Know the Etymology: 439
Place Name of the Day: Tuesday, 12 January 2016

Endeara-mulla, Idaik-kaadu

என்டே₃ர-முல்ல, இடைக்காடு
Enḍēra-mulla, Iṭaikkāṭu

Endearaa+mulla
Idai+kaadu

The cattle-herders' corner

The cattle-herders' jungle

Endearaa

also Endearu: herdsman, shepherd, keeper (Sinhala, Clough); keeper of cattle, buffalos etc., “Gomahishaadeen rakinnaa” (Sinhala, Sorata); A'ndar: shepherds (Tamil, Malayalam, DED 125); cowherds, shepherds (Tamil, Aka:naanoo'ru, 59: 5; Ku'runthokai, 117: 3; 210: 1); a clan name (Tamil, Pathittuppaththu, 88: 9); A'ndar-makan: a son of the A'ndar community, the name of a Changkam poet (Tamil, Ku'runthokai, 345, Pu'ram, 346,); A'ndar-maka'lir: women of cattle herders (Tamil, Aka:naanoo'ru, 59: 5); I'ndar: shepherds (Tamil, DED 125); I'ndaik-kulam: community of cattle herders (Tamil, Periyaazhvaar, 1: 5). Probably nasalisation of Edearu for cattle herders in Dravidian, see box on Idai

Idai

the herdsman caste (Tamil, DED 450, Ku'runthokai, 221: 3-4); prefix giving identity to place names connected to cattle-herding or cattle herders' settlements (Tamil, from the names of Changkam poets, Akam 139, Pu'ram 76); Idaiyar: people of the herdsman community who inhabited the forest tract (Mullai Nilam) of the ancient Tamil country (Tamil, DED 450); Idaiyan: herdsman, male member of the cattle-herding people in the forest tract of land (Tamil, DED 450, Natti'nai, 142: 3-4); Idaichchi: female member of the cattle herding community (Tamil, DED 450, Thivaakaram 2: 133). Probably related to Aatu, Aadu, Eadu etc., for goat or sheep in Dravidian (DED 5152)

Endearaa in Sinhala means cattle herders. The term is a cognate of A'ndar and I'ndar meaning the same in ancient Tamil/ Dravidian (DED 125). The terms didn't continue in later Tamil but the cognate in Sinhala survives in usage.

The usages in old Tamil provide cues that from the origins of cattle herding A'ndar have also become connected to the formation of chiefdoms and state in the ancient Tamil country.

A'ndar, I'ndar and Endearaa are probably related to Idai/ Idaiyar, a more common term for cattle herders in Tamil/ Dravidian (DED 450). Nasalisation (addition of N or 'N) is a common feature in Dravidian. The terms may also have relations to Aadu, Eadu, Eadika etc in Dravidian, meaning goat or sheep (DED 5152). Domestication of sheep and goat preceded the domestication of other cattle.

Early usages in Tamil show that Idaiyar were largely herders of goat and sheep, while Aayar were cowherds (from Aa, Aan: cow, she-buffalo; Tamil, DED 334).

From the names of some Changkam poets we come to know place names connected to Idaiyar settlements in the ancient Tamil country, such as Idaik-kaadu, Idaik-kun'roor etc., and the level of literacy achieved by individuals coming from A'ndar/ Idaiyar people.

See column on Hetti-mulla for Mulla in Sinhala related to Moolai in Tamil (DED 5044) meaning a corner, and see columns on Hik-kaduwa and Nellik-kaadu for Kaadu in Tamil (DED 1438), having cognates Kada, Kadu and Kadi in Sinhala, meaning forest, jungle, desert etc.

