Know the Etymology: 162
Place Name of the Day: Sunday, 02 October 2016

Gorakāna, Kaḍalāna, Daḷukāna, Kaṭṭa-muṟiccāna

கொ₃ர[க்]கான, கட₃லான, த₃ளு[க்]கான, கட்டமுறிச்சான
Gorakāna, Kaḍalāna, Daḷukāna, Kaṭṭa-muṟiccāna

Goraka+āna
Kaḍal+āna
Daḷuk+āna
Kaṭṭai+muṟiccāṉ

The place or jungle of Goraka trees

The place or jungle of Kaḍol mangrove

The place or jungle of Daḷuk trees

The dam that was breached; or (the tank) that breached the dam

Āna 1	also Ān: place; "Āyatanaya, Sthānaya" (Sinhala, Sorata); for the place meaning Sorata cites Dhambiyā aṭuvā gẹṭapadaya and Sẹḷalihiṇisandēśaya; Probably shortened from Tāna: place, spot, "Sthānaya" (Sorata, Sinhala); Sthāna: firm stance (Sanskrit, Atharva Vedic, CDIAL 13753); place of abode (Sanskrit, Rig Vedic, CDIAL 13753); Tāṉam: place (Tamil, usage since c. 10th century CE); Āṉam: place (Tamil, c. 7th century CE, as in Vīraṭṭānam, Tēvāram); Āṉai: suffix noticed in some Eezham Tamil place names to mean a place, as in Caṅkāṉai
Āna 2	also Ān: forest; " Vanaya, Kẹḷệva" (Sinhala, Sorata); probably shortened from 1. Kāṉ: jungle (Tamil, DED 1418); Kāṉam: woodland, grove, forest tract (Tamil, DED 1418); Kānana: forest (Sinhala); 2. Vāna: from Vana: forest (Sinhala, Sanskrit, Pali, CDIAL 11258); Āṉai: suffix noticed in some Eezham Tamil place names to mean jungle, as in Muḷḷāṉai
Āna3	Sinhalicised form of the verb-noun ending Ān in Tamil place names, as in Kaṭṭai-muṟiccāṉ > Kaṭṭa-muṟiccāna; Ān: (auxiliary verb) to be, to happen, to come into existence (Tamil, DED 333)
Goraka	1. an acid fruit that is used in making curries; 2. the tree of the said fruit, Garcinia cambogia (Sinhala, Clough, Sorata); Koṟuk-kāy, Koṟuk-kāyp-puḷi: Garcinia cambogia (Tamil, MTL); also called Īḻap-puḷi (Tamil, MTL)
Kaḍal	variation of Kaḍol: a mangrove tree, Rhezophora mucronata (Sinhala, Clough); Kaṇṭal: Rhezophora mucronata (Tamil, DED 1171)
Daḷuk	= Daluk (Sinhala Sorata); a tree, Euphorbia antiquorum (Sinhala, Clough); the thorns of this tree are so large and piercing that the branches are used for making fences against elephants, wild buffaloes etc. (Sinhala, Clough); Jāli: thorny babool tree, Acacia arabica (Kannada, DED 2474); Jāli, Jāla: Acacia arabica, branches of which are cut and used for fencing (Telugu, DED 2474); Cāli: umbrella thorn babul, Acacia planifrons; elephant thorn, Acacia tomentosa; buffalo-thorn cutch, Acacia latronum (Tamil, DED 2474); note the C/ J/ D changes
Muṟiccāṉ	(verb-noun) one that breached (Tamil); from Ān: (auxiliary verb) to happen, to be, to come into existence (Tamil, DED 333); Muṟicca, Muṟitta: breached; Muṟi: (verb) to break, perish, cease to exist (Tamil, 5008); Muṟi-kuḷam: tank, the bund of which is breached (Tamil, Piṅkalam, 10: 951, DED 5008+DED 1828); Muṟivu: (noun) breach (Tamil, DED 5008)
Kaṭṭai	also Kaṭṭu: dam (Tamil, DED 1147); dam, “Vẹvniyara” (Sinhala, Sorata); from Kaṭṭu: (verb) to tie, fasten, build, shut up (Tamil, DED 1147)

The component Āna that commonly comes as a suffix in Sinhala place names is not an affix but a word of its own meanings.

