putra

[Prasad Velusamy]

>
>Given the long history of etymologizing the word, putra,
>has a Dravidian origin been suggested? Tamil has
>"putu"=new
>"putalvan"=son, student
>"putal"=bud
>
>With regards,
>V. Iyer
>

Do the above tamil words like "putu" relate to the Skt. "pota"
(young of a tree or animal)? cUta-pota, zAla-pota, simha-pota etc.,

Another interesting aspect of "putra" is in the town name,
pATali-putra, probably from tamil "putar/putal"=
bush/thicket/low jungle. Any comments on pATali-putra
(pAlibothra)=thicket of pATali flora? Placenames with -putra like
in zala-putra/zali-putra also be considered. Lewis Rice (EI,
no.24, p.334), " pATalika, the village in which sarvanandin made
his copy, may be pATaliputra,  in the South Arcot District.
The periya-purANam makes it the seat of  a large Jaina monastery.
pANArASTra is no doubt the territory of the bANa kings."




______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com