The elephant naLagiri/nalagiri

[Prof P Kumar]

Swaminathan Madhuresan asked:
>The jAtaka usage is nAlAgiri. Does IA grammar allow
>for this development from naLa/nala-giri?
>Ie., like nara -> nArAyaNa and naLa -> nALAyaNI,
>could the jAtaka 'nAlA-giri' can be developed from 'nala-giri'?

There is no such direct way from nala-giri to nAlAgiri. This latter form of
the name seems to presuppose a feminine nAlA, known by some sanskrit
lexicographers beside nAlI with the meaning "hollow stalk", "reed".

Prof. P. Kumar (Head of Dept)
Department of Science of Religion
University of Durban-Westivlle
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Director of the 18th Quinquennial Congress of the IAHR Durban- August 5-12 2000
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