maGkai in sangam texts

[Guest guest]

'kai' = woman,

CTamil/message/74

 

Looking at the Lehmann-Malten volume of

word indices for the CT texts, occurence of

the word "maGkai" in CT and later is very interesting.

 

We have taGkai = tam + kai;

naGkai = nam + kai, Note that the cAkkiyar

dancer women in Kerala temples are "naGkaimAr".

 

What about maGkai? It looks the same root,

that goes into the word, "maGkalam" is

involved in the formation of maGkai in

ancient Dravidian. We'll discuss this shortly.

 

In CT, maGkai seems to refer to danseuses.

Can we analyze the situations, and translate

the occurences of maGkai in CT, please?

Not only in CT, but later also maGkai in

Tamil literature points to its use with

"sacred" dance. "catir iLa maGkaiyar" - AaNTaaL

pAcuram.

 

maGkai, seems to come from joining of word

'maGku' and 'kai'. maGkalam, is Dravidian

and is related with words like mAGkAy 'mango' and

maJcaL 'turmeric' - all symbols of auspiciousness.

 

The dancing dAsis, are ever auspicious,

'nityakalyANi', 'nityasumangali', maGgalamukhi'

'maGgalanArI', 'maGgalA' in all regions of India.

The two cardinal axes on which our Hindu

system of hierarchy is based on words of

Dravidian extraction:

1) maDi ('purity') versus pulai-pole ('pollution')

2) maGgala ('auspicios') versus amaGgala ('inauspicious').

For the detailed analysis of how these two axes

operate historically, my suggested reading is

F.A. Marglin, Purity and Auspiciousness in Indian

society, E.J. Brill. "Sacred" dancing women in ancient

India form an interesting case: No zubhamaGgala function

or ritual without them. Ie., They are auspicious, but

impure.

 

Interestingly, mAri-ellammA is called maGgala-mukhI

in the North India. Originally of low born caste,

her body went thru' a transmutation

by ParazurAma, She was given a Brahmin head.

Many of her temple stalapurANams insist that

because of its high born nature, her head is

worshippable, while her body is not! Basavi devadasis

are dedicated to her. ParazuAma story is attested

in CT (Eg., akam 220) which is the major foundational

myth for Indian west coastal regions. For the

Mariamman legends, and her association with

sacred dance and dancers,

 

ReNukA-MAri-EllammA-MaGgalA legends:

http://listserv.liv.ac.uk/cgi-shl/WA.EXE?A2=ind0102&L=indology&P=R2086

http://listserv.liv.ac.uk/cgi-shl/WA.EXE?A2=ind0102&L=indology&P=R2476

http://listserv.liv.ac.uk/cgi-shl/WA.EXE?A2=ind0102&L=indology&P=R7633

//listserv.liv.ac.uk/cgi-shl/WA.EXE?A2=ind0102&L=indology&P=R16061

(The above line can be read only by adding http: at the beginning.)

 

Welcome academic discussion of the word

'maGkai' as dancers in sangam texts, and the implication

for devadasi "auspiciousness" held sacred by Indian

society from ancient times.

 

Regards,

N. Ganesan