Guest guest Report post Posted May 24, 2004 Dear friends, A good friend and member of this group has written to me asking me about the etymology of the Sanskrit word "gOpuram" -- temple-tower. It's a very intriguing question indeed. Honestly, I do not know the exact linguistic origin of the word. I am only speculating wildly when I say that "gOpuram" comes from "gO puram" where "gO" probably refers to cows or cow-shed, "gO shAla", and "puram" means "city", "neighbourhood" or "residence". In ancient days, temples in India did have separate quarters inside the temple precincts to house many cow-sheds. Often these cowsheds were built abutting the temple tower (as can be seen even now in the Kanchi Varadaraja temple), giving hence the temple-tower its unique name of "gO puram" -- the "residence of cows". My other guess is that the "gO" in the word might refer to God's "tirUnAma" of "gOvinda" or "gOpAla". Since the temple is a residence ('puram') of Govinda or Gopala, its great tower was probably given the distinctive name of "gO puram". I'm however a little uneasy with this explanation, because when I look at a Shiva or Shakthi temple in India I find the tower there too being called "gOpuram" and I know that the word "gO" is not used to designate or otherwise associated with the deities, Shiva or Amba. Between the two theories above, I personally prefer the 'cows' & 'cowsheds' one. Cows or "gO" are said to be utterly and completely 'sAttvic' creatures and are the natural favourites of the Almighty. That is why Vedic adepts have said that if one has a problem finding a suitable place to perform a Vedic "yagnya" (rite of sacrifice) like "agni-hOtra" or daily "owpAsana", one need look no further than the nearest 'gO shAla'. It is easily the second-best place for 'yagnyA-karma' next to a properly sanctified 'yagnya-shAla'. I have another observation to make here. The very soil inside a temple is said to be supremely sacrosanct. We should ask ourselves why it is so. If there are indeed any "gO shAla-s" within a temple and the herds are often led about, here and there, within the precincts, then the soil they trample upon is said to become "gO dhULi" -- the dust thrown up by cow-hoofs. This fine dust blown off the hoofs of cows is held to be sacred since in the 'Krisha-avatAr', the Lord as a simple cow-herd at Brindavan lovingly tended these blessed creatures and, in the process, was perennially being peppered by the dust and grime they kicked up as they went around grazing. Krishna of Brindavan must have been a real sight indeed covered as He was, all the time, in hoof-dust! This is the reason why it is said that of all the names or "tirUnAma" given to Krishna, the one he cherished most as being the aptest one for him was -- "gOvindan". Now, whenever a pilgrim in India enters into the portals or the "gOpuram" of any temple, he is expected to mentally re-live the scenes of the "krishnAvatAra" and imagine too, as well, the "gO dhULi" spread fine all across the cowherd, Krishna's person. The soil upon the temple-grounds is to be regarded as the same dust that came off the hoofs of those blessed cows at Brindavan. Why? Because those cows of Krishna's times are to be reverentially regarded as the ancestors of the cows now being witnessed by the pilgrim in the 'go shAla' of the temple. Thus, the long and short of it all is this: The tower that guards the sacred, "sAttvic" soil of "gO dhULi" strewn and spread all across the temple grounds -- such a tower, quite appropriately, gets the name "gO puram". ************** These are just a few of my unschooled thoughts. Sanskrit is such a bewitchingly beautiful language it is always a delight to theorize with licence upon its ancient linguistic roots. I now request real scholars of Sanskrit on this list to please throw more linguistic light on the etymology of the word "gOpuram". Thanks and regards, dAsan, Sudarshan ______________________ India Matrimony: Find your partner online. http://.shaadi.com/india-matrimony/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted May 25, 2004 Â Pranams to all bhaagavathaas, Recently I heard the opportunity to listen a speech of a great scholar, who said that KO in Tamil means King and puram means the city, which means Gopuram means the city of the King. Our king is Lord Narayana or Shiva . So also KoVil in tamil means the