A Peep into Periya Thriumozhi 73

[Guest guest]

The Madras BAshai

 

It is commonplace to observe people spruning the accent of tamil in chennai which is popularly known as the "madrAs bAshai"

 

On a closer scutiny, I feel, is it that bad as it is made to be so?

 

No I am not a votary to the mediocre vocalubary used but amidst the maze are some words still in usage here in the dharma-migu chennai in certain quarters and also seen in the tamil movies from time to time.

 

AzhwAr-s have used these very words, which make these words sacorsant and perhaps must have been a formal usage in those days.

 

In fact, I do not see these words used by our community in day to day parlance.

 

For example :

kazhuvudhal---cleansing -- ...kazhuvidum perumai gangaiyin karai mEal" periyAzhwAr thirumozhi 4-7-5;

" ..pAdhangaL kazhuvinar" thiru-voi-mozhi 10-9-10;

 

valithal -------pulling with great efforts-----"..manathai valithu, kaNNa nEr karandhu.." thiru-voi-mozhi 5-1-4;

 

kundhi-----sitting----------thirumangai mannan

 

The female monkey sits on the banana tree clasping its younger one and happily enjoying the fruits and the juice.

 

this is described by nElan in periya thiru-mozhi:

 

"...kundhi vAzhayin kozhum kaNi nugarndhu, than kuruLaiyaith thazhuvip pOi,

mandhi, mAmbaNai mEal vaigu nAngUr, vaN purudothamamEA" 4-2-8;

 

kundhi--sitting; mandhi-female monkey;

 

mandhi-kundhi-kozhum kani nugarndhu-than kuruLaiyaith thazuvip pOi..

 

vanamamalai padmanabhan