Thursday, September 2, 2010

Ovvaiyaar’s Aathichudi

The other day while I was driving, I was listening to the remix from a Thamizh movie on a FM radio. It was all about Ovvaiyaar’s Aathichudi (ஒளவையாரின் ஆத்திச்சூடி)! The one that is so ancient and that I hope that every generation takes along.
The first reaction was, crazy buggers, they have not let this one go to. But later one thing stuck me (purely reminded by someone saying something in a meeting). And I went back to my school days to try and get Aathichudi. It was a refresher of sorts for me. I hope you love the below without any controversy.
Read what this great Old lady has given and the greatness of Thamizh.
Like any other language Tamil has Alphabets. Basically they are of two sets.
Uyir Ezhuthugal
Mei Ezhuthugal.
While all languages teach alphabets with some objects (like A for Apple, B for Boy etc.,.) look at what Thamizh offers.
The below are Thamizh’s Uyir Ezhugal.
அ, ஆ, இ, ஈ, உ, ஊ, எ, ஏ, ஐ, ஒ, ஓ, ஒள, ஃ
And look at how this great lady teaches Thamizh. She teaches Thamizh with morals.
அறம் செய்ய விரும்பு (Aram Seiya Virumbu) -> Have desire to do good
ஆறுவது சினம் (Aaruvadhu Sinam) -> The one that reduces should be anger
இயல்வது கரவேல் (Iyalvadhu Karavel) -> Donate what you can/Help if you can.
ஈவது விலக்கேல் (Eevadhu Vilagel) -> Do not stop giving.
உடையது விளம்பேல் (Udaiyadhu Velambel) -> Don't belittle your family and self to others/have and exhibit pride.
ஊக்கமது கைவிடேல் (Ookamadhu Kaividale) -> Do not lose hope
எண், எழுத்து இகழேல் (Enn, Ezhuthu Igalel) -> Do not underestimate the power of Mathematics and literature
ஏற்பது இகழ்ச்சி (Yerpadhu Igazhchi) -> Receiving is meaner.
ஐயமிட்டு உண் (Iyamittu Unn) -> Eat after sharing.
ஒப்புரவு ஒழுகு (Oppuravu Ozhugu) -> Get used to what you have. Get along with the world.
ஓதுவ தொழியேல் (Odhuvadhu Ozhiyel) -> Never stop learning or preaching.
ஒளவியம் பேசேல் (Oviyam Pesale) -> Do not talk ill about others.
ஃகஞ் சுருக்கேல் (Akanjurukale) -> Do not be stingy.
It does not stop here. It continues with the Mei Ezhuthugal as well.
Of course not all of this is exact meaning and may not even be right, but I’ve tried my level best to capture it. Apologies if you find the meaning wrong. My intent is to say how the ancient Thamizh culture instilled morality into our system. While doing so am trying to translate a few as I can. If you find it wrong, please correct me and I shall include that as well.

Long live Thamizh!
Hope you had got something out of this.

Please do not treat me as a Thamizh Maniac. It just occurred to me and am just penning it down. Even if you think so, no issues.
- Raj


52 comments:

எல் கே said...

nice one rajjj

Roger Stoffers said...

We could use more of that back here in "the west"...

Anonymous said...

I searched the meaning for Aathichudi to teach 3rd grader and this the only one with meaning..i appreciate it.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for putting this up. Helped me teach my daughter for her Tamil class

Jayaprabu said...

So nice wonderful collection

Anonymous said...

should be preached all over the world! thank you very much for this!

VSK said...

Thank you for the wonderful initiative. The meanings helped me in teaching my daughter.

VSK said...

Thank you for the wonderful initiative. The meanings helped me in teaching my daughter.

VKN said...

Thanking for presenting it with meaning!

VKN said...

Thanks for presenting it with meaning

Anonymous said...

MEANING FOR THE ABOVE IS IN THIS LINK

http://searchko.in/literature/ta-cached.jsp?idx=0&id=95

Anonymous said...

good work. Helped me teach my son

dharmaraj said...

vetri vel veera vel......

Anonymous said...

Not only that. In thamizh we have to sets of alphabets one is called uyir "soul" and the next is called "mei" body. These two sets combine (but tamizh used a bold word called "punarchi" meaning intercourse) to develop sounds on the combinations. There are so many things to explore...but no one takes it seriously.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

Nice work. Please change the meaning for iyalvathu karavel.

