic-based paddy field and settled tract of land was also named Marutham in the ancient Tamil literary tradition.  Folk worship under a Maruthu tree at Naakar-koayil, Jaffna
Reference to the tree Maruthu/ Marutham in Changkam literature:' “Varu punal vaiyai vaar ma'nal akan thu'rai thiru maruthu oangkiya viri malark kaa” (Akanaanoo'ru 36: 10) “வரு புனல் வையை வார் மணல் அகன் துறை திரு மருது ஓங்கிய விரி மலர்க் கா” (அகநானூறு 36: 10) The blossoming flower grove, where the auspicious Maruthu tree grows high on the sand-accumulating broad bank of the perennially flowing river Vaiyai “Vaangku chinai maruthaththu” (Natti'nai, 350: 3) “வாங்கு சினை மருதத்து” (நற்றிணை, 350: 3) Of the Marutham tree of inclining branches  The stem of two Maruthu trees at a road-side Madam in Navaali, Jaffna
The Maruthu/ Marutham tree is often called Mathuran or Mathura-maram in the Batticaloa dialect of Eezham Tamil. Such exchange of syllables is a common linguistic feature as could be seen in the other examples, Kuthirai > Kuruthai and Mathurai > Maruthai. The Eastern Province place names Mathurang-kea'ni, Mathuragn-cheanai and Mathurang-kuzhi are some examples for the usage of the form Mathura/ Mathuran. But the standard form Maruthu also prevails in Batticaloa Tamil, as in the place names Marutha-munai, Chaayntha-maruthu etc. Both the forms Marutham and Mathuran have also become Maradan, Maduran, Maduraa and Maduru in some of the Sinhala and Sinhalicised place names. Maduru in Sinhala means the coral tree (Erythrina indica) as well as mosquito. But the context of the place names such as Maradan-kadawala, Maduran-kuliya, Maduraa-wala etc., and the river name Maduru-oya show that they are related to the tree Terminalia arjuna. Kumbuk is the common Sinhala name for the Terminalia arjuna tree. The component could be found in large number of Sinhala place names, mostly associated with water sources. A Comparative Dictionary of Indo-Aryan Languages (CDIAL 2584) relates Kumbuk with Kakuha meaning Terminalia arjuna and Kakubha meaning lofty in Sanskrit, as the tree usually grows large in its girth. The Dravidian cognates Kumbra, meaning clump of trees and Guburu/ Gumuru meaning thickness as of foliage, related to Kumi in Tamil (DED 1741) also need to be considered in tracing the etymology. The root Kum is a term related to loftiness. The form Kumbukkan, as in the river name Kumbukkan-oya, could have come from two components, Kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna) and Kaan (forest, DED 1418). There is another place name Kumbukkana in Moneragala district. Another possibility is that there was Tamilisation by the addition of the expletive 'An' suffix. Kea'ni in Tamil usually means a constructed pond getting water from underground source. Such ponds are made for public and cattle use. They are provided with steps if meant only for people and are provided with ramp if meant for both people and cattle. It was also a practice in the past to erect cattle-rubbing stone posts at the entrance of the ponds that were used by cattle. Constructing such Kea'ni ponds was considered a great charity in old times. The Tamil/ Dravidian word Kea'ni (DED 1998) is related to Ki'na'ru meaning a well and to the verb root Ki'ndu, meaning to dig or to burrow in (DED 1542).  A small Kea'ni with ramped entrance, Koampaiyan crematorium, Jaffna
