Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 61
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
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116
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(JUNE, 1932
Avarvannu mûdi chuttukollatte
"Let them come and cremate. Avitêyum chennu parakavēņam "You should go and tell them. Ila pula nannâyi kafichchukollu "And let the obsequies be duly performed, Panchavadyannalum kôlâhalam “With music and processions, Arpu viliyum natavetiyum
“With shouts and firing of guns : Åghoshamôda karikkavēnam
"Let it be done with great pomp." Then he gives directions as to how he should proceed in case of the death of their fathor and mother. Lastly, he safeguards the interests of their only sister :
Namukkûme onnallo nêrpennalum “We have but one sister, Anchuvayassilum kâtum kutti
"In the fifth year was performed the ear-boring, Eru vayassil eruttinakki,
"Was put to school at seven, Eruttum payarrum pathichavale, "And was well educated and trained in fencing, Ettu37 vayassil mutiyumketti,
"And her hair tied at eight years. Vidyakalokke tikaññavalkke
"She had completed her education Argummanammele Kunhiraman "When Kunhiraman of Arrummanammel Pattu 8 vayassil kuļichu ketti
"Married her in her tenth year, Nedumangalyam vechu kondupôyi Tying the tali of long married life, and took
her away. Núronnut achcbâram chollirrundu "One hundred and one guarantees have been
given, Nammaļum âyirattonnu achcharani "And we on our side have given one thousand chollirrundu,
and one, yirattonnirre venma ponnum
"And their value in gold Tulâmtûkki patramkoțuttiţtundu "Has been measured and given; Pasuvin kitavine koțuttittundu "And a cow and calf have been given. Nalpattirandallo katti chékon
“Of the forty-two armed chekons, Atilume nâlâle kotuttittundu
"Four have been given. Avaļum varakkumâyi vannu pöyál "Should she disagree with him) and come
away, Chollirrullatu kotukkavēnam
“What we have agreed to must be given. Pinne varakkumáyi vannupöyál "If she should return, Annette mûnnamane varuttikkoļu "Send for the intermediary of the day Kayyum kanakum paraññukollu "And settle accounts and details, Núlachårattêyum vannikkollu
** And agree to the divorce. Käsålevisam orikkarute
"Don't give up even a pie."
(To be continued.) 37 Girls do not tie up their heir till they are about 8 years of age. Though even then their hair will be scarcely sufficient to be done up in knots, it is begun to be simply tied up with string from that age.
38 This furnishes clear evidence of the tali having once formed the aesential part of marriage among the Tiyars, the tali being tied by the bridegroom himseif on the wedding day. This was no doubt departed from in later days, under what circumstances it is difficult to say for certain at this distence of time, until the talikeftu came to be considered as a separate ceremony to be performed on every girl before puberty and before marriage. The use of the simple word ketti, which literally means "tied," to denote "married " is most significant, as it clearly shows that marriage consisted in tying the idli. For a fuller treatment of the subject of tali kefu Kalyanam by the present writer, see Man in Trudlia, vol. IX, pages 116-130.
39 Nedumangalyam the string of a tali, being metaphorie of long married life.
:0 Achcharam=earnest money, advance given to ratify a bargain [Gundert, p. 91. Here it means, guarantees given by either party lost the wife be divorced without sufficient reasons or lest she should leave Jer husband of her own necord. It will appear that it was the custom to give stri-dhanam, or brido price. along with the bride.
