ஆத்திச்சூடி # 18: இடம்பட வீடெடேல் (e-dum-pa-duh vEE-de-dAyl)
Translation: Build a house without encroachment.
Rumination: The term "இடம்பட" means "without encroaching on extra space" and "வீடெடேல்" means "never erect a house." Therefore this maxim lays down moderation as a fundamental criterion while erecting houses. At least in India, I have observed the tendency to use every available inch of space that inevitably enroaches upon a neighbor's property. Many disputes have risen thereof, often resulting in vigilante justice or as law suits in the already overburdened courts. Building a house with less floor-space to provide additional room for gardening is not an attractive proposition anymore. Population explosion has made it almost impossible to afford independent housing in India. However, states like Kerala offer hope. Although the population density is pretty high, Keralites tend to appreciate nature and have an innate predilection to grow trees within their compounds. They do not use every inch of floor space to erect their houses. Apart from exhorting moderation, this maxim also implies the indirect physical and mental health benefits arising out of building a simple house without encroaching every available inch of space.
Quotes: For a man's house is his castle, and each man's home is his safest refuge -- Edward Coke.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Maxim # 17: ஞயம்பட உரை -- Speak words that beget happiness
ஆத்திச்சூடி # 17: ஞயம்பட உரை (gna-yam-pa-da ur-ai)
Translation: Speak words that beget happiness.
Rumination: The term "ஞயம்பட" means "begetting happiness" and "உரை" means "speak." According to Auvaiyar, the ultimate objective of any speech must lie in bringing happiness to those who hear it. In fact, Tiruvalluvar's Kural 100, quoted in my blog accurately captures the concept. There are both good and bad things to talk about. Any time one is overly obsessed with either one of those, his speech becomes not only predictable and monotonous, but also tepid and cloying. And when the subject matter is overly concerned about the negative things, it becomes distressing and tortuous. Therefore cherry-picking a topic for conversation is in itself an art. Moreover, one doesn't need the company of doom's-day sayers. We all need people around us with whom we can have conversations and then feel as though those were the best moments of our lifetime. In other words, the pursuit of any speech or conversation must ultimately lie in begetting happiness in the other person. Even friendly admonishments may acquire a new sense of meaning, if this objective is kept in the radar-scope of any conversation.
Quotes: Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another. -- Napoleon Hill.
Translation: Speak words that beget happiness.
Rumination: The term "ஞயம்பட" means "begetting happiness" and "உரை" means "speak." According to Auvaiyar, the ultimate objective of any speech must lie in bringing happiness to those who hear it. In fact, Tiruvalluvar's Kural 100, quoted in my blog accurately captures the concept. There are both good and bad things to talk about. Any time one is overly obsessed with either one of those, his speech becomes not only predictable and monotonous, but also tepid and cloying. And when the subject matter is overly concerned about the negative things, it becomes distressing and tortuous. Therefore cherry-picking a topic for conversation is in itself an art. Moreover, one doesn't need the company of doom's-day sayers. We all need people around us with whom we can have conversations and then feel as though those were the best moments of our lifetime. In other words, the pursuit of any speech or conversation must ultimately lie in begetting happiness in the other person. Even friendly admonishments may acquire a new sense of meaning, if this objective is kept in the radar-scope of any conversation.
Quotes: Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another. -- Napoleon Hill.
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Maxim # 16: சனி நீராடு -- Take a special shower on Saturdays.
ஆத்திச்சூடி # 16: சனி நீராடு (sa-ni nEE-rAA-du)
Translation: Take a special shower on Saturdays.
Rumination: The term "சனி" means "Saturday" and "நீராடு" means "take bath." Literally, this maxim underscores the importance of taking special bath on Saturdays. For many, special bath may mean an oil-bath or a head-bath. Auvaiyar's penchant for cleanliness is amply evident in this maxim. A good shower not only relieves stress but can also provide ample opportunities for ruminating new ideas. Quality time at the showers is a luxury during weekdays. Hence the maxim's reference to Saturdays. And celebrate the coincidence of today being a Saturday as well.
Quotes: It is the height of luxury to sit in a hot bath and read about little birds. -- Lord Alfred Tennyson.
Translation: Take a special shower on Saturdays.
