----- Original Message -----
From: "kausalya_puthri" <kausalya_puthri@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tiruvenkatam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2005 2:06 AM
Subject: [t'venkatam] Tamil origin of "maattu-poNNu"
SrI:
>From the previous mail,
>>>>>>>>>>>>I even rarely, nay almost couldn't spot the word, pra-
puthri, the Sanskrit equivalent for daughter-in-law in the Valmiki
text. (If there are any, please bring it to our notice), they called
her puthri, Sita, Mythili etc.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Same with Tamil too.
One will be surprised to know that no word exists for daughter-in
law in very old dictionaries like Choodamani nigandu. In sangam
literature too (as far as I have read), the patni is referred to as
thalaivi, nayaki etc and very frequently as IllaL (the one who heads
the Ill or house) and rarely we come across a term for daughter-in-
law.
But there is a specific noun for her at the time of marriage or for
the newly married girl.
This seems to be the root for maatu-p-peN.
In very old times, the bride was known as
"maNAttu -p-peN" (This is found in sentamizh agarathi).
"maNaattu" means the one going to be married. (maN + aattu)
maN means manai, maatchi (about family life)
aattu means `aatti' which is a very ancient term for woman.
We find that even terms like peN are derivative of their meanings
(peN means one who is attractive, it is a synonym for `kaanthai'
which also means the same).
But the word `aatti' has existed as it is (idu kuri-p-peyar) from
time immemorial to denote woman in Tamil.
The woman who is going to get married was known as
`MaNaattu' (perhaps maNaatti)
and once married, she is
`manaiyaatti' which is commonly used in post sangam literature.
Manaiyaatti is the wife and maNaatti is the bride (note the
difference in na-karam and Na-garam)
While the former is about her status in manai (home), the later is
about her status at the time of marriage.
Tamil dictionaries do have this word, maNaattu-p-peN denoting bride.
Apart from the derivation mentioned above (maN + aatti), there are
two other roots for this term.
One is `maNam' or thirumaNam (marriage).
MaNaattu-p-peN is one who is going to get married or just married.
(maNam + aatti)
Another root is `maNNudal' which means (among other meanings) seidal
(makes) alamkariththal (decorates) and seppaniduthal (re-builds)
The one who does `maNNudal' is known as maNaatti or maNaattu-p-peN -
an obvious reference to the new kind of life the bride brings to the
groom's life.
This maNaattu is found to have changed to maNaatti or maNavaatti in
latter texts. Even now the term maNAvaatti is in vogue in written
Tamil. The masculine for this is maNaaLan or maNavaaLan.
This maNaattu could have changed into maattu in due course. Since
maNaattu is no longer in popular usage, we can arrive at this
inference -that maattu has replaced maNaattu.
But note that this term is applicable only at the time of marriage,
as how we use the (still-in-use) term for the groom, maNaaLAn. We
don't call one like this after marriage. The same rule applies to
maNaattu-p-peN too.
Once married she is `marumaatti' or `maru-magal'. This word,
marumaatti or maru magal is in popular usage. Here again the meaning
of these terms denote the lofty ideal of taking up the bride in to
the family fold as one with others and not as one who `brings'
something along or later.
The term maru magal (marumagan or marumaan as masculine gender) has
its root in very ancient literature.
The term `maruga' which is used in sangam literature (like in maal
maruga) is not about Murugan or any masculine gender. It is derived
from the meaning ` the one who has come in the marabu or lineage'.
Muruga as maal maruga means one who has come in the lineage of
Thirumaal.
Likewise, the marumaaL and marumaan used in our homes, derived
from `marumaatti' or `marumaan' bear the meaning that they are those
who have come in one's marabu or lineage.
This meaning is applied to the daughter-in-law too.
The `maNaattu-p-peN' who has entered matrimony is referred to
as `marumaatti' (like the Sanskrit pra-puthri), as one who is now in
our lineage or as one belonging to our lineage. This term latter
became to be known as marumagaL (and marumagan for the son-in-law) in
having absorbed them in the family / lineage.
Thus it is improper to call the daughter-in-law as maatu-p-peN, even
as derivative of maNaattu-p-peN, since the relevance is only to her
as a bride.
She is now our magal, puthri or maru magal or marumaaL belonging to
our marabu.
Even otherwise, the term `maruvudal' as another root of marumaatti,
has relevance in her
`merging with' `mixing with' and `holding to' the new home.
About mAppillai ( I have not come across this word in literary use),
it could have been maam + pillai in maNipravaaLA use, as this is in
distinct usage only in Brahmin families. Maam, the Sanskrit word
for `to me' - `puthra to me'
Or in Tamil as maa = big, senior etc.
It must also be known whether this word has any connection with
mopplah of Kerala.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Any mistake in the mails may be pointed out for correction and better
understanding.
Regards,
Jayasree saranathan.
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