According to Sorata Thera's Sinhala dictionary, Āna and Ān have two meanings. They mean a place and they also mean a forest.

In meaning a place, it seems the terms are shortened forms of Tāna, cognate of Sthāna in Sanskrit.

In meaning a forest, the terms may be shortened forms of Kāna, cognate of Kān/ Kānam in Tamil/ Dravidian, or changed forms of Vana in Sanskrit.

The related Sinhala place names given below would show how the term Āna is used in both the meanings.

The Āṉ suffix is also found in Eezham Tamil place names. But this seems to be either an affix or verb-noun ending, as in Pū-pūttāṉ, Pū-malarntāṉ-kuḷam, Kaṭṭai-muṟiccān etc. In Sinhalicising, such place names also get the Āna ending as in the example, Kaṭṭa-muriccāna in Anuradhapura district.

On the other hand, there are some Tamil place name examples that could be compared to the Āna-ending Sinhala place names. In those examples the suffix form usually noticed in the Tamil place names is Ānai, as in Muḷḷāṉai, Caṅkāṉai etc.

* * *

Gorakāna is a place in Panadura division of Kalutara district.

Kaḍalāna is in Moratuwa, Colombo. This is located on the banks of the mouth of Bolgoda Lake, a mangrove area.

Daḷukāna: is in Dimbulagala division of Polonnaruwa district.

Kaṭṭa-muṟiccāna is a place in Thirappane division of Anuradhapura district.

* * *

Some related place names:

Āna:

Rērukāna: Bandaragama, Kalutara: Rēru: a tree, "Gas-jātiyak" (Sinhala, Sorata); plural of Rēra: also Sērā: wild duck (Sinhala, Clough)

Hiṁbuṭāna: Kolonawa, Colombo. Probably from Hibaṭa: a kind of bamboo, "Baṭa-jātiyak" (Sinhala, Sorata). Note other place names, Hiṁbuṭu-vẹl-goḍa, Hiṁbuṭuva, Hiṁbuṭu-goḍa and Hiṁbuṭu-golla

Kaṭuvāna: The thorny jungle; Homagama, Colombo

Tunnāna: Seethawaka, Colombo. Tunna: = "Tunnavāya," tailor (Sinhala, Sorata); Tuṉṉam, Tuṉṉal: tailoring (Tamil, Puṟanāṉūṟu 136; 2-3; Porunarāṟṟuppaṭai 81); Tuṉṉu: (verb) to be fitted, joined, attached, press close, adhere to , join (Tamil, DED 3367)

Gurulāna: Padukka, Colombo. Gurula, Gurulla: "E nam gasa" (Sinhala, Sorata); Gurulla: a shrub, also called Burulla, Leea sambucina (Sinhala, Clough)

Mirihāna: Maharagama, Colombo: Miris: pepper in general, there are about 18 sorts (Sinhala, Clough); Meḻasu, Meṇasu: pepper (Kannada, DED 4867); Miḷaku: pepper (Tamil, Malayalam, DED 4867); Miriyal: pepper (Tamil, lexicons, Piṅkalam, 6: 623); Marīca: pepper (Sanskrit, CDIAL 9875); Marica: pepper (Pali, CDIAL 9875). Note the Ḷ/ Ḻ/ R/ Ṇ and K/ C/S changes.

