Why they named me? (the name where you live)

Do you know the story behind your name? Yes. Almost all of us know why our name was chosen though we don’t enjoy the liberty of choosing it. We all have interesting stories or purpose behind our name.

So my next question is, do you know the story behind the name of the place you live? Yes? The story or reason behind the name of the places you visit? No. Almost all of us will be/are unaware of this.

I hear a question. ‘Why should I know the story, after all?’ 

Ok. Why do think knowing the reason behind your name is interesting or important? The answer you get here can answer the question I just heard.

If you are not interested or never tried knowing your name’s history, I have something to tell you. Bye, take care, see you later.

Otherwise, following here are interesting details about few places we know, we have been to, but never gave a thought to know its name with the purpose.

Coimbatore

This second largest city of Tamilnadu state takes the name from a historical origin.

Story 1

Cosan+ puthur ; Cosanputhur; Covanputhur; Covaiputhur;  Coimbatore. ‘Kosan’ are the group of people who ruled over small towns, lived in huts and reared cattle breeds (‘ko’ in Tamil means cow). Since this region was under their rule back in time, the name became.

Story2

Co(Ko -king)+ am(beautiful) +puthur(a new place); Coyamputhur; Coimbatore. It’s been told that a King who visited a temple near the place, was swept away by the beauty of the place and gave this name which means ‘King’s beautiful new town’.

Salem

Story1

Cheran+am; Cheralam;Salem. Chera is ancient dynasty in India. Since the place was ruled by Cheras, the place got this name. It’s seen in the inscriptions.

Story2

Sayilam; Saylam; Salem. Sayilam in Sanskrit means mountain. Since this plce has lot of mountains (malai) such as Nagarmalai in the north, Jeragamalai in the south, Kanjanamalai in the west and Godumalai in the east, this place was given the name.

Erode

One among the handloom hubs of the Tamilnadu state

Story 1
Iru (two) + oodai (stream); Iruoodai; Erodai; Erode. The recent studies suggests that the name Erode has come from the existence of two streams in the city namely Perumpallam and Kalingarayan canal.

Story 2
Eeram (wet) + oodu (skull); Eeramanaoodu; Eeraoodu; Erodu; Erode. The reason goes back to the story of Lord Shiva and the ‘Yagna’ (yaagam). The disputes followed the yagna and Bramha’s skull was thrown in the Cauvery River at this district. The skull is said to be wet and thus the name evolved.


Vellore

The most wanted medical (CMC) and educational(VIT) hub of the south.

Story 1
Vela (babul tree) +oor (town); Velavoor; Veloor; Vellore. This place is said to have vela tree in abundance and hence given this name.

Story 2
Vel (a weapon) +oor(town); Veloor; Vellore. Acording to a division if Hinduism, it is trusted that Lord Muruga was born from a lotus pond in this place with the weapon, vel.


Madurai

It is noted as the temple city of Tamilnadu.

Story 1
Marudha ( Saj tree) + thurai (area); Marudhathurai; Madurai. Since Saj trees can be seen at the banks of river Vaigai flowing here, the place was named so meaning ‘The Place of Saj trees’

Story 2
Madhuram (sweet); Madurai. According to Hinduism, a sweet liquid (Madhuram) flowed from Lord Shiv’s head. This place was named after this.

(to be continued...)

Pieces of Life!

The muttering fan reminded her about the endless quarrels she used to have with her husband, while he was around and alive. Now at her 70, she got no one to visit her. Only a teenage girl from the next street visits her often. How their friendship evolved is a vague story to them. Hestia is this old lady’s name, Meaning goddess of hearth but she was calm as a stream.  Once her life was like a party and so happening. No one rather she knows why she has moved to this aloof place so abandoned.  I have introduced enough; I will let Hestia do the talking now.

Hestia speaks….

