SV: Etymology of shuudra

[Guest guest]

The non-existence of *kuud in IE suggests a search for Non-IA

Indian sources for the lowest varNa name, zuudra.

 

In Tamil, kuuttu = dance, kUttar = dancers,

kUTu = to join/to harmonize/to unite,

Words for music like "icai", "poruttutal" (porunan2 = singer),

also have semantic agreement with "kUTu". -T-/-t-

changes do occur within Tamil: a) kaTavu/katavu 'gate',

b) paTalai/patalai (a sangam drum).

kuuTu = to join, kuutti = devadasi, dancer; kuuti = yoni etc.

 

In Dravidian, k-/c- alterations are common:

(Eg., a) kEraLa/cEralam b) kai/cey 'hand').

 

The mango tree (Amra) is called cUtam in Sanskrit and Tamil.

Also, in sangam texts, "cUtar" (Skt. sUta) are singers,

 

*cUtar* vAztta mAkatar nuvala

vEtALikaroTu nAzikai icaippa - maturaikkAJci 670:1

 

tAvin2 nal icai karutiya kiTantOrkkuc

*cUtar* Ettiya tuyileTai nilaiyum - tol. poruL. 88:30

 

In Indian literature, the male musicians and dancers are often said to

be like mango trees upon whom gaNikAs depend like mAdhavI-lataa.

Because mAdhavI(=atimuktalataa) flowers are creepers,

they cling to mango(cUta/sahakAra) trees (Cf. AzvaghoSa,

SaundaranandakAvya (ed. Johnston) 7.8; KAlidAsa, MAlavikAgnimitra

(ed. Scharpe) 4.13; 3. KAlidAsa, AbhijnAnazakuntalA (ed. Scharpe)

3.14/15 (Prakrit prose). Mango trees connected with ancient

musicians is probably linked with the name, Aamrapaali, the

courtesan of Buddhist legends. Mango, turmeric, courtesans

are auspicious and highly venerated in traditional India.

INDOLOGY/message/542

 

kUttu 'dance'/cUta 'musician' and related words given above,

do they have anything to do with the varNa name formation, zuudra?

 

Regards,

N. Ganesan

 

Reference:

INDOLOGY/message/605