Eelam - Cognate Terms

Cognate Terms

Eela and Eelavar are etymologically related to Eelam. The stem Eela is found in Prakrit inscriptions dated to 2nd century BCE in Sri Lanka in term such as Eela-Barata and Eela-Naga, proper names. The meaning of Eela in these inscriptions is unknown although one could deduce that they are either from Eela a geographic location or were an ethnic group known as Eela. Although the two derivations Eelam and Eelavar are etymologically related, the word Eelavar in South Indian medieval inscriptions refer to the caste or function of toddy-drawers, drawn from the Dravidian word for palm tree toddy, Cheelam. From the 19th century onwards, sources appeared in South India regarding a legendary origin for caste of toddy drawers known as Eelavar in the state of Kerala. These legends stated that Eelavar were originally from Eelam. The consciousness of the South Indian Eelavar caste being of Sri Lankan origin is not older than 150–200 years. Not only are the words Eezham, Eelam, Cilam, Chilam, Eelavar, Eela, I'la, Lemuria, E'lu, He'la, Seeha'la, Simha'la and Sinhala cognates, but so too are the Greek Salai and Seiladiba, the Arab Serendib, Portuguese Ceilao and the colonial Ceylon are cognates.