Ill ( Illam) of the KO, also known as KOVIL. KO+ Ill is KOIL or KOVIL. I have just given another interpretation. That is all. Daasan, Prof.Dr.R.Rajagopalan. On Mon, 24 May 2004 sudarshan madabushi wrote : >Dear friends, > >A good friend and member of this group has written to >me asking me about the etymology of the Sanskrit word >"gOpuram" -- temple-tower. It's a very intriguing >question indeed. > >Honestly, I do not know the exact linguistic origin of >the word. I am only speculating wildly when I say that >"gOpuram" comes from "gO puram" where "gO" probably >refers to cows or cow-shed, "gO shAla", and "puram" >means "city", "neighbourhood" or "residence". In >ancient days, temples in India did have separate >quarters inside the temple precincts to house many >cow-sheds. Often these cowsheds were built abutting >the temple tower (as can be seen even now in the >Kanchi Varadaraja temple), giving hence the >temple-tower its unique name of "gO puram" -- the >"residence of cows". > >My other guess is that the "gO" in the word might >refer to God's "tirUnAma" of "gOvinda" or "gOpAla". >Since the temple is a residence ('puram') of Govinda >or Gopala, its great tower was probably given the >distinctive name of "gO puram". I'm however a little >uneasy with this explanation, because when I look at a >Shiva or Shakthi temple in India I find the tower >there too being called "gOpuram" and I know that the >word "gO" is not used to designate or otherwise >associated with the deities, Shiva or Amba. > >Between the two theories above, I personally prefer >the 'cows' & 'cowsheds' one. Cows or "gO" are said to >be utterly and completely 'sAttvic' creatures and are >the natural favourites of the Almighty. That is why >Vedic adepts have said that if one has a problem >finding a suitable place to perform a Vedic "yagnya" >(rite of sacrifice) like "agni-hOtra" or daily >"owpAsana", one need look no further than the nearest >'gO shAla'. It is easily the second-best place for >'yagnyA-karma' next to a properly sanctified >'yagnya-shAla'. > >I have another observation to make here. > >The very soil inside a temple is said to be supremely >sacrosanct. We should ask ourselves why it is so. If >there are indeed any "gO shAla-s" within a temple and >the herds are often led about, here and there, within >the precincts, then the soil they trample upon is said >to become "gO dhULi" -- the dust thrown up by >cow-hoofs. This fine dust blown off the hoofs of cows >is held to be sacred since in the 'Krisha-avatAr', the >Lord as a simple cow-herd at Brindavan lovingly tended >these blessed creatures and, in the process, was >perennially being peppered by the dust and grime they >kicked up as they went around grazing. Krishna of >Brindavan must have been a real sight indeed covered >as He was, all the time, in hoof-dust! This is the >reason why it is said that of all the names or >"tirUnAma" given to Krishna, the one he cherished most >as being the aptest one for him was -- "gOvindan". > >Now, whenever a pilgrim in India enters into the >portals or the "gOpuram" of any temple, he is expected >to mentally re-live the scenes of the "krishnAvatAra" >and imagine too, as well, the "gO dhULi" spread fine >all across the cowherd, Krishna's person. The soil >upon the temple-grounds is to be regarded as the same >dust that came off the hoofs of those blessed cows at >Brindavan. Why? Because those cows of Krishna's times >are to be reverentially regarded as the ancestors of >the cows now being witnessed by the pilgrim in the 'go >shAla' of the temple. > >Thus, the long and short of it all is this: > >The tower that guards the sacred, "sAttvic" soil of >"gO dhULi" strewn and spread all across the temple >grounds -- such a tower, quite appropriately, gets the >name "gO puram". > > ************** > >These are just a few of my unschooled thoughts. >Sanskrit is such a bewitchingly beautiful language it >is always a delight to theorize with licence upon its >ancient linguistic roots. > >I now request real scholars of Sanskrit on this list >to please throw more linguistic light on the etymology >of the word "gOpuram". > >Thanks and regards, > >dAsan, >Sudarshan > > > >______________________ > India Matrimony: Find your partner online. http://.shaadi.com/india-matrimony/ > > > > > > Links > > > > > Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted