Know the Etymology: 275
Place Name of the Day: Sunday, 18 August 2013

Cheanaik-ka'ndam, Thava'naik-ka'ndam

சேனைக் கண்டம்
தவணைக் கண்டம்
Cēṉaikkaṇṭam
Tavaṇaikkaṇṭam

Cheanai+ka'ndam
Thava'nai+ka'ndam

The paddy field under slash-and-burn cultivation
The paddy field that is cultivated under seasonal lease

Ka'ndam	A piece of paddy field (Eezham Tamil, especially Batticaloa and Vanni); A piece of paddy field (Tamil, inscriptions, 923 CE, SII, iii, 123; xix. 392); Ka'ndakam: A measure of land (Tamil, inscriptions, Epigraphia Carnatica, Bangalore, 7); Forest (Pingkalam Lexicon 4:91); Ka'ndukam: A measure of paddy field (1008 CE, Tamil inscriptions in Karnataka, Epigraphia Carnatica, IX, Cp 128); Ka'nduga: A measure of land, usually in the form of paddy fields (Kannada, Ganga inscriptions since 6th century CE); Ka'ndam: piece, division (Tamil, Paripaadal, 19: 33-34); division of land (Tamil, Thirumoolar, 1425); Kantha: Border (Sanskrit, CDIAL 2680). For this word, CDIAL points to Dravidian connections or Munda origins for both the Indo-Aryan and Dravidian (CDIAL, 2680)
Cheanai	A slash-and-burn field for cultivation or a land for shifting cultivation (Eezham Tamil); Heana: (singular), Hean (plural): Ground prepared for cultivation by the cutting and burning of jungle, high jungle ground cultivated at intervals generally of from five to fifteen years but in some cases at longer intervals (Sinhala, Clough's dictionary, 1892); Punam: Upland fit for dry cultivation (Tamil, DED 4337); Of which there were further descriptive terms, Muthai-punam, E'ri-punam, Chudu-punam and Ku'rum-punam, respectively meaning old field or field of leafless dry trees (muthai), slashed field, burnt field and small patch of field (Tamil, Changkam Diction); Punak-kaadu: Shifting cultivation on the hills (Tamil, DED 4337); Pun-chey: Land fit for dry cultivation only (Tamil, DED 4337); Punam: A jungle chiefly highland overrun with underwood and capable of irregular cultivation (Malayalam, DED 4337). Note the P > H > S/ C change.
Thava'nai	Limited time, fixed term for payment of a due or instalment, period of revenue collection especially of land tax (Tamil, DED 3108); Thava'naik-kaadi: A tax paid for a fixed term (1085 CE, Tamil, inscriptions SII, v, 1003)

Ka'ndam is a Tamil term commonly used in Batticaloa and in Vanni to mean a piece or block of paddy field.

The term was used in the same sense of meaning in the Tamil inscriptions. Early evidences are found since 10th century CE. A related term Ka'ndakam is also found in the Tamil inscriptions of Karnataka dated to early 11th century CE and meaning the same. Another related term Kanduga is found in the early Kannada inscriptions dating from 6th century CE.

Ka'ndam meaning a piece of paddy field is not literary in Tamil. The literary usage of the word, meaning a piece or division, found in Changkam Diction, and meaning a division of land or continent found in 6th century CE literature may correspond to Kantha in Sanskrit meaning a border (CDIAL 2680). But CDIAL traces the etymology to either Dravidian or Munda.

Another etymological possibility could be traced to Ka'ndakam meaning forest (Pingkalam lexicon). Words for forest often mean paddy fields too as in the usage example of Kaadu.

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Ka'ndam, Ka'ndakam, Ka'ndukam, meaning a piece of paddy field in Tamil inscriptions:

“Vada ka'ndaththu engka'l ira'ndu maavum then ka'ndaththu meatkadaiya orumaavum” (923 CE, South Indian Inscriptions, III, 123; XIX, 392)

“வட கண்டத்து எங்கள் இரண்டு மாவும் தென் கண்டத்து மேற்கடைய ஒருமாவும்” (923 CE, South Indian Inscriptions, III, 123; XIX, 392)

Two Maa (a measure) of land of ours in the northern paddy field block (Ka'ndam) and one Maa in the southern block of paddy field (Ka'ndam), towards its west


“Irumadich choazharaajar kudangkai vidda nel vi'lai poomi naatka'ndakam” (1034 CE, Epigraphia Carnatica, X, Bangalore 7)

“இருமடிச் சோழராஜர் குடங்கை விட்ட நெல் விளை பூமி நாற்கண்டகம்” (1034 CE, Epigraphia Carnatica, X, Bangalore 7)

The four measures or blocks of paddy growing fields (Ka'ndakam) donated by the Chola king II


