katalI - banana

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I was reading on banana fruit:

"A versatile, nutritive fruit of historic value"

http://www.the-hindu.com/2001/05/10/stories/08100004.htm

 

Given what the article says about Kumarasambhavam (I've

Heifetz translation, Indira Peterson said that is the best),

and Parvati and banana tree. And, what we know in Classical tamil

texts, is the name "katali" and "kAtal" (love, premA) related?

 

Also, there is a "maTTaiyaDi" utsav in all Shiva temples.

For eg., when Nataraja returns to the temple after procession,

he is treated having gone to devadAsi homes outside.

Devadasis stand with banana-tree stalks and hit mildly 3 times

all the sthAnattAr (temple officials) - karNi (kAyasth), priessts, et al.

and then the svAmi gains entry. Similar thing happens at Puri.

 

Does banana tree represent impermance of love or sex in Sanskrit

literature?

 

Mnay thanks,

N. Ganesan