I felt like the Sun was gazing at me, golden and glittering. Afternoon window peeps have become my habit. Bird chirps are so good. Today I feel like dusting my showcase. It’s crazy that I have a showcase but have no one to show in here. Though I don’t have a fancy for tidy housekeeping, each piece this show case holds, holds a great memory too. Each of it was from different people, at different phase of life, as a gift, as a remembrance, as a thanks note and more. Each piece has sediments to cherish. I stare them for a while with pride and took soft pink linen to clean them.

First, my hand met a beautiful porcelain saucer in ocean blue. It had black stone embellishments; each of it reflected my chest length shadow.

The Blue Saucer and the Laughter

Rhea was my closest teen-friend.  That day was when we met for the last time since she had to move abroad with her husband. With tea and cake always comes a chat.

“Fire! (She calls me so) So tell me how you like him? Good for your library?”

I smiled. “Ree, I liked him. Love books. And that’s where I fell.”

“Hmmmm. So am I hearing wedding bells soon?” She winked.

“Yeah Ree! Of that kind.  You are gonna be missed this season”

“Dah-ling! I would love to stay here but things are different at my side.”

“I understand. If not will I spare?” I hit her softly.

She grinned.”Here, I have something for you. Taa-daaa!! A saucer fortune. Like it?”

I took it in my hands gently and felt it. “Oh I love it!! Too good for words to describe”

I gave a hug. I was really happy. The best thing is it was hand crafted.

“Well. Next time I visit, you are gonna serve me a cup of special cardamom tea on top of it.”

“Order taken, mademoiselle!!”

We had a long chat of gossips, books, movies and future.

She left me feeling warm and waving bye. I never met her again. It’s crazy how once-so-close friend go hidden for life from you and you make no efforts to find them. They just remain in your memory but afresh.

If you have one such person, write here _________________ .

After rubbing it to shine, I placed the saucer carefully back. Next to it was a wooden paper cutter, blunted long back.

The wooden paper cutter and Berry candies

The dull finish surface of the cutter had faded painting of a dove. It smelt like old true rosewood. I always wish my closet had one such fragrance to spray on.

It was given to me by an old lady who stays a furlong ahead my aunt’s house in the hills. My family visits my aunt every vacation and I never fail to have chats with that old lady. She was called ‘Kuntoo’, by herself.  She gives me pink candies of berry flavor each time I go to her. That candy tasted so unique and had a touch of love.

“Hello Miss Honey cake! What brought you here this morning?”. She has a husky grany-type voice.

“Kuntoooooo it’s my birthday today. I gave her candies this time.

“Wow my sugar jelly! Am so happy my kid”. She took a pink candy n began to unwrap.

“Alright what you have to give me today? Definitely not candies”. I extended my palm.

“ Haaaaaaa! My bubbly bunch of berry I have nothing so special with me now… umm.. But wait.” She rummaged her draw narrowing her tiny eyes. “Oh my cherry blossom! Here is it. Tell me how you like it?” she clasped her palm and dunked something into mine with a wide grin.

It was this paper cutter. Shining and new, I thought it was a new one.

“Plum jam! My granny gave this to me long back. She used it for her craft classes. I so loved it”. She kept seeing my face with expectant eyes waiting for my reaction.

“Kuntoo, I just love this. Thank you”. I smiled and planted a kiss on her cheek, for the first time. She was moved.

“Honey dumpling! Today you got to answer this. What is life? Tell me tell me”

“ahh! Not again Kuntoo am bored.”

“But you never gave me an answer jelly jar!” she frowned.

“Life is life. Byeeeee Kuntoo. Time to go” I rushed from that place not waiting for any reply. I was busy researching the paper cutter and wanted to use it right away.

“Happy bithd-a-yyyy…” I heard a voice fading out. That was the last time I visited her since my aunt moved abroad then. I never had a wish to meet her again. Not even now. Some relations are meant to be so, too good to be bothered.

Coming to the point, have you ever asked someone “What’s life?” Got any answers??                  

Now tell me, what is life?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I am so lost into this wooden piece. It reminds me of Kuntoo’s beautiful garden, maintained so well by her. The unique taste of the berry candies she gave me, I can still feel it.

By the way, my memories made me so occupied. Let me sip some tea. Would you like to join?