May 25, 2004 Dear Sri Rajagopalan, Thank you. This is what even the friend from Harvard University, Sri Naresh has also pointed out. If "gOpuram" is indeed of Tamil origin, I wonder what the Sanskrit word for temple tower is? Perhaps it is "vimAna"? Can anyone throw some light? Rgds, Sudarshan > "Ramasamy Rajagopalan" > <rrajagopalan36 > "sudarshan madabushi" > <mksudarshan2002 > CC: , > oppiliappan, > tiruvenkatam > Re: The word "gOpuram" > > Â Pranams to all bhaagavathaas, > > Recently I heard the opportunity to listen a > speech of a great scholar, who said that KO in Tamil > means King and puram means the city, which means > Gopuram means the city of the King. Our king is > Lord Narayana or Shiva . So also KoVil in tamil > means the Ill ( Illam) > of the KO, also known as KOVIL. KO+ Ill is KOIL or > KOVIL. > I have just given another interpretation. That is > all. > > Daasan, > Prof.Dr.R.Rajagopalan. ______________________ India Matrimony: Find your partner online. http://.shaadi.com/india-matrimony/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted May 25, 2004 , "Ramasamy Rajagopalan" <rrajagopalan36@r...> wrote: KO in Tamil means King and puram means the city, which means Gopuram means the city of the King. Our king is Lord Narayana or Shiva . So also KoVil in tamil means the Ill ( Illam) > of the KO, also known as KOVIL. KO+ Ill is KOIL or KOVIL. > I have just given another interpretation. That is all. > > Daasan, > Prof.Dr.R.Rajagopalan. *********** Sir, Can you also please shed some light on whether "puram" (city) is a Tamil or Sanskrit word? "kO" may well be of Tamil origin but I think "pur", "pura" and "puri" are all rooted in Sanskrit. (Hastina- pur, NichulApuri, Nava-dvAra-pura, for example). If 'kO' is Tamil and 'puram' Sanskrit in origin, then "gOpuram" must be a happy blend of the two. Never did I imagine that I was using 'manipravAlam' everytime I looked up at a temple-tower and said: "gOpuram"! Thanks, Rgds, dAsan, Sudarshan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted May 26, 2004 Dear Bhagavatas: The word "Go" in Sanskrit has several meanings. This has been explained in one of my postings some tears ago. I will find out when and where this posting appears. By resorting to anyone of these meanings, we can fit in the meaning of the word "Gopuram" in several ways. The explanation given by Sri Shankar seems to have some basis. I have read somehwere that as per Agama Saastras, the construction of temple is like the human anatomy. The "Garbha graham" representing the "womb" enclosing the vital Sakti of the deity, the "Gopuram" being the crown etc. Would any Bhagavta well versed in Agama Sastra throw some light on this? As for the "manipravaaLam", there are very many words in Tamil that are derived from or bear relationship to words in Sanskrit. For example, the common word "VeshTi" to denote "dhoti" is a Sanskrit word! Dasoham Anbil Ramaswamy ========================================================================= I think there can an explanation like this: “go” should be taken as ray of light. And a temple is in the shape of a man sitting, with gopuram placed at his crown… so gopuram should be the center of his knowledge… and that etymology should come in those lines. God’s idol is symbolically placed at the heart of the sitting man (temple). > Dear friends, > > A good friend and member of this group has written > to > me asking me about the etymology of the Sanskrit > word > "gOpuram" -- temple-tower. It's a very intriguing > question indeed. > > Honestly, I do not know the exact linguistic origin > of > the word. I am only speculating wildly when I say > that > "gOpuram" comes from "gO puram" where "gO" probably > refers to cows or cow-shed, "gO shAla", and "puram" > means "city", "neighbourhood" or "residence". In > ancient days, temples in India did have separate > quarters inside the temple precincts to house many > cow-sheds. Often these cowsheds were built abutting > the temple tower (as can be seen even now in the > Kanchi Varadaraja temple), giving hence the > temple-tower its unique name of "gO puram" -- the > "residence of cows". > > My other guess is that the "gO" in the word might > refer to God's "tirUnAma" of "gOvinda" or "gOpAla". > Since the temple is a residence ('puram') of Govinda > or Gopala, its great tower was probably given the > distinctive name of "gO puram". I'm however a little > uneasy with this explanation, because when I look at > a > Shiva or Shakthi temple in India I find the tower > there too being called "gOpuram" and I know that the > word "gO" is not used to designate or otherwise > associated with the deities, Shiva or Amba. > > Between the two theories above, I personally prefer > the 'cows' & 'cowsheds' one. Cows or "gO" are said > to > be utterly and completely 'sAttvic' creatures and > are > the natural favourites of the Almighty. That is why > Vedic adepts have said that if one has a problem > finding a suitable place to perform a Vedic "yagnya" > (rite of sacrifice) like "agni-hOtra" or daily > "owpAsana", one need look no further than the > nearest > 'gO shAla'. It is easily the second-best place for > 'yagnyA-karma' next to a properly sanctified > 'yagnya-shAla'. > > I have another observation to make here. > > The very soil inside a temple is said to be > supremely > sacrosanct. We should ask ourselves why it is so. If > there are indeed any "gO shAla-s" within a temple > and > the herds are often led about, here and there, > within > the precincts, then the soil they trample upon is > said > to become "gO dhULi" -- the dust thrown up by > cow-hoofs. This fine dust blown off the hoofs of > cows > is held to be sacred since in the 'Krisha-avatAr', > the > Lord as a simple cow-herd at Brindavan lovingly > tended > these blessed creatures and, in the process, was > perennially being peppered by the dust and grime > they > kicked up as they went around grazing. Krishna of > Brindavan must have been a real sight indeed covered > as He was, all the time, in hoof-dust! This is the > reason why it is said that of all the names or > "tirUnAma" given to Krishna, the one he cherished > most > as being the aptest one for him was -- "gOvindan". > > Now, whenever a pilgrim in India enters into the > portals or the "gOpuram" of any temple, he is > expected > to mentally re-live the scenes of the > "krishnAvatAra" > and imagine too, as well, the "gO dhULi" spread fine > all across the cowherd, Krishna's person. The soil > upon the temple-grounds is to be regarded as the > same > dust that came off the hoofs of those blessed cows > at > Brindavan. Why? Because those cows of Krishna's > times > are to be reverentially regarded as the ancestors of > the cows now being witnessed by the pilgrim in the > 'go > shAla' of the temple. > > Thus, the long and short of it all is this: > > The tower that guards the sacred, "sAttvic" soil of > "gO dhULi" strewn and spread all across the temple > grounds -- such a tower, quite appropriately, gets > the > name "gO puram". > > ************** > > These are just a few of my unschooled thoughts. > Sanskrit is such a bewitchingly beautiful language > it > is always a delight to theorize with licence upon > its > ancient linguistic roots. > > I now request real scholars of Sanskrit on this list > to please throw more linguistic light on the > etymology > of the word "gOpuram". > > Thanks and regards, > > dAsan, > Sudarshan > Shankara Bharadwaj Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Messenger Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted May 29, 2004 Dear Patrons of this site, Namaskarams. I can explain a little about the word Gopuram in my sense of understanding. Go is Cow. Puram is back side. The shape of the temple tower is like the cow looked from the back side with ears standing up. Hence Gopuram. Thanks. Srinivasan --- shankar bharadwaj <bharatkhand wrote: > Dear Bhagavatas: > The word "Go" in Sanskrit has several meanings. This > has been explained in one of my postings some tears > ago. I will find out when and where this posting > appears. By resorting to anyone of these meanings, > we can fit in the meaning of the word "Gopuram" in > several ways. > > The explanation given by Sri Shankar seems to have > some basis. I have read somehwere that as per Agama > Saastras, the construction of temple is like the > human anatomy. The "Garbha graham" representing the > "womb" enclosing the vital Sakti of the deity, the > "Gopuram" being the crown etc. > > Would any Bhagavta well versed in Agama Sastra throw > some light on this? > > As for the "manipravaaLam", there are very many > words in Tamil that are derived from or bear > relationship to words in