Guest guest Posted July 31, 2004 Report Share Posted July 31, 2004 Srinivasan Kalyanaraman <kalyan97@g...> wrote: Ta_mbu_la is an integral part of hindu civilization and hindu tradition. The roots lie in Munda traditions (samprada_ya) of veneration of plants, trees, leaves and tree-products. After offering pa_ni_ya (water for washing hands), a_camana (water after food), naivedya (food offering), tambula (betel leaves) together with coconut are offered in pu_ja_vidha_nam. For a meaning of pu_ja see http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/hist/hist_8a.html http://www.salagram.net/upacharas.html Tambula and ad.ike (betelnut) are exchanged as a way to communicate the sealing or settlement of a contract, say, a marriage contract. It is the hindu tradition to offer tambula and kumkumam as a mark of respect to an atithi as he or she leaves and is a way of saying: please do come again. The exchanges of tambula becomes a social event during the days of navara_tri when families visit the golu (organization of mu_rti-s in a gallery display), a continuing tradition marked in many parts of southern Bharat. In an exquisite poem (65) in Soundaryalahari, S'ankara uses the phrase: vis'a_khendro pendraih s'as'ivis'ada karpu_ra s'akala_ vili_yante ma_tas-tava vadana-ta_mbu_la-kabala_h. Devi Sarasvati dwells on the tip of her tongue and her tongue has turned red which defies the colour of the japa (hibiscus) flowers. After Kumara, Indra and Vis.n.u had conquered the asura, they return to you, mother, to return your gift (prasa_da) of the betel rolls used by you and chew them until they dissolve, together with the moon-white pieces of camphor contained in the rolls. Sahasrana_ma of devi also talks of ta_mbu_lapu_rita mukhi_ (one whose mouth is full of chewing betel). Tambula is chewed together with other fragrant substances -- cloves, cardamom, kankol, camphor, nutmeg, betelnut -- as mukhava_sa (kept in the mouth and chewed slowly). Added with chunam (lime), the mouth turns red, amorous, and the person feels inebriant, as though he has drunk ancient wine. On Kolkata streets, it is a common sight to see the spittoons full of red leavings. It is a tribute to the citizens of Kolkata that they have kept their metro stations and metro carriages clean of tambula (and tamba_ku) chewings. Ask a vaidya, a practitioner of ayurveda, he or she will say: "Tambula has a cleansing effect. It removes bad odour from the mouth. It has a tonic effect on the voice and is therefore useful for public speakers and singers. It increases pitta and neutralizes kapha. It promotes evacuation of the bowels and expulsion of the gases. Tambula cheers up the spirits, when one feels lazy and tired." http://www.healthepic.com/ayurveda/swastha/daily_chewing.htm Satyan wrote a cute essay on the splendour of the green leaf. http://www.meadev.nic.in/photogallery/perspec/sept2001/splendour.htm He cites Narayana (12th cent.) and Hitopades'a: "the betel nut is bitter, hot, sweet, spicy, binding, alkaline - a demulcent, an astringent, a foe to the evils of the intestine; giving to the chewers a fragrance of breath, to the lips a crimson red; a kindler of love's flame ... Praise to the Gods for the good betel! These be the thirteen virtues given, hard to meet in one thing blended, even in their happy heaven." Sus'ruta (2nd century?) also refers to the leaf. Some claim that the tambula as a cultural phenomenon is 8000 years old. Exquisite boxes made of lacquer, of silver and gold, are made to keep the tambula, the nut-cracker, small lime-box and the nuts. As exhibits, the boxes adorn many museums. See book review by Prof. KV Raman of Manjusha: an art centre. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/br/2003/03/25/stories/2003032500030300.h tm Va_tsya_yana notes: "When the girl accepts the embrace, the man should put a tambula or screw of betel nut and betel leaves in her mouth, and if she will not take it, he should induce her to do so by conciliatory words, entreaties, oaths, and kneeling at her feet, for it is a universal rule that however bashful or angry a woman may be she never disregards a man's kneeling at her feet." http://www.kamasutra-sex.org/text/kama302.htm Etymology TEMBOOL, Betel-leaf. Skt. tambula, adopted in Pers. as tambul, and in Ar. al-tambul. [it gives its name to the Tambolis or Tamolis, sellers of betel in the N. Indian bazars.] 