“Nisatham iru naazhi arisi thiruvamirthuk kuduththa nilam mukka'ndukam” (1008 CE, Epigraphia Carnatica, IX, Cp. 128)

“நிசதம் இரு நாழி அரிசி திருவமிர்துக் குடுத்த நிலம் முக்கண்டுகம்” (1008 CE, Epigraphia Carnatica, IX, Cp. 128)

The three measures of paddy field lands (Ka'ndukam) given for the purpose of the daily supply of two Naazhi measures of raw rice for the rice dish offer to the deity

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Cheanai in Eezham Tamil and Heana/ Hean in Sinhala are cognates meaning a jungle cultivation field or shifting cultivation field that is prepared after slash and burn clearance of a jungle patch.

Such dry cultivation without irrigation is a primitive method continued even today. It was very popular in the dry zone forests of the island. A large number of place names in both Sinhala and Eezham Tamil are associated with such cultivation fields.

Both the Sinhala and Eezham Tamil terms Heana /singular), Hean (plural) and Cheani are cognates of the Tamil term Punam, meaning the same slash-and-burn cultivation field. P becoming H and H becoming S or CH are common linguistic features in South Asian languages.

Punam is listed as a word of Dravidian etymology (DED 4337).

The culture associated with slash and burn cultivation was a popular theme in early Tamil literature and Punam is a common word found in its diction.

* * *

Punam meaning a slash-and-burn jungle cultivation field:

“Maram kol kaanavan punam thu'larnthu viththiya pi'rangku kural I'radi” (Ku'runthokai 214: 1-2)

“மரம் கொல் கானவன் புனம் துளர்ந்து வித்திய பிறங்கு குரல் இறடி” (குறுந்தொகை 214: 1-2)

The dark variety of foxtail millet of plump cobs, sawn and grown after ploughing the Punam field by the tree slashing forest dweller


“Thodu thoal kaanavan choodu'ru viyan punam” (Aka:naanoo'ru, 368:1)

“தொடு தோல் கானவன் சூடுறு வியன் புனம்” (அகநானூறு, 368:1)

The wide cultivation field prepared by burning (the jungle) by the rough skinned forest dweller


Usage examples for Muthaip-punam, Chudu-punam, E'ri-punam and Ku'rum-punam:

“Muthaip-punam kon'ra aar kali uzhavar” (Ku'runthokai, 155:1)

“முதைப் புனம் கொன்ற ஆர் கலி உழவர்” (குறுந்தொகை, 155:1)

The noisy ploughmen who cleared the old dry forest


“Chudu puna marungkil kaliththa eanal” (Ku'runthokai, 291:1)

“சுடு புன மருங்கில் கலித்த ஏனல்” (குறுந்தொகை, 291:1)

The foxtail millet that grew luxuriantly in the field prepared by burning jungle


“E'ripunam theeppaddakkaal” (Naaladiyaar 180)

“எறிபுனம் தீப்பட்டக்கால்” (நாலடியார் 180)

When the slashed jungle field is set on fire


“Kollaik koavalar ku'rum punam” (Natti'nai, 266: 1)

“கொல்லைக் கோவலர் குறும் புனம்” (நற்றிணை, 266: 1)

The small-sized field of the cultivating and cattle herding people of the jungle tract

* * *

Thava'nai generally means a term or limited time in Tamil. It also means a fixed term for payment of a due or instalment or a period of revenue collection especially of land tax.

Thava'nai is a word of Dravidian etymology (DED 3108).

In the Eastern Province, a land given for cultivation under seasonal lease is called Thava'naik-kandam. The word Thava'nai in this context means a season.

There are two seasons for cultivation: Perum-poakam and Chi'ru-poakam. In Sinhala they are known as Mahaa and Yaala. The former is the cultivation season from September to March and the latter is from May to August.

Paddy cultivation in the island largely takes place in the dry zone, which gets most of its rainfall during the Northeast monsoon.

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Cheanaik-ka'ndam is a place in Ea'raavoorppattu (Chengkaladi) division of Batticaloa district

Thava'naik-ka'ndam is a place in Koara'laippattu (Vaazhaichcheanai) division of Batticaloa district

* * *

Some related place names:

Akkaraith-thava'nai: The seasonal cultivation field on the other side; Ea'raavoorppattu division, Batticaloa district

Thava'nai-veddai: The expanse cultivated seasonally; Ea'raavoorppattu division, Batticaloa district

Maa-thava'naik-ka'ndam: The big paddy field cultivated under seasonal lease; Koa'ra'laip-pattu, Batticaloa district

Maa'nikkam-vayal-ka'ndam: The paddy fields of a person named Maa'nikkam; a place near Weli-kanda in Batticaloa district

