Uduvil - Etymology

Etymology

The meaning of the Tamil word 'Uduvil' has been a problem for the historians and linguists. Various explanations have been given by them. On the other hand, political situation in Sri Lanka has made the Sinhala extremists to claim that the name 'Uduvil' is actually a Tamilized Sinhala word 'Uduvila.' We find such claims in the web sites of the Sinhala 'Thēravāda' Buddhists also.

But the composite word 'Uduvil' is purely Tamil. The composite written word 'Uduvil' could be broken down in two ways: (i) 'Udu' + 'il'; (ii) 'Udu' + 'vil.'

In Tamil language, the words 'udu,Il,' and 'vil' exist. When the basic sounds 'u' and 'i' combine, we get the compound sound 'vi.' Thus, 'udu' + 'il' becomes 'Uduvil.

According to the Tamil dictionaries, the word 'Udu' means: a star; an arrow; the point or barb of an arrow; a goat; imp. dress, attire, put on cloths;a boatman's pole; ditch round a fort; a tree- Mimosa etc.

In Tamil, 'Il' means a place; a house and some others.

The word 'Vil' means: light; a bow; imp. sell, put in sale.

But the words 'Udu,' 'il' and 'Vil' have some other meanings also. Linguists have not understood how a Tamil written word gets its meaning.Tamil grammarian Tolkāppiyan had said: "Molipporul Kāranam vilippath thōnrā." Though the Commentators of Tolkāppiyam: Theivachchilaiyār, Nachchinārkkiniyar and Sēnāvaraiyar had explained this in their Commentaries, Tamil linguists failed to understand what Tolkāppiyan had said and they are not in a position to know all the meanings of a particular Tamil word.

The Tamil word 'Vil' could also mean a park or a village. The word 'udu' could also mean Shining, enlightened.

Thus the composite word 'Uduvil' could mean 'Enlightened (Udu) place or house (il)' and 'Place of people with cloth.'

Therefore, 'Uduvil' could mean: the place or village of Buddha Dhamma or where the Buddhist Monks live'!

This may make the Sinhala 'Thēravāda' Buddhist extremists to come to a hurried conclusion that the Sinhala 'Thēravāda' Buddhists only lived in the village at ancient time.

But,it is very important to note here that the Tamils were 'Mahāyāna' Buddhists and later adhered to Saivaism, the perfected 'Mahāyāna' Buddhist philosophy. This is the reason why we find a number of Kannaki Kōvils in the North and East of Ceylon. In 'uduvil' also there existed an ancient Kannaki Kōvil situated at 'Sitthāwatthai,' Uduvil. Later it was converted into Saivaite Amman Temple. The land adjoining on the eastern side of the temple is now called 'Pūthar Walavu.' It should have been 'Putthar Walawu.'

'Silappathikāram' is a Mahāyāna Buddhist epic. The epic 'Silappathikāram' emphasizes the married life and the epic 'Manimēhalai' the renounced life. Renounced life has no meaning and possibility without the existence of married life. Thus, 'Mahāyāna' Buddhism emphasises these two. That was the reason why the 'Mahāyāna' Buddhist Monk 'Thiruvalluvan' in his 'Kural' placed the main chapter 'Domestic Virtue' at the beginning. The three small chapters 'the Praise of God,' 'the Might of Virtue, and 'the Greatness of Ascetics' placed at the beginning of 'Kural' praise the Buddhist Triple Gem.

Also, the four stanzas placed at the beginning of 'Silappathikāram' praise Buddha (1st stanza), Dhamma (second and third) and Sanga (fourth). In the Sinhala literature 'Vayanthimālaya' that describes the early life of Kannaki and Kōvalan also, we find stanzas that praise Buddha, Dhamma and Sanga placed at the beginning. There are a number of Sinhala literature that praise the Triple-Gem at the beginning.

Symbolizing a literature or a book by praising the Buddhist Triple Gem is the literary symbolization of Buddhism.

It is very important to note here that the 'Thēravāda' Buddhism rejects completely the Purānas, literature, symbolization, symbolization of Lord Buddha and Buddhism, music, dance, and other forms of fine arts. 'Mahāyāna' Buddhism only utilised these to propagate Buddhism and assist all the people to practice Buddhism and attain Nibbāna.

However, one of the Tamil historians Dr. Ragupathy has given the explanation that 'Uduvil' means 'acacia pond.' 'Acacia' is a thorny bush. In Tamil it is called 'Udai' and in Sinhala 'Uda.' His interpretation is based on breaking 'Uduvil' as 'Udu + vil.'