Quote for the day!

ഉന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തു-
ന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്തുന്താളെയുന്തു്

(According to legend, the very first couplet in
മഞ്ജരി inspired by which കൃഷ്ണഗാഥ was written.)

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Star

An often-used word for star is താരം. Why is star called that?

തരിപ്പാൻ സഹായിക്കുന്നത് താരം

okay what does തരിക്കുക mean here?

In this context, തരിക്കുക = തരണം ചെയ്യുക, which means to cross over, as in using a boat.

So, താരം is something that helps to cross over (as in a boat), i.e. to help navigate a boat.

Of course, in ancient times, people used stars to navigate their boats.


3 comments:

jjthoppil said...

Doubt this reasoning...taram.may be originated from
taarakam...(sanskrit) ...sitara..(persian)

jjthoppil said...

Doubt this reasoning...taram.may be originated from
taarakam...(sanskrit) ...sitara..(persian)

Vinod said...

Hi jjthoppil

Thanks for your comment.

taram and tarakam come from the same sanksrit root trii (the long rukaaram), which means to cross over (per monier williams). There is also a suggested etymology from the root staara which means to radiate rays.

I don't know the etymology of Persian sitara.

Once again thanks for your comment.