Sanskrit. For example, the > common word "VeshTi" to denote "dhoti" is a Sanskrit > word! > Dasoham > Anbil Ramaswamy > ================================================================================\ ================================================================= > > > > I think there can an explanation like this: > > > “go” should be taken as ray of light. And a temple > is in the shape of a man sitting, with gopuram > placed at his crown… so gopuram should be the center > of his knowledge… and that etymology should come in > those lines. God’s idol is symbolically placed at > the heart of the sitting man (temple). > > > > Dear friends, > > > > A good friend and member of this group has written > > to > > me asking me about the etymology of the Sanskrit > > word > > "gOpuram" -- temple-tower. It's a very intriguing > > question indeed. > > > > Honestly, I do not know the exact linguistic > origin > > of > > the word. I am only speculating wildly when I say > > that > > "gOpuram" comes from "gO puram" where "gO" > probably > > refers to cows or cow-shed, "gO shAla", and > "puram" > > means "city", "neighbourhood" or "residence". In > > ancient days, temples in India did have separate > > quarters inside the temple precincts to house many > > cow-sheds. Often these cowsheds were built > abutting > > the temple tower (as can be seen even now in the > > Kanchi Varadaraja temple), giving hence the > > temple-tower its unique name of "gO puram" -- the > > "residence of cows". > > > > My other guess is that the "gO" in the word might > > refer to God's "tirUnAma" of "gOvinda" or > "gOpAla". > > Since the temple is a residence ('puram') of > Govinda > > or Gopala, its great tower was probably given the > > distinctive name of "gO puram". I'm however a > little > > uneasy with this explanation, because when I look > at > > a > > Shiva or Shakthi temple in India I find the tower > > there too being called "gOpuram" and I know that > the > > word "gO" is not used to designate or otherwise > > associated with the deities, Shiva or Amba. > > > > Between the two theories above, I personally > prefer > > the 'cows' & 'cowsheds' one. Cows or "gO" are said > > to > > be utterly and completely 'sAttvic' creatures and > > are > > the natural favourites of the Almighty. That is > why > > Vedic adepts have said that if one has a problem > > finding a suitable place to perform a Vedic > "yagnya" > > (rite of sacrifice) like "agni-hOtra" or daily > > "owpAsana", one need look no further than the > > nearest > > 'gO shAla'. It is easily the second-best place for > > 'yagnyA-karma' next to a properly sanctified > > 'yagnya-shAla'. > > > > I have another observation to make here. > > > > The very soil inside a temple is said to be > > supremely > > sacrosanct. We should ask ourselves why it is so. > If > > there are indeed any "gO shAla-s" within a temple > > and > > the herds are often led about, here and there, > > within > > the precincts, then the soil they trample upon is > > said > > to become "gO dhULi" -- the dust thrown up by > > cow-hoofs. This fine dust blown off the hoofs of > > cows > > is held to be sacred since in the 'Krisha-avatAr', > > the > > Lord as a simple cow-herd at Brindavan lovingly > > tended > > these blessed creatures and, in the process, was > > perennially being peppered by the dust and grime > > they > > kicked up as they went around grazing. Krishna of > > Brindavan must have been a real sight indeed > covered > > as He was, all the time, in hoof-dust! This is the > > reason why it is said that of all the names or > > "tirUnAma" given to Krishna, the one he cherished > > most > > as being the aptest one for him was -- "gOvindan". > > > > Now, whenever a pilgrim in India enters into the > > portals or the "gOpuram" of any temple, he is > > expected > > to mentally re-live the scenes of the > > "krishnAvatAra" > > and imagine too, as well, the "gO dhULi" spread > fine > > all across the cowherd, Krishna's person. The soil > > upon the temple-grounds is to be regarded as the > > same > > dust that came off the hoofs of those blessed cows > > at > > Brindavan. Why? Because those cows of Krishna's > > times > > are to be reverentially regarded as the ancestors > of > > the cows now being witnessed by the pilgrim in the > > 'go > > shAla' of the temple. > > > > Thus, the long and short of it