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A'ndar as cattle herders:

“A'ndar pal aa payantha ney” (Ku'runthokai, 210: 1-2)

“அண்டர் பல் ஆ பயந்த நெய்” (குறுந்தொகை, 210: 1-2)

The yield of ghee from the many cows of A'ndar


“A'ndar kayi'ru ari eruthu” (Ku'runthokai, 117: 3-4)

“அண்டர் கயிறு அரி எருது” (குறுந்தொகை, 117: 3-4)

The bull that breaks off from the rope binding set by A'ndar


A'ndar as a clan:

“A'ndar makan ku'ruvazhuthiyaar” (Ku'runthokai 345)

“அண்டர் மகன் குறுவழுதியார்” (குறுந்தொகை 345)

Name of a Changkam poet: Ku'ruvazhuthi a son of the community of A'ndar (the name Ku'ru-vazhuthi suggests that coming from the A'ndar clan the person was also connected to the ruling family of the Pandyas)


“Aay A'ndiran” (Natti'nai 237: 7)

“ஆய் அண்டிரன்” (நற்றிணை 237: 7)

Aay A'ndiran, the name of a chief noted in Changkam literature, probably a chief coming from the cattle herding people


I'ndar as cattle herders:

“Asurar iraakkatharai I'ndaik kulaththai eduththuk ka'laintha Irudeekeasan” (Periyaazhvaar Thirumozhi, 1: 5)

“அசுரர் இராக்கதரை இண்டைக் குலத்தை எடுத்துக் களைந்த இருடீகேசன்” (பெரியாழ்வார் திருமொழி, 1: 5)

Krishna who took birth in the cattle herding caste and destroyed demons and monsters

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Idai as community of shepherds:

“Paalodu vanthu koozhodu peyarum aadudai idai makan” (Ku'runthokai 221: 3-4)

“பாலொடு வந்து கூழொடு பெயரும் ஆடுடை இடை மகன்” (குறுந்தொகை 221: 3-4)

The man of the Idai community having goats, who comes with milk and goes with food (barters milk for food items)


Poets and place names of Idai/ Idaiyan identity:

“Idaikkaadanaar” (Aka:naanoo'ru 139)

“இடைக்காடனார்” (அகநானூறு 139)

The name of a Changkam poet hailing from the village Idaik-kaadu (the jungle or pastureland of cattle herders)


“Idaikkun'roor kizhaar” (Pu'ra:naanoo'ru 76)

“இடைக்குன்றூர் கிழார்” (புறநானூறு 76)

Name of a Changkam poet: the landlord of the hill village of cattle herders


“Idaiyan Cheanthan Kottanaar” (Aka:naanoo'ru 375)

“இடையன் சேந்தன் கொற்றனார்” (அகநானூறு 375)

Name of a Changkam poet: Cheanthan Kottan of the Idai community


“Idaiyan Nedung Keeranaar” (Aka:naanoo'ru 166)

“இடையன் நெடுங் கீரனார்” (அகநானூறு 166)

Name of a Changkam poet: Nedung Keeran of the Idai community

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Endeara-mulla is a place in Mahara division of Gampaha district.

Idaik-kaadu is in Valikaamam East division of Jaffna district. A locality in this place, having ruins and a pond, is still visited by cattle herders for performing Pongkal ritual (cooking and offering milk rice) as fulfilment of vows, records E. Balasundaram (2002, p. 125).

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Some related place names:

Idaip-piddi: The high ground settlement or grazing field of cattle herders; or the high ground in the middle; Kaarainakar division, Jaffna district. Idai also means middle (DED 448)

Idaik-ku'richchi: The locality of cattle herders; or the locality in the middle; Vara'ni, Thenmaraadchi division, Jaffna district (One Inch Sheet)

Idaik-kaddu: The enclosure of cattle herders; or the dam in the middle; Puthukkudiyiruppu division, Mullaiththeevu district; Oddusuddaan division, Mullaiththeevu district

Idaik-Kolani (Colony): also called Eaththaalai: The settlement of cattle herders; Naavithanve'li division, Ampaa'rai district

First published: Tuesday, 12 January 2016, 21:15