Rumination: The term "சனி" means "Saturday" and "நீராடு" means "take bath." Literally, this maxim underscores the importance of taking special bath on Saturdays. For many, special bath may mean an oil-bath or a head-bath. Auvaiyar's penchant for cleanliness is amply evident in this maxim. A good shower not only relieves stress but can also provide ample opportunities for ruminating new ideas. Quality time at the showers is a luxury during weekdays. Hence the maxim's reference to Saturdays. And celebrate the coincidence of today being a Saturday as well.
Quotes: It is the height of luxury to sit in a hot bath and read about little birds. -- Lord Alfred Tennyson.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Maxim # 15: ஙப்போல் வளை -- Be a gregarious person.
ஆத்திச்சூடி # 15: ஙப்போல் வளை (nGa-pOl va-lai)
Translation: Be amenable as the alphabet 'ங'.
Intended Translation: Be a gregarious person.
Rumination: The term "ஙப்போல்" refers to "like the alphabet ங" and "வளை" to "amenability." Literally, this maxim asserts what John Donne wrote in his wonderful poem, "No man is an island." In the previous maxim, Auvaiyar exhorted one to not twist facts, whereas in this one she exhorts one to twist one's very self. She wants people to be amenable with one another. By "twisting" she alludes to the innate deficiencies of a human mind that needs to be uprooted. Ego is one such malaise. A person with ego cannot befriend others easily and cannot enjoy their camaraderie. This maxim must not be overstretched to religious brothers and sisters who detach themselves of all earthly chores and settle down for an eremitical lifestyle to seek God and Supreme Knowledge. However it must be applied for the hoi polloi who are tossed in between the frenzy of privacy and the stresses of everyday life that have almost made building rock-solid friendship a thing of the past. Understanding this maxim to lead an active lifestyle of bonhomie will help nourish friendship. In Tamil, the alphabet ''ங" never gets the primacy. No word starts with this alphabet, save this maxim as it is used in an ironic sense. However, its raison détre is to vivify the other alphabets. It is only seen in the company of others. Similarly, one must be gregarious to discover his own self in others.
Quotes:
Translation: Be amenable as the alphabet 'ங'.
Intended Translation: Be a gregarious person.
Rumination: The term "ஙப்போல்" refers to "like the alphabet ங" and "வளை" to "amenability." Literally, this maxim asserts what John Donne wrote in his wonderful poem, "No man is an island." In the previous maxim, Auvaiyar exhorted one to not twist facts, whereas in this one she exhorts one to twist one's very self. She wants people to be amenable with one another. By "twisting" she alludes to the innate deficiencies of a human mind that needs to be uprooted. Ego is one such malaise. A person with ego cannot befriend others easily and cannot enjoy their camaraderie. This maxim must not be overstretched to religious brothers and sisters who detach themselves of all earthly chores and settle down for an eremitical lifestyle to seek God and Supreme Knowledge. However it must be applied for the hoi polloi who are tossed in between the frenzy of privacy and the stresses of everyday life that have almost made building rock-solid friendship a thing of the past. Understanding this maxim to lead an active lifestyle of bonhomie will help nourish friendship. In Tamil, the alphabet ''ங" never gets the primacy. No word starts with this alphabet, save this maxim as it is used in an ironic sense. However, its raison détre is to vivify the other alphabets. It is only seen in the company of others. Similarly, one must be gregarious to discover his own self in others.
Quotes:
- The worst solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship -- Francis Bacon.
- Two are better than one. If one falls, the other will lift up his companion. Woe to the solitary man! For if he should fall, he has no one to lift him up. So also, if two sleep together, they keep each other warm. How can one alone keep warm? -- Holy Bible (RSV), Ecclesiastes 4: 9-11
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Maxim # 14: கண்டொன்று சொல்லேல் -- Never twist facts.
ஆத்திச்சூடி # 14: கண்டொன்று சொல்லேல் (kuhn-du-on-Ru sol-lEl)
Translation: Never twist facts.
Intended Translation: Never indulge in calumniation.
Rumination: The term "கண்டொன்று" has to be split into two as "கண்டு" and "ஒன்று," meaning things that "you see" and that "contrary to what you see" respectively. "சொல்லேல்" refers to "never speak." Literally, this maxim exhorts one to refrain from committing calumniation and detraction. Hypothetically there must not be any difficulty in speaking exactly what one has seen. Yet, the malice, bias, and self-deception inherent in any human mind decorates, exaggerates, and caparisons factoids as facts. These are days when nations "sex-up" their Intel reports to rush to war. Individuals too often cross the line of Rubicon from simple gossip to systematic character-assassination. It is all possible because of an inherent capability of human mind to be contended with itself about diametrically opposite notions at any given time. And only my favorite George Orwell can talk about it in such a way that it will forever get etched in your minds. And so, do not forget to read George Orwell's In Front of Your Nose.
