Interesting take on Colours and Metals in Thanjavur Marathi!

Common colours in Thanjavur Marathi .....

Colours are called ..."RUNG"  "रंग"
Is it possible that this was derived  from Urdu? Who knows!

For a colorful design , a 'kolam' or 'rangoli', the TM word is " RAANGOLI" ,"रांगोळी"
This looks more original, note the elongated 'aa' sound and the unmatched 'ळ' !

All of us must have heard of the " RAANGOLICHA DABBA"  (The box containing the "RAANGOLICHA PUUD" (rangoli powder)


Now for the colours...

THAMDA... RED

HIRVA.... GREEN

NEELA...  BLUE

PIYULA...YELLOW

KAALA...BLACK

PHANDRA....WHITE

NAARANGI.... ORANGE 

JHAAMBLA...PURPLE

As the above indicates, the rest of the colours were identified with fruits or vegetables. Like Jhaambla is the kala jamun fruit that is purple in colour. 
So then you have,

VANNGYACHA RANG

KAANDECHA RANG and so on..

Now for the Metals....

SONA...for  GOLD

ROOPA ... for  SILVER

Interesting input from one of our followers, Divya  is... THAMBOOSA ..for  COPPER. Also called
"THAMRA"

PITTHAL  ...for BRASS

LOKHAND ...for IRON

KAANSE....for  BELL METAL ( an alloy vessel of this Kaanse was used to make saar)

 SHISE  ... for LEAD 

Forgotten Thanjavur Marathi Words...(2)

More of forgotten words....

Gharosa / घरोसा  ..  Cobweb
कोनांत घरोसा बांधू गेला आहे   ... There are cobwebs in the corner

Komat / कोमट  ... Lukewarm
Himaala/ हिमाला ...Cold Weather/Winter
हिमालांथ कोमट पाणी पिणा चकोट... It is good to drink lukewarm water during winter.


Dhirda/ धिरड ..   Dosa

Sarvasadharan/ सर्वसाधारण ..  Ordinary
घर बांधना काहीं सर्वसाधारण  काम नोहो... Building a house is not an ordinary job!

Khede Gaanv/  खेडे गांव ...Village
त्हीना खेडे गांवान्त्सू आली आहे .. She has come from a village.


Anthakarna /  अन्थकर्ण.. Affection
थीला सावत्र लोन्कावर काहीं अन्थाकर्ण नाहीं... She has no affection for her stepson.

Ek Haath/ एक हाथ... Measurement for One Cubit

Gaj/ गज...for yard measurement
नौ गजाच लुगडा ...Nine yards Saree

Numbers....

Numbers 1 to 20 are.......

ek, dona , theena, chaara , paanch saha, saatha, aatha, nou ,daha, akhra, bhara, thera, choudha, pandhra, soula, sathra, athra, ekunavees,  vees

Numbers 21 to 30 are....

ekevees, baavees, thevees, chouvees, panchivees, souvees, sattavees, attavees, ekunathees, thees

30 ..Thees

31..Ekethees

32...Bathees

33.. Thethees

34... Chouthees and so on similar to 20 or Vees...  till 40

40...Chaalis

41..42..43  are all like ekechaales, bachalees, thechalees and so on

50 ...Pannaas

60 ...Saat


70...Sattar

80..Ainsi

90...Navvad

100..Shambhar

Idioms and Phrases in Thanjavur Marathi (2)

As we continue some idioms and phrases used in Thanjavur Marathi...here are a few more...

Jeev Laamb

जीव लांब
Meaning: Long Tongue
Much used to refer to 'developed taste buds'! A person who likes good food prepared with a lot of effort and care is referred to as having 'jeev laamb' . Used fondly sometimes and sometimes in irritation of having to put in the effort!



Aho Ralleka!
अहो रल्लेका!
Meaning: Mr. Scoundrel
This oxymoron that dates back to my great grandmother and expresses so much in just two words!. 'Ralleka'  is commonly used to mean 'Idiot', 'Cheat', 'scoundrel' and what have you.
'Aho' is a term of respect and is used to address someone respectfully.  How did these two opposites get to be used in one breath?
When someone treats another in outward show of respect but means total disrespect and insult, it is referred as treating like 'aho ralleka' !

"Dharana Basna"

"धरण बसना "

Meaning:  Sitting in Wait
This idiom or phrase is used when a person hovers over someone doing his work. The hovering may hinder the working person and make him slow. and less responsive.

"PotJhaal"

"पोट झाल"

Meaning: Stomach burning
Being Jealous is called ' "potjhaal"

"Dhaandga Bokka"

"धांडगा  बोक्का"

Meaning: Fat Strong
A fat huge person is called Dhaandga Bokka.

"Gharoghar"

"घरोघर"

Meaning: House to house.
Going from one house to another is called gharoghar.

"Pahthera Manush"

"पाह्थेरा मनुष "

 Meaning: Reliable person
A trustworthy person , very reliable is called Pahthera manush.

