Know the Etymology: 366
Place Name of the Day: Tuesday, 16 September 2014

Sapu-gas-kanda, Hapu-wala

ஸ[ப்]புக₃ஸ் கந்த₃
ஹ[ப்]புவல
Sapugas-kanda
Hapu-wala

Sapu+gas+kanda
Hapu+wala

The hill of Michelia champaca trees

The forest of Michelia champaca trees

Sapu

also Hapu: a tree, Michelia champaca, which produces a very fragrant flower and useful timber (Sinhala); Cha'npakam, Che'npakam, Champakam, Chempakam: Michelia champaca (Tamil, DED 2321); Cempakam, Campakam: Michelia champaka (Malayalam, DED 2321); Sampage, Sambige, Campaka: Michelia champaca (Kannada, DED 2321); Sampige, Sampayi: Michelia champaca (Tulu, DED 2321); Campakamu: Michelia champaca (Telugu, DED 2321); Campaka: Michelia campaka (Sanskrit, Pali, CDIAL 4678); Che'npakam, Chempakam: A bird, crow pheasant, Centropus rufipennis (Tamil); this bird is often found in the Che'npaka tree, feeding on its berries.

Sapu and Hapu (S/ H interchange) are Sinhala names of the tree Michelia champaca that is well known for its fragrant flower. The colour of the flower ranges from very light yellow to copper brown. The timber of the tree is widely used in the island in making cheap furniture.

The tree is commonly found around the Western Ghats of South India and in the wet zone of the island.

Michelia champaca is known in Tamil as Cha'npakam, Che'npakam, Champakam Chempakam and Champangki. Two varieties, the big Che'npakam and small Che'npakam, are found noted in Tamil references.

A bird, the crow pheasant (Centrpus rufipennis) that is often found in the Michelia champaka tree, feeding on its berries, is also called Chempakam in Tamil. The bird could have also got its name by its Chempu (copper brown) colour.

The Tamil names of the tree and their other Dravidian cognates are listed as words of Dravidian etymology (DED 2321). However, a term Campaka for the tree is also found in the Sanskrit diction (CDIAL 4678).

See earlier columns for etymological discussions on Gas, Kanda and Wala.

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Usage examples in Tamil:

“Perum tha'n cha'npakam” (Kaliththokai, 150: 21)

“பெரும் தண் சண்பகம்” (கலித்தொகை, 150: 21)

The big, cool, Cha'npaka tree


“Cherunthiyum Che'npaka oangkalum” (Chilappathikaaram, 13: 153)

“செருந்தியும் செண்பக ஓங்கலும்” (சிலப்பதிகாரம், 13: 153)

Cherunthi (a flowering tree in the littoral tract or marigold) and the tall Che'npaka tree


“Champaka na'rum pozhil” (Kamparaamaaya'nam, Ayoaththi, 5: 14)

“சம்பக நறும் பொழில்” (கம்பராமாயணம், அயோத்தி, 5: 14)

The fragrant Champaka grove


“Mallikaiyum perugn che'npakamum chi'ru che'npakamum” (inscription, 911 CE, SII, viii, 640)

“மல்லிகையும் பெருஞ் செண்பகமும் சிறு செண்பகமும்” (inscription, 911 CE, SII, viii, 640)

Jasmine, the big Che'npakam and the small Che'npakam

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Sapu-gas-kanda is a place in Biyagama division of Gampaha district.

Hapu-wala is in Kundasale division of Kandy district. There is another place by the same name in Hanguranketha division of Nuwara Eliya district

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Some related place names:

Hapu:

Hapu-gaha-gama: Divulapitiya division, Gampaha district

Hapu-walaana: Divulapitiya division, Gampaha district

Hapu-gaha-gedara: Mirigama division, Gampaha district

Hapu-goda: Ja-Ela division, Gampaha district; Harispattuwa division, Kandy district; Kalawana division, Ratnapura district

Hapu-kanda: Udadumbara division, Kandy district

Putu-hapuwa: Medadumbara division, Kandy district. Putu: plural of Putuwa: chair, seat (Sinhala)

Hapu-thale: Haputhale division, Badulla district; Pathahewaheta division, Kandy district

Wana-hapuwa: Deltota division, Kandy district; Udapalatha division, Kandy district

Hapu-gas-pitiya: Udapalaatha division, Kandy district

Hapu-gas-yaaya: Naula division, Matale district

Hapu-vida: Rattota division, Matale district. Probably Hapu-vita. The suffix Vida is found only in this instance.

Hapu-gas-thalaawa: Kothmale division, Nuwara Eliya district

Hapu-gas-de'niya: Hanguranketha division, Nuwara Eliya district

Hapu-gaha-pitiya: Walapane division, Nuwara Eliya district

Maha-hapu-gala: Galle Four Gravets division, Galle district

Hapu-gala: Bope-poddala division, Galle district

Wal-hapu-thenna: Haldumulla division, Badulla district

Hapu-gas-thenna: Ratnapura division, Ratnapura district

Hapuru-de'niya: Godakawela division, Ratnapura district; Galigamuwa division, Kegalle district

Hapu-vita: Kegalle division, Kegalle district

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Sapu:

Sapu-gas-thenna: Attanagalla division, Gampaha district

Sapu-gaha-watta: Dodangoda division, Kalutara district

Sapu-goda: Kumburupitiya division, Matara district

Sapu-gaha-yaaya: Katuwana division, Hambantota district

Sapu-thanthiri-kanda: Walasmulla division, Hambantota district

Sapu-roda: The row of Sapu trees; Passara division, Badulla district. Roda: row, line, curtain, screen

First published: Tuesday, 16 September 2014, 20:09