Ratmalāna: Ratmalana, Colombo

Ańgulāna: Moratuwa, Colombo. Ańgula: 1. Double-canoe; two or more canoes lashed together so as to form one boat having a flat floor at the top (Sinhala, Clough); probably used as a ferry; Aṅkaṇa: space between any two beams or pillars (Kannada, DED 28); 2. Hańgulu, Hańguḻu: a herb, "Kiri-ańguṇa" (Sinhala, Sorata); 3. A kind of fish (Sinhala, Sorata)

Bōvalāna: The jungle or jungle place of Bo trees; Negombo, Gampaha. Bo+ vala+ āna or Bo+ valān+ a; Vala, Valān both means jungle (Sorata)

Kaṭāna: Katana, Gampaha. See Kaṭuvāna

Hīnaṭiyāna: The place/ field for Hīnaṭi paddy; Katana, Gampaha

Nāvāna: The Nā tree forest; Divulapitiya, Gampaha

Hapu-walāna: Divulapitiya, Gampaha

Velagāna: Divulapitiya, Gampaha. Velaga < Velańga: a tree yielding tough wood, Pterospermum suberifolium (Sinhala, Clough); Velańga, Velaň: "E nam gas" (Sinhala, Sorata)

Bōlāna: Mirigama, Gampaha; Ambalantota, Hambantota

Kitāna-vatta: Kita+āna+vatta: Mirigama, Gampaha. Also Kitān: jute

Kalavāna: Kalawana, Ratnapura; Polpithigama, Kurunegala; Minuwangoda, Gampaha. 1. Kala: threshing floor, "Kamata" (Sinhala, Sorata); Kaḷam: threshing floor (Tamil, DED 1376); 2. Kala: gemstone, "Miṇigeḍiya" (Sinhala, Sorata); Kal: stone, precious stone (Tamil, DED 1298); 3. Kaḷa: a kind of bamboo, "Gas (Baṭa) vesesak" (Sinhala, Srata); Kaḻai: bamboo (Tamil, DED 1370)

Daň-vilāna: The place or jungle of the Daň-tree pond; Attanagalla, Gampaha

Mā-talāna: The big plain place/ jungle; Attanagalla, Gampaha

Kurāna: The small place/ jungle; Attanagalla, Gampaha

Radāvāna: The place of washermen; Dompe, Gampaha

Kiri-vāna: Dompe, Gampaha

Mal-vāna: The hill place/ hill forest; Wariyapola, Kurunegala; Dompe, Gampaha; Biyagama, Gampaha

Vara-palāna: Mahara, Gampaha

Kahaṭāna: Mahara, Gampaha. Kahaṭa: a tree, Patana Oak, Careya arborea (Sinhala, Clough)

Valāna: The jungle or jungle place; Panadura, Kalutara; Weligama, Matara. Valān+ a or Vala+ āna

Mī-vana-palāna: The Mī-tree jungle place; Horana, Kalutara

Laňgāna: The adjacent place; millaniya, Kalutara

Vẹli-mānāna: Mathugama, Kalutara

Kaḷuvāna: Thumpane, Kandy

Mal-vāna-hinna: Akurana, Kandy

Han-tāna-pedesa: Kandy Four Gravets, Kandy. Haň-stāna?

Kiri-vāna-kẹṭiya: Deltota, Kandy

Geḍi-gas-valāna: Dambulla, Matale

Milla-vāna: Pallepola, Matale

Kos-vāna: Rattota, Matale

Māju-vāna: Baddegama, Galle

Divulāna: Akmeemana, Galle

Vẹrẹllāna: Hikkaduwa, Galle

Bambara-vāna: Niyagama, Galle

Kaduru-vāna: Pitabeddara, Matara

Koraṁburuvāna: Mulatiyana, Matara

Vẹllāna: Welipitiya, Matara

Mōdara-vāna: Okewela, Hambantota; Embilipitiya, Ratnapura

Kira-vāna: Padiyathalawa, Ampara

Kohoṁbāna: Kohoṁba+āna: Uhana, Ampara

Hińgurāṇa: Damana, Ampara

Maḍāna: Damana. Ampara

Potāna: Giribawa, Kurunegala

Vīra-daḍāna: The Vīra-tree jungle place; Kotavehera, Kurunegala. Vīra+daḍa+āna

Gẹṭu-vāna: Kurunegala, Kurunegala

Kōvāna: Kōva+āna?; Mallavapitiya, Kurunegala. 1. Kōva: crucible (Sinhala, Clough); Kōve: crucible (Kannada, Tulu, DED 1816); Kuva: crucible (Malayalam, DED 1816); Kuvai, Kukai: crucible (Tamil, DED 1816); 2. Kōvakkā: Coccinea indica (Sinhala, Clough); Kovvai, Kōvai: Coccinea indica (Tamil, DED 2247)

