"Deivathin Kural" is a series of 7 volume book which is a compilation of the talks given by Jagadguru Sri Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Swamigal, the sage of Kanchi. The first two volumes have been translated into English under the name "Hindu Dharma". All of them are available free on the website Kamakoti.org
The objective of this post is not to reproduce the contents or talk about the detailed philosophical aspects explained in the book. It is just to present some interesting snippets from the book:
- Man - The word Man comes from Manush (Sanskrit) which is again derived from Manu, who is considered as the first person in the creation as per vedas. The Tamil word Manushyan is also derived from the same meaning.
- Bihar - In the past, it was full of Buddha Viharas. The word Vihar has got modified to Bihar.
- Telugu - Andhra is bounded on three sides by three Siva temples - Kalahasti in the South, SriSailam in the North and Koti Linga in the West. Hence, it was Tri-Linga Desa. This trilinga became trilingu and finally Telugu
- Yajman - The vedas talk about several fire sacrifice ceremonies or Yajnas. The person who was responsible for conducting the Yagna was called Yajman. It has now come to mean "owner". Yajamanan in Tamil also has the same meaning.
- Adam - Atma (Soul) & Eve - Jeev or Jeevatma ( The individual Soul) - The union of the individual soul with the cosmic soul is the final message of advaita philosophy.
- Hour - It is derived from Hora - as in Hora Astrology
- Geometry - Gya in sanskrit means world. Miti is measurement. Geometry has evolved from these words.
- Iran - from the root word Aryan
- Zorastar - He was from Sourashtra region of Gujarat. Sourashtar changed to Zoraster.
- Nocturnal - Derived from the Sanskrit word Nakta meaning Night.A similar word exists in German language as well.
- Aztec (Civilization) - From the Sanskrit word Astika , meaning believer in God
- Sahara - From the sanskrit word Sagara meaning Sea ( Science now confirms that the entire sahara desert region was once a sea)
- Brow - From the sanskrit word Bruau
- Sadangu (Tamil) - Sadangu today refers to any ritual. It is derived from shad-Anga meaning 6 parts. The 6 parts to Vedanta like Jyotish, Chandaas etc. on which most of the rituals are based.
- Chatram (Tamil) - The vedas refer to several Chatra Yagnas. Unlike other Yagnas, there was no specific owner to this yagna. It was a kind of free for all. Today, chatram in Tamil means a place people can stay for free or a very low cost.
- Umattam Poo (Tamil) -Unmatham means madness in Sanskrit. This flower is said to induce madness in people.
- Erukkam Poo (Tamil) - Derived from Sanskrit word Arka Patram. Arka became Erukka.
- Sontham (Tamil) meaning relatives - Svadandham ( Sva+dandham) - Sva means self
- Thali - From the sanskrit world for Palm Leaf ( Thali was made of palm leaves in the past)
How the 12 month names of the Tamil Calender were derived?
It was based on the star of the day in which the full moon(Pournami) will occur. These calculations were based on the astronomy before thousands of years and it has definitely changed now.
1. Chittirai - Full moon occurs in the star of Chitra Nakshatra
2. Vaikasi - Visaka Nakshtra
3. Aani - Anusha Nakshatra - The month was called Anushi which became Aani
4. Aadi - Ashada Nakshatra
5. Aavani - Shravana Nakshtra - Month name was Shravani
6. Purattasi - Proshtapatha Nakshatra (Poorva and Uttara) - Month name was Proshtapathi
7. Iypassi - Aswini Nakshatra
8. Karthigai - Krittika/Karthigai Nakshatra
9. Marghazi - Marghaseersham Nakshatra
10. Thai - Pushyam or Poushyam Nakstra. This month was called Thishyam which became thai
11. Masi - Magha Nakshatra
12. Panguni - Phalguni Nakshatra
