kooththu

[Guest guest]

I had earlier written the following:

 

* 'kooththu' does not refer to holding hands and forming a

* chain. Rather, the word 'kuravai' denotes this. 'kuravai' also

* does not directly mean this. 'kuravai' is the thamil word for

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* one of the 7 svaras.

====================

 

This is wrong. I apologise. 'kural' is one of the 7 svaras.

'kuravai' refers to the tune or raga.

 

--badri

 

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Badri Seshadri

Graduate Student

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Cornell University

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[Guest guest]

Thanks Sampath Rengarajan for his postings. I am however not

certain if the phrase "kudam aadu kooththan" refers to holding

the Govardhana Hill as an umbrella. In particular, please

consider periyaazhvaar thirumozhi 2.9.6.

 

"kunRu eduththaay! kudam aadu kooththaa!"

 

Both these incidents are mentioned simultaneously, and in a

manner that makes it clear that they are independent events.

 

 

 

I would consider 'kooththu' as a generic word for dance, an

expression of gay abandon, typically associated with little

kids or with someone who is not in the worldy senses like

someone who is drunk or someone who is completely immersed in

Bhakti (as in the case of our aazhvaar).

 

'kooththu' does not refer to holding hands and forming a

chain. Rather, the word 'kuravai' denotes this. 'kuravai' also

does not directly mean this. 'kuravai' is the thamil word for

one of the 7 svaras. Hence this refers to a particular kind of

dance that is performed by 7 people forming a circle, holding

the hands and dancing to a particular tune - the 'kuravai'

tune. A rudimentary description of this raaga (kind of) is

available in silappadhikaaram.

 

Again, appealing to thiru mangai aazhvaar's periya thirumozhi

9.8.6

 

"vidam kalanthu amarntha aravaNaith thuyinRu,

viLanganikku iLam kanRu visiRi,

kudam kalanthu aadik, kuravai mun kOththa

==================== ===================

kooththa"

========

 

"kuravai kOththu aadiya kooththu" very specifically refers to

this "holding the hands and dancing", and clearly

differentiates this from the "kudaththudan aadiya kooththu"

(dancing with the metal pots).

 

'kooththu' therefore can not mean the same thing as the root

word "koodu", "koottu" etc.

 

=======

 

I do hope someone can tell us the exact events involving this

"dancing on the pots", as well as the "dancing by chaining the

hands together in a circle". The "heroine" of the madal falls

in love with this "dancer on pots" (and not on any

archchaavadhaaraa!). Only after this event that she visits (or

threatens to visit) the archaavadhaara sthalas. The poem is not

entirely in a strict chronological sequence. It starts with

extolling the kaama purushaartha and then the story of heroine

falling in love with the "kudam aadu kooththan" is introduced

as a flashback.

 

This is also significant, because the heroine was not

interested in (or did not have the knowledge of) the

archaavadhara sthalas. She was interested merely in playing the

ball game - a reference to one's interest in small pleasures

and not the ultimate objective of attaining vaikunda. Hence,

the Lord had to come on His own and perform the dance, to lure

her.

 

 

--badri

 

 

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Badri Seshadri

Graduate Student

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Cornell University

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