Quotes: The point is that we are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. -- George Orwell, 1946.
Translation: Never twist facts.
Intended Translation: Never indulge in calumniation.
Rumination: The term "கண்டொன்று" has to be split into two as "கண்டு" and "ஒன்று," meaning things that "you see" and that "contrary to what you see" respectively. "சொல்லேல்" refers to "never speak." Literally, this maxim exhorts one to refrain from committing calumniation and detraction. Hypothetically there must not be any difficulty in speaking exactly what one has seen. Yet, the malice, bias, and self-deception inherent in any human mind decorates, exaggerates, and caparisons factoids as facts. These are days when nations "sex-up" their Intel reports to rush to war. Individuals too often cross the line of Rubicon from simple gossip to systematic character-assassination. It is all possible because of an inherent capability of human mind to be contended with itself about diametrically opposite notions at any given time. And only my favorite George Orwell can talk about it in such a way that it will forever get etched in your minds. And so, do not forget to read George Orwell's In Front of Your Nose.
Quotes: The point is that we are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. -- George Orwell, 1946.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Maxim # 13: அஃகஞ் சுருக்கேல் -- Never skimp on grains to shortchange others.
ஆத்திச்சூடி # 13: அஃகஞ் சுருக்கேல் (ak-kam su-ru-kEl)
Translation: Never skimp on grains to shortchange others.
Intended Translation: Honesty is the best policy.
Rumination:The term "அஃகஞ்" refers to "grains" and "சுருக்கேல்" to "refrain from shortchanging." Literally, this maxim exhorts to avoid skimping on grains to shortchange others. In those days, local economy was sustained with practices that included bartering. One need not be a grocer to trade grains. Hence bartering of grains was ubiquitous. Greedy people shortchanged the buyer by reducing the amount of grains exchanged or sold for a return. In other words, Auvaiyar stresses the importance of being honest in all our affairs and transactions. This maxim can also be applied to modern times where most jobs are sedentary. At the comfort of a high-speed T1 connection, workers can wile away their precious time at work to cyber-loafing. Studies do suggest that there is an increased tendency in workers to malinger in order to run personal errands. These activites result in shortchanging one's employers, customers, and clients. It is very important to apply age-old maxims like this for contemporary contexts because it is the spirit behind the maxim that counts; not literal words.
Quotes: Your honesty is not to be based either on religion or policy. Both your religion and policy must be based on it -- John Ruskin 1819-1900 (Oxford Dictionary of Quotations 6th Ed.)
Note: This concludes the first 13 alphabets of Tamil, i.e., from அ to அஃ. They are known as உயிர் எழுத்துக்கள் (Lifeline alphabets).
Translation: Never skimp on grains to shortchange others.
Intended Translation: Honesty is the best policy.
Rumination:The term "அஃகஞ்" refers to "grains" and "சுருக்கேல்" to "refrain from shortchanging." Literally, this maxim exhorts to avoid skimping on grains to shortchange others. In those days, local economy was sustained with practices that included bartering. One need not be a grocer to trade grains. Hence bartering of grains was ubiquitous. Greedy people shortchanged the buyer by reducing the amount of grains exchanged or sold for a return. In other words, Auvaiyar stresses the importance of being honest in all our affairs and transactions. This maxim can also be applied to modern times where most jobs are sedentary. At the comfort of a high-speed T1 connection, workers can wile away their precious time at work to cyber-loafing. Studies do suggest that there is an increased tendency in workers to malinger in order to run personal errands. These activites result in shortchanging one's employers, customers, and clients. It is very important to apply age-old maxims like this for contemporary contexts because it is the spirit behind the maxim that counts; not literal words.
Quotes: Your honesty is not to be based either on religion or policy. Both your religion and policy must be based on it -- John Ruskin 1819-1900 (Oxford Dictionary of Quotations 6th Ed.)
Note: This concludes the first 13 alphabets of Tamil, i.e., from அ to அஃ. They are known as உயிர் எழுத்துக்கள் (Lifeline alphabets).
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