Kea'ni as constructed pond for the village or public to get potable water: “Oor u'n kea'ni u'n thu'raith thokka paasi attea pasalai” (Ku'runthokai, 399: 1-2) “ஊர் உண் கேணி உண் துறைத் தொக்க பாசி அற்றே பசலை” (குறுந்தொகை, 399: 1-2) The darkening of her skin (caused by the separation from her lover) was like the spread of moss on the water collecting side of the village's drinking-water pond Kea'ni as a dugout pond of underground water in contrast to Poykai as pond of surface water: “Parappu neerp poykaiyum karappu neerk kea'niyum” (Ma'nimeakalai, 19: 104) “பரப்பு நீர்ப் பொய்கையும் கரப்பு நீர்க் கேணியும்” (மணிமேகலை, 19: 104) The Poykai pond of surface water and the Kea'ni pond of hidden water  Cattle-rubbing stone at the entrance of a small Kea'ni, Anaikkoaddai, Jaffna
Maruthang-kea'ni is a place in Vadamaraadchi East division of Jaffna district. Mathurang-kea'ni is in Koara'laippattu West division of Batticaloa district Kumbukkan-oya is a river that originates in the Moneragala district of Uva Province, borders the Eastern and Southern Provinces in its course and flows into sea at Kumuna at the border of Eastern Province and Southern Province. Some related place names: Maruthu/ Marutham (Tamil): Maruthadi: Kaarainakar division, Jaffna district; Jaffna division, Jaffna district; Puthukkudiyiruppu division, Mullaiththeevu district Maruthadi Ve'li: Puthukkudiyiruppu division, Mullaiththeevu district Marutha-nakar: Karaichchi division, Ki'linochchi district; Puthukkudiyiruppu division, Mullaiththeevu district. The Nagar suffix is a recent one Maruthang-ku'lam: Thu'nukkaay division, Mullaiththeevu district; Vavuniyaa division, Vavuniyaa district I'la-maruthang-ku'lam: Maanthai East division, Mullaiththeevu district; Vavuniyaa division, Vavuniyaa district Yaa-marutha-ku'lam: Maanthai East division, Mullaiththeevu district Theaththaavadi Maruthang-ku'lam: Mannaar Town division, Mannaar district Marutha-madu: Musali division, Mannaar district; Karaithu'raippattu division, Mullaiththeevu district; Vavuniyaa division, Vavuniyaa district Channaar-ve'li Marutha-madu: Maanthai West division, Mannaar district Choo'lai-ma'n Marutha-madu: Madu division, Mannaar district Thadcha'naa Marutha-madu: Madu division, Mannaar district Thuvakkadiththaan Marutha-madu: Naanaaddaan division, Mannaar district. Thuvakku, Thuppaakki: gun (Tamil); from Tupak: gun (Turkish, MTL) Marutham-pooval: Puthukkudiyiruppu division, Mullaiththeevu district Maruthoadai: Maruthu-oadai: Vavuniyaa North division, Vavuniyaa district Marutha-munai: Kalmunai division, Ampaa'rai district Chaayntha-maruthu: Chaaynthamaruthu division, Ampaa'rai district Maradan (Sinhalicised): Maradan-maduwa: Vavuniyaa South division, Vavuniyaa district; Horowpothana division, Anuradhapura district Maradan-kadawala: Horowpothana division, Anuradhapura district; Kekirawa division, Anuradhapura district; Giribewa division, Kurunegala district Maradan-kulama: Chilaapam division, Puththa'lam district; Mihinthale division, Anuradhapura district Mathuran (Tamil): Mathuragn-cheanai: Poththuvil division, Ampaa'rai district Mathurang-kea'nik-ku'lam: The tank of the village Mathurang-kea'ni; Koara'laippattu North division, Batticaloa district Mathurang-kaddu-kudiyeattam: The settlement at the bund (tank) identified with Mathuran trees; or the settlement at the defined part found with Mathuran trees; Ea'raavoor pattu division, Batticaloa district Mathurang-ka'nduth-thu'rai: The ferry point at the enclosure of defined part found with Mathuran trees; Verukal division, Trincomalee district. Ka'ndu: as found in other place name examples, seems to be equivalent to Ka'ndi and means an enclosure or defined part Mathurang-kuzhi: Eechchilampattai division, Trincomalee district Maduran (Sinhala/ Sinhalicised): Maduran-kuliya: from Mathurang-kuzhi: Munthal division, Puththa'lam district Madurang-gala: Welikanda division, Polonnaruwa district Maduraawa: Dompe division, Gampaha district Maduraa-wala: Maduraa-wala division, Kalutara district Maduraa-goda: Welipitiya division, Matara district Maduru (Sinhala): Maduru-oya: a major river that borders Eastern Province and flows into sea near Paasik-kudaa in Batticaloa district Maduru-pitiya: Mirigama division, Gampaha district; Warakapola division, Kegalle district Maduru-vita: Minuwangoda division, Gampaha district Maduru-doova: Matara Four Gravets division, Matara district Æ-duwa Maduru-doova: Matara Four Gravets division, Matara district Maduru-kætiya: Moneragala division, Moneragala district Kumbuk (Sinhala): Kumbuk-oya: Wilgamuwa division, Matale district Kumbuk-wæwa: Sooriyawewa division, Hambantota district; Galgamuwa division, Kurunegala district; Ampanpola division, Kurunegala district; Kotavehera division, Kurunegala district; Nikaweratiya division, Kurunegala district; Maho division, Kuruneala district; Karuwalagaswewa division, Puthha'lam district; Padaviya division, Anuradhapura district; Galenbindunuwewa division, Anuradhapura district; Kekirawa division, Anuradhapura district; Palugaswewa division, Anuradhapura district; Galnewa division, Anuradhapura district Kumbuk-gaha-wæwa: Thalawa division, Anuradhapura district Mahaa-kumbuk-wæwa: Kahatagasdigiiya division, Anuradhapura district Mee-kumbuk-wæwa: Kahatagasdigiliya division, Anuradhapura district Nækathi Kumbuk-wæwa: Ampanpola division, Kurunegala district Koana-kumbuk-wæwa: Rambewa division, Anuradhapura district Kumbuka: Horana division, Kalutara district Kubuk-golla: Udadumbara division, Kandy district; Galewala division, Matale district Kumbuk-gollæwa: Medawachchiya division, Anuradhapura district; Kahatagasdigiliya division, Anuradhapura district Mahaa-kumbuk-gollæwa: Medawachchiya division, Anuradhapura district Kudaa-kumbuk-gollæwa: Medawachchiya division, Anuradhapura district Kumbuk-kandura: Kundasale division, Kandy district Kumbuk-kandan-wala: Dambulla division, Matale district Kumbukandana: Wilgamuwa division, Matale district Kumbuk-wela: Walapane division, Nuwara Eliya district Barawa-kumbuka: This may be probably related to a settlement of Paravar community in the dune sands; Ambalantota division, Hambantota district Kumbuk-kadawala: Polpithigama division, Kurunegala district Maha-kumbuk-kadawala: Mahaakumbukkadawala division, Puththa'lam district Kumbu-kulaawa: The place of the community of potters; or the tank of Kumbuk trees; Polpithigama division, Kurunegala district. Kumbukaru: potter (Sinhala); Kula; family, race, tribe, caste (Sinhala) Kumbuk-gætea: probably from Kumbuk-Kæta (Katiya); Ganewatta division, Kurunegala district Kumbuk-kotuwa: Kuliyapitiya division, Kurunegala district Kumbuk-gaha-mulla: Udabaddawadivision, Kurunegala district Kumbuk-kana: Moneragala division, Moneragala district First published: Tuesday, 06 January 2015, 15:55
|
Latest 15 Reports
21.09.24 16:12
 JVP always denied Eezham Tamils’ inalienable self-determination: Anthropology scholar
18.09.24 21:30
Sinhala leftists need careful perusal of Lenin’s definition of Right to Self-Determination |
||||||||||||
|
Reproduction of this news item is allowed when used without
any alterations to the contents and the source, TamilNet, is mentioned |
||||||||||||||
|
News | Features | Opinion | Palaka'ni | Photo Features | TN Transcription
Web feeds | Feedback | Home | About us |
URL: http://www.tamilnet.com