There is a dissertation available at Shodhganga, http://14.139.116.20:8080/jspui/handle/10603/87676. In chapter 2, on pp. 62-63, the custom of growing long ear lobes by Piramalai Kallar women from the Madurai area and men is discussed. (See http://14.139.116.20:8080/jspui/bitstream/10603/87676/9/09-chapter%202.pdf.) But, the author makes a strange logical leap and says, “There is every reason to suggest that the Kaḷḷaṉs were some 1800 years ago followers of Jainism and that they borrowed the practice of ear-lobbing from the Jains55.” She footnotes my IJJS paper as support for her statement! My paper makes no such claim!
Women from other parts of Tamil Nadu wear such ear ornaments without any connection to Jainism.
Regards,
Palaniappan
From: INDOLOGY <indology-bounces@list.indology.info> on behalf of Indology List <indology@list.indology.info>
Reply-To: rajam <rajam@earthlink.net>
Date: Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at 11:05 PM
To: "Tieken, H.J.H. (Herman)" <H.J.H.Tieken@hum.leidenuniv.nl>
Cc: Indology List <indology@list.indology.info>
Subject: Re: [INDOLOGY] Ears of the Buddha
Dear Professor Tieken,
The reference to the elongated ear-lobes of a singer (pāṭiṉi பாடினி) is found in lines 29-30 of the porunarāṟṟuppaṭai (பொருநராற்றுப்படை):
மயிர் குறை கருவி மாண்-கடை-அன்ன (mayir kuṟai karuvi māṇ-kaṭai-aṉṉa)
பூங்குழை-ஊசல் பொறை-சால் காதின் (pūṅkuḻai-ūcal poṟai-cāl kātiṉ)
As you can see …
Scissors is referred to as மயிர் குறை கருவி ‘tool/instrument that trims the hair.'
The handle of the scissors is மாண்-கடை ‘large/big base.’
[my apologies … I’m too close to Tamil that I haven’t developed the skills for translation!]
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The next reference is to kaṇṇaki (கண்ணகி) in the சிலப்பதிகாரம் (4:51)
When her husband கோவலன் (kōvalaṉ) left her for mātavi (மாதவி), kaṇṇaki (கண்ணகி) was deeply depressed and didn't adorn herself with her usual ornaments.
At that time she is described as
கொடுங்குழை துறந்து வடிந்து வீழ் காதினள்
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Later literary / social references are available. Unfortunately, my computer isn’t cooperating for scanning and imaging the modern references.
Just in case if you are interested, please view this YouTube piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPIOGTb_SxI
++++++++++
Regards,
rajam