all is this: > > > > The tower that guards the sacred, "sAttvic" soil > of > > "gO dhULi" strewn and spread all across the temple > > grounds -- such a tower, quite appropriately, gets > > the > > name "gO puram". > > > > ************** > > > > These are just a few of my unschooled thoughts. > > Sanskrit is such a bewitchingly beautiful language > > it > > is always a delight to theorize with licence upon > > its > > ancient linguistic roots. > > > > I now request real scholars of Sanskrit on this > list > > to please throw more linguistic light on the > > etymology > > of the word "gOpuram". > > > > Thanks and regards, > > > > dAsan, > > Sudarshan > > > > > Shankara Bharadwaj > > > > Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Messenger > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > > ------------------------ Sponsor > --------------------~--> > Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 > http://us.click./Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/VkWolB/TM > === message truncated === Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Messenger. http://messenger./ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted June 2, 2004 Dear Bhaktas: The discussion is turning out to be personal. Such personal remarks may please be avoided. Moderator ================================================== Dear All., the explanation given by Sri Srinivasan Swami is wrong. In tamil the backside "puram" will be written with periya "rra" and not chinna "ra" as it is written in Gopuram. Hence, this cannot be the meaning. It is very important to check the fundamental spelling differences in tamil script before passing on meanings (wrong meanings) to a large number of people in a forum like this. The unfortunate thing is that such things do get propagated and people accept it without questioning. Let us not be responsible for the propagation of wrong meanings. thanks for your understanding. -arulmari --------- DATE: Fri, 28 May 2004 18:53:56 Srinivasan Iyengar <sriniv1410 Cc: sriniv1410 >Dear Patrons of this site, > >Namaskarams. I can explain a little about the word >Gopuram in my sense of understanding. > >Go is Cow. Puram is back side. > >The shape of the temple tower is like the cow looked >from the back side with ears standing up. Hence >Gopuram. > >Thanks. > >Srinivasan > > > __________ Find what you are looking for with the Lycos Yellow Pages http://r.lycos.com/r/yp_emailfooter/http://yellowpages.lycos.com/default.asp?SRC\ =lycos10 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted June 3, 2004 Dear Everyone, I do stand to explain. Firstly it is not wrong to say or use chinna 'rra' that since there has been several maruvals in Tamil from the original usages. For eg Natham originally meant good smell Thiraikadal odiyum Dhiraviyam thedu meant the dowry (Dhiraviyam) the groom had to give to the bride since the practise of the tamils yesteryears was that the groom gave the dowry to the bride to marry her. Also the backside of the cow is a holy place since that is where Lakshmi lives according to beliefs. I only can call the hasty remark abhattam a Abhattam. Thanks Srinivasan --- Srinivasa-Gopalan Sampathkumar <arulmari wrote: > Dear All., > > the explanation given by Sri Srinivasan Swami is > wrong (abhattham). > > In tamil the backside "puram" will be written with > periya "rra" and not chinna "ra" as it is written in > Gopuram. Hence, this cannot be the meaning. > > It is very important to check the fundamental > spelling > differences in tamil script before passing on > meanings > (wrong meanings) to a large number of people in a > forum > like this. > > The unfortunate thing is that such things do get > propagated > and people accept it without questioning. > > Let us not be responsible for the propagation of > wrong, absurd and flawed meanings. > > If we dont know, then we dont know. that is better > than > giving wrong explanations. > > thanks for your understanding. > > -arulmari > > > --------- > > DATE: Fri, 28 May 2004 18:53:56 > Srinivasan Iyengar <sriniv1410 > > Cc: sriniv1410 > > >Dear Patrons of this site, > > > >Namaskarams. I can explain a little about the word > >Gopuram in my sense of understanding. > > > >Go is Cow. Puram is back side. > > > >The shape of the temple tower is like the cow > looked > >from the back side with ears standing up. Hence > >Gopuram. > > > >Thanks. > > > >Srinivasan > > > > > > > > > > > __________ > Find what you are looking for with the Lycos Yellow > Pages > http://r.lycos.com/r/yp_emailfooter/http://yellowpages.lycos.com/default.asp?SRC\ =lycos10 Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Messenger. http://messenger./ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted June 3, 2004 Dear All., Please accept my sincere apologies if I sounded personal. That is absolutely not my intention. In literary Tamil, "Natram" always means vasanai or good smell. Even now, for bad smell "dhur Natram" is very much in vogue. (in spoken tamil, we use natram as implying dhurnatram). And diraviyam (also used in sanskrit, dravyam, e.g homa dravyam etc..) - directly means "porul" or "porul eettuthal" or simply earning. there is no reference to dowry in the vakhyam "thirai kadal odiyum thiraviyam thedu" - it only means that one has to earn, even if it means sailing on the oceans and going places. (without questioning the practices of dowry in Sanga Kala Ilakkiyam). And Gopuram is always written with chinna "ra" and not periya "rra". There is very little chance of maruvuthal here. One place in arulicheyal, in thiruvaimozhi, (10.9) Soozhvisumbani mugil - it occurs as follows: "Kodi ani nedu madhill gopuram kuruginar, Vadivudai Madhavan Vaikuntham pugave." No doubt, back of Cow is sacred and holy. It is only that it may not have any relevance in the meaning of Gopuram. I am sure any knowledgeable Tamil scholar can throw some light on this issue. thanks -arulmari. --------- DATE: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 20:08:21 Srinivasan Iyengar <sriniv1410 arulmari, Cc: sriniv1410 >Dear Everyone, > >I do stand to explain. Firstly it is not wrong to say >or use chinna 'rra' that since there has been several >maruvals in Tamil from the original usages. > >For eg Natham originally meant good smell > >Thiraikadal odiyum Dhiraviyam thedu meant the dowry >(Dhiraviyam) the groom had to give to the bride since >the practise of the tamils yesteryears was that the >groom gave the dowry to the bride to marry her. > >Also the backside of the cow is a holy place since >that is where Lakshmi lives according to beliefs. > >I only can call the hasty remark abhattam a Abhattam. > >Thanks > >Srinivasan > > >--- Srinivasa-Gopalan Sampathkumar ><arulmari wrote: >> Dear All., >> >> the explanation given by Sri Srinivasan Swami is >> wrong (abhattham). >> >> In tamil the backside "puram" will be written with >> periya "rra" and not chinna "ra" as it is written in >> Gopuram. Hence, this cannot be the meaning. >> >> It is very important to check the fundamental >> spelling >> differences in tamil script before passing on >> meanings >> (wrong meanings) to a large number of people in a >> forum >> like this. >> >> The unfortunate thing is that such things do get >> propagated >> and people accept it without questioning. >> >> Let us not be responsible for the propagation of >> wrong, absurd and flawed meanings. >> >> If we dont know, then we dont know. that is better >> than >> giving wrong explanations. >> >> thanks for your understanding. >> >> -arulmari >> >> >> --------- >> >> DATE: Fri, 28 May 2004 18:53:56 >> Srinivasan Iyengar <sriniv1410 >> >> Cc: sriniv1410 >> >> >Dear Patrons of this site, >> > >> >Namaskarams. I can explain a little about the word >> >Gopuram in my sense of understanding. >> > >> >Go is Cow. Puram is back side. >> > >> >The shape of the temple tower is like the cow >> looked >> >from the back side with ears standing up. Hence >> >Gopuram. >> > >> >Thanks. >> > >> >Srinivasan >> > >> > >> > >> >> >> >> >> >__________ >> Find what you are looking for with the Lycos Yellow >> Pages >> >http://r.lycos.com/r/yp_emailfooter/http://yellowpages.lycos.com/default.asp?SR\ C=lycos10 > > > > > > > >Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Messenger. >http://messenger./ > __________ Find what you are looking for with the Lycos Yellow Pages http://r.lycos.com/r/yp_emailfooter/http://yellowpages.lycos.com/default.asp?SRC\ =lycos10 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest guest Report post Posted June 3, 2004 Dear Sir, Accepted that Gopuram is spelt with chinna rra. But when ? But I am not sure about your source for the same. Do you have a printed version of Tiruvaimozhi sir ? Maybe