Give what all you can give.

Anonymous said...

gr8 effort !!! and thanks for sharing

Anonymous said...

Very nice !!

venkatesan said...

Venkatesan said Ineed Aathichudi full meaning thanks for your help

Anonymous said...

Thanks Kutti Raj.
it was a really unique article. i wasn't able to find Aathichudi in english with their meaning.
please continue this good work in your freetime.
thank to Awaiyaar as well :)

Anonymous said...

may be you should try and do the same for mei ezhuthukkal also. it is very useful for humanity. we should not forget these precious gems.

Siva said...

great. you have taken all of us to our schooldays, I mean days of uptil late 80s. Should be propagated in all available social network.
Thanks for sharing this

Anonymous said...

Great.. It would be nice if get the same for Mei Ezhuthukkal also.

இரா.மணிவண்ணன் said...

வாழ்த்துக்கள் நண்பரே...

Hari said...

My mother tongue is Tamizh, but I have never got the meaning of the verses in Aathichudi completely.
Now I am 35 years old, and I have spent all these years without understanding the basic morals.
Thank you Raj and all, I can learn to be good from now.

Manivannan said...

Good Work.. Took a copy for my facebook post..

Swat's said...

Definitely A refresher! Thanks and Kudos to you :)

Anonymous said...

The meaning of iyalvathu karaval is you should give what ever you are able to give and not that things that you dont need.

HND in English said...

Thank you for the wonderful initiative. The meanings helped me

A Common Man said...

Nice Blog man....

http://e-books-freedownload.blogspot.in/

S said...

Raj,
Excellent one and very helpful. Had to use this for my son's work. He njoyed it.
Rgds
Ashiq

Natarajan said...

nice presenting

Rebecca said...

thanks

sham said...

hi guys have created and compose a song on aathichudi. Do support and comment. Thanks guys

link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCkM6pOJBGE

Anonymous said...

Superb. As other too have mentioned, it indeed helped me understand the poem very well...

Thank you...

Unknown said...

Dear Raj, Congrats for ur efforts. Good. Can u help me in getting the old song "Arithu arithu Manidapiravi kidaithal arithu..." in full ?

Anonymous said...

Hi Nice work, but a small correction. "இயல்வது கரவேல் (Iyalvadhu Karavel) -> Give what you don’t need", i feel that translation doesnot convey the original meaning... i feel "Give/donate how much ever/whatever you can" would be opt..

Unknown said...

i have a tough time finding english pronunciation and then the meaning for many, this was really easy for me to learn and help teach my son.Can u also do the same for mei ezhuthukal it will be a blessing thank u.

Avatar said...

Nice job.. very thankful and "Nandri"

Avatar said...

Gud job. mikka nandri

Anonymous said...

This is a great work. Please continue. Eagerly awaiting meanings for "mei ezhuthu" also. Avvaiyaar is bit senior to Thiruvalluvar and such an old classic is still relevant today. Your translation makes aathichoodi more relevant to non-tamil people also. Please accept my sincere appreciation.

Unknown said...

Good & Worthy effort...

Unknown said...

nice work,very much required for our generation

Anonymous said...

I appreciate the sincerity in your effort but it has to be correct and complete. For instance, "iyalvathu karavel" means "Donate what you can/Help if you can" and "udayathu vilambel" means "Dont belittle your family and self to others/have and exhibit pride". I request you to revisit everything and appreciate again for your efforts.

Unknown said...

Nice laudable work.. But what is the meaning of 'Aaathichudi' ?? Pls reply..

Unknown said...

Nice lauadable work.. but what is the meaning of 'Aathichudi'?? pls reply.
thank you! :)

Anonymous said...

ஓதுவ தொழியேல் isn't that oliTyel instead of tholiyel? Thanks,Lakshmi.

Percy Govender said...

this a brilliant expose of the said meaning ...it bring back memories from my childhood

Anonymous said...

MAgizhchi

Lakshmi said...

I really enjoyed reading your post. For non tamilians it is really very helpful n easy to understand. Thanks a lot.


Srimathi said...

Thanks for coming up with simplified meaning of aathichudi. This helps me in teaching my kids

Unknown said...

Easy learning..

Unknown said...

Easy learning..