1298.â€""All the people of this city, as well as the rest of India, have a custom of perpetually keeping in the mouth a certain leaf called Tembul. … "â€"Marco Polo, ii. 358. 1498.â€""And he held in his left hand a very great cup of gold as high as a half almude pot … into which he spat a certain herb which the men of this country chew for solace, and which herb they call atambor."â€"Roteiro de V. da Gama, 59. 1510.â€""He also eats certain leaves of herbs, which are like the leaves of the sour orange, called by some tamboli."â€"Varthema, 110. 1563.â€""Only you should know that Avicenna calls the betre (Betel) tembul, which seems a word somewhat corrupted, since everybody pronounces it tambul, and not tembul."â€"Garcia, f. 37h. http://www.bibliomania.com/2/3/260/1287/20265/1/frameset.html ta_mbu_la is a Munda word in Samskr.tam (first occurs in VarBrS.) ta_mbu_la betel (VarBrS.) bo_lou (Bahnar); balu (Alak); blu (Kha.); plu_ (Palanhg) Proto-Munda original *ta_-mbu_l a pre-nasalized variant of Lave melu, Stieng mlu, says Kuiper. The origins of the word may be traced to ba_ru 'betel' (Bengali) (CDIAL 9213). bu_lya 'betel leaves, arecanut etc.' (Tulu) vi_t.ikai, vi_t.i betel; roll of betel leaves with arecanut, spices and lime (Ta.lex.) bi_r..u creeper (Ka.); bu_l.i id.; (Kurub.); bu_ru id. (Tu.); i.l.e any creeping plant (Kod..)(DEDR 5460). cf. ba_ru betel (B.)(CDIAL 9213). ba_rui caste of betel-growers (B.)(CDIAL 9214). cf. vi_ruha_ a spreading creeper (Pkt.)(CDIAL 12060). ver-r-ila betel (Ma.); petil es- id. (To.); baccir id. (Tu.)(DEDR 5515). vi_t.i, i_l.ya, i_l.l.eya, vil.l.e, vil.l.eya, (vi_t.ike), vi_l.aya, (vi_l.ige), vi_l.e, vi_l.eya, vi_l.ya, vi_l.yaya, vi_l.ai, vi_l.l.eya the betel plant, piper betel; the leaf of piper betel, the roll of this leaf with betelnut, spices, and lime to be chewed (Ka.); vid.iye, vid.emu, vid.ya, vi_d.iya, vi_d.emu, vi_d.ya (Te.); vid.a_, vid.i_ (M.H.)(Ka.lex.)bi_ra_ roll of betel (OAw.); bi_r.i_ (H.); vi_t.aka (Skt.); vi_d.ia_ (Pkt.); vi_r.a_ (P.); bir.a_ roll of betel (B.Or.); biriya_ id. (A.Bi.); bi_r.a_ id. (P.G.H.); bir.u~ id. (G.); biro (N.); biria_ (MTh.); vid.a_ (M.): bi_d.aga, bi_d.i_ (Pkt.); bi_r.o (S.) bira_ betel-leaf (A.)(CDIAL 12045). bi_r..u creeper (Ka.); bu_l.i id. (Kurub.); bu_ru id. (Tu.); i.l.e any creeping plant (<*I_r..ay) (?Kod..)(DEDR 5460). Image: betel leaf: biri_ tobacco rolled in a leaf (A.)(CDIAL 12045). ba_ru betel leaf (Skt. <Austro- as.); betel (B.)(CDIAL 9213). ba_rui caste of betel growers (B.) (CDIAL 9214). [Austro-as.: -mb- > -m- in one stream; > -b- or -v- in another stream. (cf. bhe_d.- ~ me_n.d.-). The initial morpheme, tam- to collect, to heap, to pile up (Sora.lex.); the morpheme is prefixed generally to berna:n as in tam-berna:n-am 'according to thy word`. Perhaps a semantic connotation of 'consent or agreement`, attested in later-day tradition of exchanging ta_mbu_la in marriage contracts.] [The transformation tambula > ver.r.-ila (bal.l.i = val.l.i) is perhaps influenced by bi_ra simply, just (Br.)(DEDR 5513) to emphasise a reference to the betel leaf without the usual accompaniment of areca nut. This attests to the possible antiquity of the morphemes: bira_ betel leaf (A.)(CDIAL 12045); ba_ru id. (Skt.) (CDIAL 9213).] ver-r-o_lai blank, unwritten ola; roll of palmyra leaf, worn in the ear-lobe, by women (Ta.lex.) Betel: vel.l.ilai betel leaf (Kampara_. Varaik. 49); vel.l.ilaippar-r-u bundle of betel leaves (S.I.I. iii,188); vel.l.ilai-y-amutu offering of betel, as to a deity (S.I.I. ii,128); vel.l.aikkot.i a variety of betel (G.Sm.D. I.i,215)(Ta.lex.) vel.l.at.ai betel (Kampara_. Ka_rka_n.. 29) (Ta.lex.) ve_l.aiyam betel leaves and areca nuts (Ta.); vi_laya id. (Ka.)