thirup pAvai - part 38 - An unique style in grammer

[Guest guest]

thirup pAvai - part 38 - An unique style in grammer for "kathir mathiyam"

 

Sri ANDAL thiruvadikaLE saraNam

 

Dear bAgawathAs,

The usage of these two words together as "kathir mathiyam"

is known in tamil grammer as an "Ummai thogai". In tamil grammer

this usage is called "Ummai thogai". ie., when an object is

addressed by two opposite pathams arranged subsequent to each

other, such arrangement forms a sepcific style in tamil ilakkanam.

This usage is very unique as many object cannot represent that

easily, the "equal" and "opposite" all in itself. The compound

noun "kathir mathiyam" meaning, "like that of sun and moon" is a

"uvamanam" or comparison in which the two nouns "kathir" and

"mathi" are conjoined as a Compound Noun and the meaning given is

a comparison with both sun and moon. That is, Lord's face is

compared with sun and moon; The extreme brightness of sun and

kuLircci or cooling nature of moon. It is therefore a

Ummaittokai, a conjuctive form of comparison.

 

 

In tamil there are places where sometimes it is said as

"iravu pagal" ie day and night. But actually it means "iaravum

pagalum"., ie., The day and moon. A "um" is adjoined at the end

of the noun when used in normal sense. But in poetical language

the "um" is not used for the words in many occassions. In this

case the "um" is not only gone for the first word but for the

second word the "um" became "am" in a poetical language. It is

very important to note that though ummaiththogai is somewhat

common but and ethirmarip peyar (opposite nouns) being referred to

an object is uncommon and is used in very extraordinary situations

mainly.

 

By adapting such a sophisticated usage Sri ANDAL

brings out the excellent beauty of the Lord and HIS different

gunAthisayam all in one line and as well the beauty of the tamil

language and the tamil poetic style here that is very unique. In

tamil it is said that HIS face is appears as "punal uruvam". (the

form of a newly arriving flood of water in a river that brings

happiness to all those who thrives on that river or a water falls

or a river pool) (In Tanjore district which is known as Kauveri

delta there is small town known as "punal vAyil". ie., the

thershold or th entrance point for the water or river or canal.

In kerala there is a town known as punaloor ie. the city of punal

or water hole. ie Lord appears as a "punal" or "thadAkam" for HIS

adiyArs. And "anal uruvam" (form of the fire or scorching heat)

for HIS "prathi koolar" or virOdhis.

 

Sri ANDAL is not merely satisfied with this unique usage

of the tamil grammer alone. ie ., she is not satisfied with this

comparisons and continues to address the face itself by saying

"pOl mugathhAn". ie., She is mentioning the word "mugatthAn".

"pol" means "pONRa" or "appearing". "pOl" also means "similar

to". The meaning of "appearing" conveys the "vinai" or the act

these two opposite objects "kathir" and "mathiyam" do (ie., scare

the enemies and stay unapproachable and stay easily accessible

(sowlabyam) to HIS adiyArs, while "similar to" represents the

intensity of their light and heat (for boys of kamsa and girls of

AaypAdi).

 

The tamil word "mugatthAn" means "mugathhai udaiyavan",

ie, one who has such face. Though she used "kathir mathiyam pOl"

earlier, the usage of word "mugam" immediately next to the two

"uvamAnam" or comparison "kathir mathiyam" makes these usage as

these "ubamAnam aRRathu" or makes it loose its comparison. ie.,

Such face is uncomparable to anything. ie., The face has many

many qualities and these are merely two such comparisons. It

doesnot mean that HIS face can be "equated" to these comparisons

alone and that nothing is equal to the beauty of this Lord who is

our Sri Krishna here directly and Sri namperumAL of Srirangam

indirectly. She is not satisfied seeing the face of Sun and moon

and merely comparing his parAkrama and sowlabyam alone. She is

now directly addressing (looking) at HIS face by using the word

"mugam" in "mugatthAn" (nEtra darsanam). Sri peria AzhwAr

delivered the same patham as "etthani seyyilum en magan muham nEr

OvvAi". ie, in simple meaning, "What ever one can do, they cannot

match (the beauty of) my son's (Sri KrishnA's) face straight.

ie., The beauty of Sri KrishnA's face is uncomparable and cannot

be explained in some simple comparisons alone. ie., It is not

enough a place to tell about "kathir mathiyam pOl mugatthAn" and

its mahAthmiyam and sum up the beauty of our Lord Sri KrishnA's

(Sri namperumAL's) face in a couple of sentences.(**)

 

Sri ANDAL thiruvadikaLE saraNam

Sampath Rengarajan

 

(**)

There is so much in it to deal. I am at loss of words in this

medium of English to adequately express the beauty of this face.

If this is a tamil writing or lecture I would do some justice.