Monday, July 6, 2020

Today's Tamil word – 6th July 2020 – ஆசான்

Teacher - Guru/குரு (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - ஆசான்/ஆசிரியர்

The word ‘Guru’ has become known across the world now. I have seen it being used in the US movies and shows too. It has travelled with Indian expatriates across to all corners of the globe.

We have been told the popular Indian saying, ‘Matha, pitha, guru, deivam’, all these four are Sanskrit words; matha and pitha couldn’t infiltrate into Tamil but the words Guru and Deivam have become widely accepted words in Tamil.

The original Tamil word for teacher is ஆசான். Its reference can be found in the third chapter of Tamil epic Silapathikaram, titled “அரங்கேற்று காதை” (story of the debut on-stage performance). It is about the first dance performance of Madhavi in Poompuhar (the Cholan Capital) before the court of the Chola king Karikalan. Here, Ilango Adigal uses the word ஆடல் ஆசான் to refer to Madhavi’s dance teacher.



அணநாகப்பன்

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