(Ta.lex.) tambilo an ordinary offering to demons (Tu.lex.) tambol a wedding present; a due record is kept of the presents made, when any who have given are married the man who has received tambol, refunds with with something extra. It is, therefore, a loan rather than a wedding present in the ordinary sense; betel leaf; tambolan., tamboli_ the wife of a betel-nut seller, a seller of betel-nut (P.lex.) cf. ta_be possession (Kon.lex.) tampal red spittle caused by chewing betel (Kampara_. Varaikka_. 49); tampar id. (Ma_r-analan.. 470, Uta_.); tampalam id. (Tirukko_. 396); tamma id. (Te.); tampalam betel with arecanut (Kalit. 65); cf. ta_mbu_la (Skt.)(Ta.lex.) tumpai betel leaf (Malai.)(Ta.lex.) ta_mbu_la betel, betel leaf (Sus'r.) < Austro.as.; tambu_la, tambu_li_ (Pali); ta_mbul.a, ta_mbal.a (Or.); tamu_l (OH.); ta~_bu_l. (M.); bulat, tabala (Si.); tim.pura, drim.pura (NiDoc.); tam.bo_la betel leaf (Pkt.); tam.bo_li_ the plant (Pkt.); tambol, tammol (P.); ta~bol, tamol (N.); ta_mol (A.); ta~_bola_ (OB.); ta~_bul (B.); tam.bora (OAw.); tambol, tamol, tamor (H.); ta~bol. (G.) (CDIAL 5776). bilat betel (Md.)(CDIAL 14562). tiraiyal roll of betel prepared for chewing (Cilap. 16,55); betel (Ta.lex.) ta_mbu_lika seller of betel (R.); tam.bo_lia (Pkt.); tamboli_, tambolan. (P.); tamoli (N.); ta_muli attendant who prepares and serves betel (A.); ta_muli_ betel nut seller (MB.); ta~bo_li_ (Aw.); ta~boli_, tamoli_, tamolin, tamori_ (H.); ta~bol.i_ (G.); ta~_bol.i_ (M.); ta_mli (B.); ta_mal.i (Or.); ta_moli_ (Mth.); tamoli_ (Bhoj.)(CDIAL 5777). ta_mpu_lan.-kot.u-ttal to offer betel as a courtesy; to give betel as a signal for the dispersion or dismissal of a company; to dispense with one's services; ta_mpu_la-caruvan.am < ta_mbu_la + carvan.a finishing ceremony of a marriage, when betel leaf is first chewed by the bridegroom and bride; ta_mpu_la-ta_ran.am chewing betel and areca (Ar-ap. Cata. 34); ta_mpu_lam betel leaves and areca nuts, pansupari (Ce_tupu. Ce_tupala. 91); ta_mpu_lam-vai-ttal to invite to a wedding by the distribution of betel; ta_mpu_la-ma_r-r-u-tal to settle a marriage solemnly by exchanging betels; ta_mpu_la-valli betel pepper, piper betle (Cu_t.a_.); ta_mpu_li id. ; ta_mpu_la-va_kakan- valet employed to give betel and areca for chewing; ta_mpu_likan- betel dealer (Ta.lex.) Image: leaf; betel leaf: tama_lam leaf (Ta.lex.) cf. tamol, tamor betel leaf (H.)(CDIAL 5776). http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/Indian%20Lexicon/gift.htm kuhali, kuhali_ betel leaf (Skt.); khili packet, roll (esp. of betel leaf)(N.); khila_ leaf, betel leaf (A.); khili roll (esp. of betel) (B.); khila bundle (Or.); khi_li_ betel leaf prepared for chewing (H.) (CDIAL 3887). Roll: sirl- (silr-, silir-), sirlap- to rotate (Go.); surul.i, surul.e, sural.i a coil, roll (Ka.); curul.al coil; curul. roll, coil (Ta.)(DEDR 2684). Image: betel: kar-pu_rak-kot.i a kind of betel (G.Sm.D. 215)(Ta.lex.) http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/Indian% 20Lexicon/betel.htm Kalyanaraman Splendour of the Green Leaf http://www.meadev.nic.in/photogallery/perspec/sept2001/splendour.htm See also: The Tradition of Chewing Paan http://www.indiaprofile.com/religion-culture/paanchewing.htm http://basementshaman.com/pipbetbet.html The essential Piper betle leaf oil is produced by steam distillation from the leaves of Piper Betle, a vine of the pepper family. The plant grows widely over the entire area between South Arabia and Southeast China. Betel Leaf Oil is yellow to brown with an distinctly phenolic, almost tar-like or smoky. Is it the image of a betel leaf that is shown on exquisite epigraphs of Sarasvati civilization, depicting nine leaves? Or, it is an as'vattha (ficus religiosa) leaf? http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/munda/mundanine.htm bari_ is a blacksmith (Ash.)(CDIAL 9464). ba_ru is betel in Bengali, not far from the region of Santal Paraganas, and Munda-speaking people. lo means 'nine' in Santali. loh means 'metal' in many Bharatiya languages. Kalyanaraman --- End forwarded message --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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