Vīrakoḍiyāna: Udabaddawa, Kurunegala. See column on Vīrakoḍiyāna

Mum-māna: Pannala, Kurunegala

Siyaṁbala-valāna: Pannala, Kurunegala

Mẹlla-valāna: Pannala, Kurunegala

Bōya-valāna: Alawwa, Kurunegala

Kirimẹṭiyāna: Dnkotuwa, Puttalam

Yōgiyāna: Dankotuwa, Puttalam

Millāna: Dimbulagala, Polonnaruwa

Daṁbāna: Mahiyanganaya, Badulla

Morāṇa: Rideemaliyadda, Badulla

Kohāna: Meegahakivula, Badulla. Koho: = "Kosgasa," jack tree (Sinhala, sorata)

Monara-vāna: Medagama, Moneragala

Taṁbāna: Medagama, Moneragala

Alāna: Medagama, Kurunegala

Kahaṁbāna: Moneragala, Moneragala

Min-nāna: Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura. Min: gem

Gurulu-vāna: Ratnapura, Ratnapura. See Gurulāna

Mā-palāna: Ratnapura, Ratnapura

Katlāna: Kalawana, Ratnapura

Buḷu-vāna: Godakawela, Ratnapura

Rak-vāna: The protected place or protected forest; Godakawela, Ratnapura. Rak: "Ārakṣāva" (Sinhala, Sorata)

Min-vāna: Rambukkana, Kegalle

Māvāna: Mawanella, Kegalle

Belihul-vāna: Kegalle, Kegalle

Jīvāna: Galigamuwa, Kegalle

Daḷu-valāna: Ruwanwella, Kegalle

Iṁbulāna: Ruwanwella, Kegalle

Ińdurāna: Ruwanwella, Kegalle

Elu-vāna: Dehiovita, Kegalle

Mūkalāna: The place of the big forest or matured forest; Pannala. Kurunegala. Mū+ Kẹla+āna. See column on Mūkalāna for other examples

* * *

Āṉai:

Muḷḷāṉai: Valikamam Southwest, Jaffna

Caṅkāṉai: Valikamam West, Jaffna

Puṉāṉai: Koralaippattu South, Batticaloa

* * *

Goraka:

Goraka-piṭiya: Kesbewa, Colombo

Goraka-pola: Panadura, Kalutara

Goraka-dūva: Walallavita, Kalutara

Goraka-oya: Kothmale, Nuwara Eliya

Goraka-vela: Pitabeddara, Matara

Goraka-ẹḷa: Rideegama, Kurunegala

* * *

Daḷuk/ Daluk:

Daḷuk-golla: Nikaweratiya, Kurunegala

Dalug-gala: Rambukkana, Kegalle

Daḷu-valāna: probably, Daḷuk-valāna; Ruwanwella, Kegalle

* * *

Muṟiccāṉ, Paṟiccāṉ:

Kaṭṭu-muṟivu: The dam breach; Koralaippattu North, Batticaloa district

Kaṭṭai-paṟiccān: The dam that is breached; or (the tank) that breached its dam; Moothoor, Trincomalee

Kaṭṭai-parittāṉ: The bund that is breached; or the pond that breached its bund; a locality in Meesaalai, Thenmaratchi, Jaffna (Balasundaram, p. 215)




Revised: Sunday, 02 October 2016, 14:50

First published: Friday, 15 October 2010, 23:39