I would like to go over some of the super common Tamil proverbs which we use very often amongst the tamil fraternity. The reason I am bringing these proverbs is though we end up using these very often still we don’t know the correct meaning. In this world if eight out of ten say lies loudly and two out of ten say truth softly then world seem to believe the majority. Let me go over those four Tamil proverbs:
Proverb 1: சட்டியில் இருந்தால் தான் அகப்பையில் வரும்
Common belief: The vessel needs to contain something for the spoon to fetch it
Actual proverb: Shashti yil erunthal akapaiyil varum
Actual meaning: Observe fasting during shasthi period to conceive child
Proverb 2: நாயைக் கண்டால் கல்லைக் காணோம்; கல்லைக் கண்டால் நாயைக் காணோம்
Common belief: We use this proverb jovially whenever we couldn’t find one of the parties in question
Actual meaning: In ancient times there are wonderful stone sculptures across different parts of Tamil nadu and if the sculptor has made a dog as one of the sculptures then it just looks too good for us to make out a dog since we see a stone and if we see the dog it is difficult to make out the stone.
Proverb 3: கழுதைக்கு தெரியுமா கற்பூர வாசனை ?
Common belief: Donkey cannot appreciate smell of camphor because it does not understand its goodness
Actual proverb: Kazhu Thaikka theriyumaam karpoora vaasanai
Actual meaning: Those days they used to make mats made up of Kazhu (a grass) that had smell of camphor. They used these mats for children since the smell kept off the ants and insects from children
Proverb 4: முருங்கையை நட்டவன் வெறுங்கையோடு போவான்!
Common belief: People get scared to keep muringai in their house hearing this proverb since they feel they may be empty handed if they plant this tree
Actual meaning: Muringai is a fantastic plant that provides so much nutrients to the body and if one has drumstick leaves regularly they can remain young and may not need stick in their old age. When they say empty handed this is what they intended to say
As
you can see these are very common proverbs but we just have a different meaning
to it. Now let me move onto couple of beliefs.
Chithirai month: There is a proverb that says “சித்திரைக்கு அப்பன் தெருவில் நிற்பான்” which once again wrongly interpreted by people. I am not Saint to talk on beliefs as myself am a religious person and will not challenge old beliefs that showcases our tradition and culture. But something which is wrongly understood by people and even more wrongly spread by people is what makes me feel bad. We must spread positivity as much as we can and even if we cannot spread positivity we shouldn’t indulge in spreading negativity. Now coming to the belief of the proverb – if people conceive in Aadi then child is born in Chithirai and this is the reason spouses are separated in month of Aadi since they believe Chithirai is all time hot climate and in olden years with not much transportation facilities and no artificial ways to coolen yourself people tried not to give birth in Chithirai as it would be tough on them to manage the heat. Now in this 21st century transportation, medical facilities, A/C, Coolers all have made Chithirai no different than any other month. We live in a world where Milk man has car and maids carry smart phones. So interpretation according to the context is the key.
“Theetu”: Actually I like the concept of “Theetu” – when child is born in one household then all the members in the household are asked not to visit public places like temples for 11 days or 16 days as they don’t want the members to catch hold of a disease and spread it to the newborn as the newborn is yet to gain resistance power. But in this generation newborn is born in US, grandparents in India, aunts/uncles in Europe, cousins meet in Whatsapp, emotions are transferred through facetime, so where is all this Joint family concept ? But still I may miss out on something which I would like to know myself …If you know more about ‘Theetu’ please ping me. Once again I am not here to challenge the belief system as each and every custom had a rationale behind it but my only question is some things may no longer hold true for current generation.
But there is one evergreen proverb in Tamil – “எல்லாம் நன்மைக்கே” ..Thank god this was found by people who did not patent the usage; If someone in today’s world would have found he would have asked subscription charges every time we use. There is no wrong interpretation for this one and this one is applicable to anybody and for everything. Truly immortal proverb ….