Karadip-pooval-puthuk-ka'ndam: The new paddy field block of Karadip-pooval village; Karaithu'raippattu division, Mullaiththeevu district


Cheanai

Addaa'laich-cheanai: Addaa'laichcheanai division, Ampaa'rai district

Cheanaik-kudiyiruppu: Kalminai division, Ampaa'rai district; Ea'raavoorpattu division, Batticaloa district

Kat-cheanai: Addaa'laichcheanai division, Ampaa'rai district; Ma'nmunai South West division, Batticaloa district; Poaratheevuppattu division, Batticaloa district

I'lukkuch-cheanai: I'rakkaamam divisin, Ampaa'rai district

Varippaththaan-cheanai: I'rakkaamam division, Ampa'rai district

Ma'nat-cheanai: Poththuvil division, Ampaa'rai district

Mathuragn-cheanai: Poththuvil division, Ampaa'rai district

Pasarich-cheanai: Poththuvil division, Ampaa'rai district

Vaazhaich-cheanai: Koara'laippattu division, Batticaloa district

Karuveappam-cheanai: Koara'laippattu North division, Batticaloa district

Paal-cheanai: Koara'laippattu North division, Batticaloa district

Chaa'lampaich-cheanai: Koara'laippattu West division, Batticaloa district

Ooththuch-cheanai: Koara'laippattu West division, Batticaloa district; Ea'raavoorppattu division, Batticaloa district

Aayiladich-cheanai: Koara'laippattu division, Batticaloa district

Murakkoddaan-cheanai: Koara'laippattu division, Batticaloa district

Paddiyadich-cheanai: Koara'laippattu division, Batticaloa district

Pa'l'laththuch-cheanai: Koara'laippattu division, Batticaloa district

Pe'nduka'l-cheanai: Koara'laippattu division, Batticaloa district

Vea'laamaich-cheanai: Koara'laippattu division, Batticaloa district

Aaspaththirich-cheanai: Ea'raavoorppattu division, Batticaloa district

Iluppaiyadch-cheanai: Ea'raavoorppattu division, Batticaloa district; Ma'nmunai West division, Batticaloa district

Kizhavan-ka'nduch-cheanai: Ea'raaoorppattu division, Batticaloa district

Maavadich-cheanai: Ea'raavoorppattu division, Batticaloa district

Military-cheanai: Ea'raavoorppattu division, Batticaloa district Mu'l'lich-cheanai: Ea'raavoorppattu division, Batticaloa district

Tharumach-cheanai: Ea'raavoorppattu division, Batticaloa district

Ve'l'layan-cheanai: Ea'raavoorppattu division, Batticaloa district

Masthaar-cheanai: Ea'raavoor Town divisin, Batticaloa district

Nelluch-cheanai: Ma'nmunai West division, Batticaloa district

Pan-cheanai: Ma'nmunai West division, Batticaloa district

Paruththich-cheanai: Ma'nmunai West division, Batticaloa district

Paavat-kodich-cheanai: Ma'nmunai West division, Batticaloa district

Cheanaith-theru: Ma'nmunaippattu division, Batticaloa district

Iniyappar-cheanai: Poaratheevuppattu division, Batticaloa district

Pa'ndaarach-cheanai: Poaratheevuppattu division, Batticaloa district

Veeran-cheanai: Poaratheevuppattu division, Batticaloa district

Maagn-choalaich-cheanai: Ki'n'niyaa division, Trincomalee district

Mayilappan-cheanai: Ki'n'niyaa division, Trincomalee district

Munaich-cheanai: Ki'n'niyaa division, Batticaloa district

Aanaich-cheanai: Moothoor division, Trincomalee district

Aaraip-paththaich-cheanai: Moothoor division, Trincomalee district

Cheanaiyoor: Moothoor division, Trincomalee district

Kadatkaraich-cheanai: Moothoor division, Trincomalee district

Ma'nal-cheanai: Moothoor division, Trincomalee district

Naavat-kea'nich-cheanai: Moothoor division, Trincomalee district

Paalaththadich-cheanai: Moothoor division, Trincomalee district

Pa'l'likkudaach-cheanai: Moothoor division, Trincomalee district

Pamman-ku'lach-cheanai: Moothoor division, Trincomalee district

Pokkaiya-ku'lach-cheanai: Moothoor division, Trincomalee district

Ullaik-ku'lach-cheanai: Moothoor division, Trincomalee district

Poo-maraththadich-cheanai: Verukal division, Trincomalee district

Chinnappi'l'lai-cheanai: Trincomalee Town and Gravets division, Trincomalee district

Cheanaik-ka'ndam: Ea'raavoorppattu division, Batticaloa district

First published: Sunday, 18 August 2013, 02:36