Maangalya dhaaraNam – part -3

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Thaali –its meaning and origin.

So

far we have seen from Sanskrit and Tamil texts that the ceremony of Mangalya

dharanam was absent in Vedic marriages – at least until Silappadhikaram times.

However

we do come across the mention of 'thaali' in

olden Tamil texts.

In

this post, we will analyze the information related to 'thaali'.

 

 

Thaali

is found mentioned in many texts, but this is something worn by the babies!

Thaali

is the shortened form of 'Im-padai-th-thaali' meaning,

'thaali having 5 weapons'!

It

has been customary in olden Tamil lands to use this Im-padai-th-thaali' for

kids,

as

a kind of amulet to ward off evil eye.

 

'Thaal' means palm leaf.

The

chain is made of palm leaf and / or in gold in the shape of a leaf..

The

images of the Panchayudha or the 5 weapons of Lord

Vishnu

were

tied to this thaal.

It

is possible to assume that the pendant was shaped like a palm leaf

with

the images of the 5 weapons engraved on it.

 

Lord

Vishnu was always identified with the act of protection (kaappu).

" kaappukku munnedukkum kadavuL MaalEyagum " ,

says Choodamani Nigandu. (1)

 

The

very image of His weapons in whatever format,

is

believed to protect the wearer from any evil or attack. (2)

 

This

chain was tied around the neck of the baby on the 5th day of its

birth.(3)

The

baby would be wearing it till the time it starts eating solid food.

This

is known from Purananuru (4)

wherein

the mother says that the thaali is not yet removed from her baby

to

be replaced by a garland,

for

he has not started eating food.

He

is still continuing on milk food.

 

The

thaali, dangling on the neck of the baby never misses the attention of the

people,

because

that is the period the baby will be crawling with the thaali

that

sways rhythmically, as the baby

moves around.

The

golden thaali shines with the images of the weapons

in

such a way that no evil can come near the baby.

The

mother talks about the beauty of her kid with the thaali on his neck (5)

Other

texts also mention about thaali,

but

only in the context of a baby wearing it. (6)

 

 

It

is because of the thaali,

the

term 'thaalaatttu' (lullaby) ('thaal aattu' –

the sway of the thaal)

seems

to have entered into usage!

This

is understood from the fact that the stages of a baby as sung in

one

of the song types, namely " Pillai-th-Thamizh "

or " Pillai-k-kavi "

has

this 'thaalattu-p-paruvam'

which

begins when the baby is left on the cradle few days after birth

(or

on the day of naming ceremony).

 

In

Periyaazhwar Thirumozhi, we find the expression

of the thaali,

which

is adoring the chest of baby Krishna.

The

aazhwar describes

" Thiru maarvukku yErkum ivai endru,

aim-padaiyum, aaramum kondu " (7)

The

chain with the pendant of 5 weapons engraved on it,

is

seen on the chest of Baby Krishna.

 

 

The

'thaalelO' rhyme of the Thaalaattu,

seems

to be derived from the thaal

that

is shining on the baby

and

swaying here and there when the baby moves around.

 

It

seems babies of both gender were made to wear this,

though

the verses found in Sangam texts are about boy babies only.

The

Pillai-th-thamizh is separate for boy and girl babies.

The

Pillai-th-thamizh is sung on the different stages of the baby's growth.

Except

certain stages, others are the same for both the genders.

'Thaalattu'

is one such stage which is the same for both boy and girl babies.

This

goes to show that that thaali was worn by the babies of both sexes.

 

The reason for wearing it as protection goes to show

how the thaali came to be adopted in later days

in the marriage ceremony!

 

 

(to be continued)

 

*********************************

 

 

Reference:-

(1)

Choodamani nigandu 12-139)

 

 

(2)

The 5 weapons

are mentioned in the last verse of Vishnu Sahasra nama and in Sangam texts too besides ChoodamaNi nigandu.

 

 

vanamAlI gadI SAr'ngI Sa'nkhI cakrI ca nandakI |

 

SrImAn nArAyaNo vishNuh vAsudevo'bhirakshatu ||

 

 

(3)

Dr U.Ve. Sa in " Purananuru, moolamum, vuraiyum " , Edition 1950, (p

182)

 

(4)

" thaar poondu thaali kaLaindhandrum ilanE,

paal

vittu ayiniyumindra yindranan "

Purananuru

-77

 

(5)

" ponnudai-th-thaali en magan "

Agananuru

54

 

(6)

Manimegalai – 3-137

Kamba

ramayanam (Nadu- 58),

Kalingatthu

parani (Avatharam -9)

and

Thiruvalaiyaadal puranam (39-25)

 

(7)

Periyaazhwar Thirumozhi – (1-3 -5)