Know the Etymology: 497
Place Name of the Day: Saturday, 03 September 2016

Maha-oya-vasama

மஹ ஒய-வஸம
Maha-oya-vasama

Maha+oya+vasama

The administrative division coming under the jurisdiction of Mahaoya

Vasama

(singular), Vasam: (plural), service, profession, employment, office, rank, condition, power, possession, district (Sinhala, Clough); Vaṣa: (noun) authority, mastership, subjection, submission, (adjective) humble, subdued, tamed (Sinhala, Clough); Vacam: possession, charge, custody, care, power, control, subordination, subjection, dependence, order, regularity (Tamil, MTL): Vaśya: to be subjected, obedient, at the disposal of (Sanskrit, CDIAL 11433); Vasa: will, authority, power (Sanskrit, CDIAL 11430)

Mahaoya

a place that got its name from a big stream flowing through it; Maha+Oya: the big stream; see earlier columns for etymology

In the context of toponymy, Vasama in Sinhala means a small district or division, especially when that territory is recognised as under the jurisdiction of a central place in that territory.

The toponymic usage of Vasama is mostly found in the Moneragala district and parts of Badulla, Hampantota and Ampara districts.

Vasama is comparable to other administrative toponyms in Tamil and Sinhala, such as Paṟṟu, Pattu, Iṟai, Āṭci, Ācci, Raṭṭa, Korala, Paḷāta etc.

The administrative division meaning of Vasama comes from Vaṣa in Sinhala meaning authority or subjection. Tamil has a cognate Vacam meaning the same. Etymology could be traced to Vasa in Sanskrit meaning authority or power and to Vaśya in Sanskrit meaning to achieve subjection or obedience (CDIAL 11430, 11433).

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The area noted as Maha-oya-vasama in survey maps, now comes under Mahaoya division in Ampara district.

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Some related place names:

Bubbāra-vasama: Medagama, Moneragala. Bubbara: boiled rice, "Bat" (spoken Sinhala, Bibile dialect, Sorata); a small bird (spoken Sinhala, Sorata); Buvva: boiled rice in children's language (Kannada, DED 4311); rice, food (Telugu, DED 4311); see column on Batgam-pattuva

Hōlikē-vasama: Padiyathalawa, Ampara. Hōlu: also Ōlu: a yam found in freshwater marsh and watery places; Kē: = Ket: paddy field (Sinhala, Sorata)

Telulla-vasama: Moneragala district

Mẹdagama-vasama: Moneragala district

Kirinda-vasama: Hambantota district

Rana-keliya-vasama: Hambantota district

Wīravila-vasama: Hambantota district

Mattala-vasama: Hambantota district

Karatagama-vasama: Moneragala district

Sittarama-vasama: Moneragala district

Vattēgama-vasama: Moneragala district

Varāgama-vasama: Moneragala district

Siyambalanduva-vasama: Moneragala district

Baravāya-vasama: Moneragala district

Kumana-vasama: Ampara district

Pānama-vasama: Ampara district

Tōṭṭama-vasama: Ampara district

Bakmiṭiyāva-vasama: Ampara district

Kōmāri-vasama: Ampara district

Arāva-vasama: Badulla district

Ẹkiriya-vasama: Badulla district

Vẹdivela-vasama: Badulla district

Kehel-attawela-vasama: Moneragala district

Yal-kuṁbura-vasama: Moneragala district

Nilgala-vasama: Moneragala district

First published: Saturday, 03 September 2016, 16:39