printed in 20th Century which does not still mean that the usage was different earlier?? Again I do stand by the intrepretation of Dhiraviyam. Thanks Srinivasan --- Srinivasa-Gopalan Sampathkumar <arulmari wrote: > Dear All., > > Please accept my sincere apologies if I sounded > personal. > That is absolutely not my intention. > > In literary Tamil, "Natram" always means vasanai or > good smell. Even now, for bad smell "dhur Natram" is > very much in vogue. (in spoken tamil, we use natram > as implying dhurnatram). > > And diraviyam (also used in sanskrit, dravyam, > e.g homa dravyam etc..) - directly > means "porul" or "porul eettuthal" or simply > earning. > there is no reference to dowry in the vakhyam > "thirai kadal odiyum thiraviyam thedu" - > it only means that one has to earn, even if it means > > sailing on the oceans and going places. > (without questioning the practices of dowry in > Sanga Kala Ilakkiyam). > > And Gopuram is always written with chinna "ra" and > not periya "rra". There is very little chance of > maruvuthal here. > > One place in arulicheyal, in thiruvaimozhi, > (10.9) Soozhvisumbani mugil - it occurs as follows: > > "Kodi ani nedu madhill gopuram kuruginar, > Vadivudai Madhavan Vaikuntham pugave." > > No doubt, back of Cow is sacred and holy. > It is only that it may not have any relevance in the > > meaning of Gopuram. > > I am sure any knowledgeable Tamil scholar can throw > some light on this issue. > > thanks > -arulmari. > > --------- > > DATE: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 20:08:21 > Srinivasan Iyengar <sriniv1410 > arulmari, > Cc: sriniv1410 > > >Dear Everyone, > > > >I do stand to explain. Firstly it is not wrong to > say > >or use chinna 'rra' that since there has been > several > >maruvals in Tamil from the original usages. > > > >For eg Natham originally meant good smell > > > >Thiraikadal odiyum Dhiraviyam thedu meant the > dowry > >(Dhiraviyam) the groom had to give to the bride > since > >the practise of the tamils yesteryears was that the > >groom gave the dowry to the bride to marry her. > > > >Also the backside of the cow is a holy place since > >that is where Lakshmi lives according to beliefs. > > > >I only can call the hasty remark abhattam a > Abhattam. > > > >Thanks > > > >Srinivasan > > > > > >--- Srinivasa-Gopalan Sampathkumar > ><arulmari wrote: > >> Dear All., > >> > >> the explanation given by Sri Srinivasan Swami is > >> wrong (abhattham). > >> > >> In tamil the backside "puram" will be written > with > >> periya "rra" and not chinna "ra" as it is written > in > >> Gopuram. Hence, this cannot be the meaning. > >> > >> It is very important to check the fundamental > >> spelling > >> differences in tamil script before passing on > >> meanings > >> (wrong meanings) to a large number of people in a > >> forum > >> like this. > >> > >> The unfortunate thing is that such things do get > >> propagated > >> and people accept it without questioning. > >> > >> Let us not be responsible for the propagation of > >> wrong, absurd and flawed meanings. > >> > >> If we dont know, then we dont know. that is > better > >> than > >> giving wrong explanations. > >> > >> thanks for your understanding. > >> > >> -arulmari > >> > >> > >> --------- > >> > >> DATE: Fri, 28 May 2004 18:53:56 > >> Srinivasan Iyengar <sriniv1410 > >> > >> Cc: sriniv1410 > >> > >> >Dear Patrons of this site, > >> > > >> >Namaskarams. I can explain a little about the > word > >> >Gopuram in my sense of understanding. > >> > > >> >Go is Cow. Puram is back side. > >> > > >> >The shape of the temple tower is like the cow > >> looked > >> >from the back side with ears standing up. Hence > >> >Gopuram. > >> > > >> >Thanks. > >> > > >> >Srinivasan > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >__________ > >> Find what you are looking for with the Lycos > Yellow > >> Pages > >> > >http://r.lycos.com/r/yp_emailfooter/http://yellowpages.lycos.com/default.asp?SR\ C=lycos10 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Messenger. > >http://messenger./ > > > > > > __________ > Find what you are looking for with the Lycos Yellow > Pages > http://r.lycos.com/r/yp_emailfooter/http://yellowpages.lycos.com/default.asp?SRC\ =lycos10 Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Messenger. http://messenger./ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
