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Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 09:28:56 -0600
To: agathiyar@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [agathiyar] "pi~n~nakanE" (Re: Thirumurai Series - 39)
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On Mon, 28 Jan 2002 15:13:40 -0000 naga_ganesan
wrote:

>
[...]

> OTOH, Shiva never wears peacock feathers, it will be
> against his ideals. He is a permanent "outsider"
> - a dancer in the burial grounds, worshipped
> by thieves, kApAlins, outlaws. He is on the fringe
> of settled society. White is his color of choice
> - kokku iRaku, white kapAlam, ganges from snow (hima) mountain,
> white erukku flower, and a boar's white teeth.
> In addition, he is smeared with white vibhUti
> all the time. White is a color that signifies
> paasivity, non-interest to Tamils. Anthropologists
> point to taking red (for positive results) flowers
> and taking white (for negative or unsuccessful results)
> in the Amman temples of Dravida folks (puu kETkiRa 'ritual').
> White signifies death and puRam poems are full
> of white imagery during funerals.
>
> Yes, pi~n~nakan2 means the one who has kapAlam, gangai,
> kokkiRaku, pan2Ri-pal, etc. all white stuff on
> his head.
>
> Regards,
> N. Ganesan
>

This connection with 'white' is intriguing and interesting.
A Spanish friend of mine, years ago, commenting on the
Chinese practice of avoiding white or associating it with
'death' (according to her reading and interpretation),
remarked that it was of course natural and logical. Her
argument was that white is the colour of snow and the
symbol of winter, and is associated with death in several
cultures. The association of Siva, the Lord of the
burial grounds (among other places and things), therefore
assumes a new significance. Also, it might make us question
whether such a Siva could be a "Dravidian" god. If he can
be, then that might add pointers towards the Northern or
North Western, or 'Sumerian' origins of the Dravidians, and
classify them as 'earlier' outsiders to inhabit the Indian
subcontinent. 'Earlier', yes, but also outsiders. These are
'thin reeds' ofcourse!!

----------------------
Sam Sankaran
Sam.Sankaran@...