Re Potala(ka), etc

[Swaminathan Madhuresan]

>On 24-Feb-1999, Dr. J.-L. Chevillard gave the original text and
> >its translation:
> >
> >[Begin quote]
> > "OGku uyar *malayattu* arum tavan2 ..." - Manimekalai 1.3
> > "the great sage Agastya, who dwells on Potikai" (p.1)
> >[End quote]

On 26-Feb-1999, Dr. Chevillard writes:
>
> As for geography, I very much doubt one can make any
> precise deduction from it.


   I am little confused here. Does *malaya* in maNimEkalai 1-3
   does not belong to Potikai/Potiyil?

   UVS, the great editor says so. Also, A. Danielou and T. V. Gopal Iyer
   do the same.

   If Chevillard DOUBTS UVS' and T. V. Gopal Iyer's identification
   of *malaya* in Manimekalai 1-3 with Potikai, what is his guess?

   Sincerely,
   SM



---Jean-Luc CHEVILLARD <jlc at CCR.JUSSIEU.FR> wrote:
>
> N. Ganesan wrote:
>
> > The Buddhist epic in Tamil from 6th century (Re: P. Schalk's
> >volume on Manimekalai)  fixes Malaya as
> >Mt. Potiyil/Potikai. Malaya as Potikai/Potiyil
> >is used in the beginning of the B. epic. Also, many Sanskrit
> >texts fix Malaya mountains in South Tamilnadu of which
Potiyil/Potikai
> >is the tallest peak (in entire Tirunelvely, Kanyakumari districts).
> >
> >On 24-Feb-1999, Dr. J.-L. Chevillard gave the original text and
> >its translation:
> >
> >[Begin quote]
> > "OGku uyar *malayattu* arum tavan2 ..." - Manimekalai 1.3
> > "the great sage Agastya, who dwells on Potikai" (p.1)
> >[End quote]
> >
> >Note that U. V. CAminAtaiyar uses Potikai/Potiyil as Malaya.
>
> Please not that, as I remarked earlier,
> the translation I quoted is not very litteral.
>
> the text says "arum tavan2" (stern ascetic);
> the commentator interprets this as designating Agastya;
> then the translator takes the short road :-)
>
> Similarly the equation "malayam"="potiyil malai"
> found in the commentary becomes a substitution in the translation.
>
> Since there is still space in this post, I give now
> the whole passage as it stands
> in this not at all litteral translation. (Manimekalai, Canto 1)
>
> "The magnificent city of Puhaar is renowned throughout
>  the world for the virtues of its inhabitants, who jealously
>  preserve the heritage of a most ancient culture.
>
> "Still further to increase the city's fame, the great sage
>  Agastya, who dwells on Potika�, the snowy mountain,
>  counseled one of the Chola kings (bearer of the hero's bracelet
>  for destroying the three flying fortresses of the treacherous
>  demons) to establish a festival in honour of Indra the king
>  of the gods.
>
> "Making obeisance, the king requested Indra to come
>  and dwell each year in the ancient city of Puh�r ..."
>
> There seems to be a wide syncretism in this buddhist text.
>
> As for geography, I very much doubt one can make any
> precise deduction from it.
>
> Regards
>
> -- Jean-Luc CHEVILLARD
>
> P.S. I am afraid I have been speaking too much these day:
> I shall keep quiet for a few days, even if I do not agree
> with what is written...
>

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