More Proverbs...(3)

 Here are some more Thanjavur Marathi Proverbs....
 
"Kela aanth Suin Tonchlaska"
"केलांथ सुईन टोंच्लासका" 
Meaning: Like piercing a Needle into a Banana 
Various meanings come forth for this proverb. However all of them reference the exact meaning of this proverb...a needle will pierce into a banana very easily without any obstruction so influencing someone quietly without the person realizing it could be one meaning of this proverb.This has both positive and negative connotations.

"Chorta Phadlathe Gharaanth Thel Dhand"

"चोरटा पडलाथे  घरांथ थेल ढंड "

Meaning: Oil wasted on a house that has been looted.
Why waste oil in the  lamp to see what has been lost!
why waste more money after what has been lost

" Ek Haathana Thaali Vaazath Nahi"

"एक हाथाना  थाली वाज़थ नहीं"

Meaning: You cannot clap with one hand.
It takes two to fight or to compromise. A fight or a compromise cannot be met with just one person's effort. It takes two to fight or to compromise.

" Hontaanth Ek Potaanth Ek"

"होंट आंथ एक, पोटांथ एक "

Meaning: What is on the lips is not in the stomach
Saying something but thinking and feeling something else that is opposite. With reference to people who say nice things to others but harbor a lot of ill will towards them.

"Paanch bota Ek Saarka Asnaar Nahi"

"पांच बोटं एक सार्क असणार नही"

Meaning: Five fingers will never be similar.
Just like our five fingers are never similar there will be diversity and dissimilarity among several of a kind.

" Ek Damdi Kaas Nahi"

"एक दमडी कास नही "

Meaning: Does not have a copper cent on him.
Very poor. So poor that he does not possess even a cent .However, this proverb simple as it sounds is used
in a derogatory fashion. While scorning someone given to flamboyance and show off, it is common to say , "Ek damdi kaas nahi, jamb daakhivto" एक  दमडी  कास  नही , जंब  दाखीवतो. He does not have a copper, but shows off.

Thanjavur Marathi Deshastha...a Heritage. Keep it Alive. Preserve it!

Dear Readers,

While talking to my sister's neighbor in Pune, I came to know that our Thanjavur Marathi was Ancient Marathi.
This person is a professor and is currently involved in creating a Marathi-English dictionary . Referring to words like "KIVAAD" for DOOR, he said that in ancient times this was the Marathi spoken and they DID refer to DOOR as KIVAAD and not DAAR as is done in Standard Marathi .

While we explore  this theory and find out more, let us all try and keep this language alive. Let this so well preserved language and culture not slip into oblivion. I appeal to Thanjavur Marathi Deshesthas of all generations, to help in making this a spoken recognized language.

Speak the Language ..at home . Try not to substitute with English words when speaking...difficult but give it a shot!

Make your TO-DO lists and grocery lists in Thanjavur Marathi....believe me, its fun!

I did do the grocery list in TM and had fun with 'Thaandulaach peeth' and 'Mirsingaach pud'
Have fun folks and let me know about your adventures!

Proverbs in Thanjavur Marathi (2)

While on a quest for idioms and proverbs preserved among the TMDs, sad to say, not many are in use today. The influx of English over Marathi as a means of communication and intermarriages with Kannada speaking Deshasthas has allowed a slow death of these precious gems of any language.

Proverbs and idioms or Sayings give strength to a language and in a language so preserved over generations, it helps to enhance the language  to a level of recognition as a dialect of the Mother Language- Standard Marathi.

While I still continue my search for more of such proverbs and sayings, which I shall add periodically, here are some...

"Chorta la vinchu chaavlaska"

"चोरटाला विंचू चाव्लेस्का "

Meaning: Like a thief getting bitten by a scorpion

This saying is used to describe....
Getting stuck when doing something wrong or illegal but cannot call for help as they would be caught in the wrong or illegal act!
A thief when in the process of robbing a house gets bitten by a scorpion, he cannot call for help as he would be caught for burglary!

"Goricha gorapan diwas ujaltra kallal"

"गोरीच गोरापण दिवस उगल्त्र कलेल "

Meaning: A fair complexioned girl's fairness will be known when it is daylight/morning. Perhaps this means something like "the proof of the pudding is in the eating"

"Nitya ganda purna ayisha"

"नित्य गंड पूर्ण आयुष"
Meaning: Sick everyday but living a full life term. This is used for people who complain about some illness or the other everyday, yet have a full life expectancy and  live to a ripe old age

"Undirala Manzar Saakshi"

" उन्दिराला मांझर साक्षी "

Meaning: Cat as witness to the Mouse .
Having an enemy as a witness does not help.

"Potaavar Maaruka, Paathivar Maara" 
 " पोटावर मारुका पाठीवर मारा "
 Meaning: Do not hit on the stomach, hit on the back.
Here 'stomach' refers to 'livelihood' . A beating on the back is better than taking away a livelihood.


More in my next post....