Srivaishnavas and their own vocabulary - Paribhashai
It is quite known that brahmins, particularly Iyengars have a separate dialect of their own. A unique characteristic of Srivaishnava Tamizh is its retention of a lexicon associated with sacredness called the Paribhashai. A very interesting thing to note is that the Srivaishnava community comprises of non brahmins too from the other varnas who equally pride themselves in using this vocabulary.
To a common man, this may sound like a completely different language. Let me give you an example:
Brahmin Tamizh makes distinctions between potable water (tīrtham) and non-potable water (jalam), with the former bearing a sacred connotation. But it is to be noted that in the present day jalam is also used for potable water, but making it a word particularly used in the brahmin community.
The general Tamizh vernacular, in comparison, employs the terms tanīr or tannī to refer to potable water.
Srivaishnavas use the word Thiru in a lot of varied instances as a prefix. This brings out the holiness and high regard they have for the simple belongings as well as other things of Srivaishnavas - Thiruvadi- feet of god/acharyas/other srivaishnavas, Thirumaligai- bouse, Thirumugham- face, Thirukkaigal - hands, Thiruvaai - mouth, Thiruthaayar - mother , Thiruthagappanaar - father, Thiruthamaiyanaar - younger brother, Thirumeni - Body, Thirumaangalyam - the Thaali or mangalyam etc. Here you would notice that Thiru is a suffix for most of the used Tamizh words like adi(feet), maaligai(palace), kaigal, vaai, thaai, thagappan, thamaiyan, meni etc.
Here is a list of such words that will be very helpful to know, especially while visiting a Divya Desam:
Naan (I) - Adiyen
The word ‘Adiyen’ means ‘oneself’ without egoism. Using words like “I”, “me” and “myself” are considered to be a show of ‘ahankara' or ego. Hence, these words are avoided.
In Tamizh, adi’ means feet. Therefore , ‘Adiyen’- describes oneself as the feet of the other person who is addressed or talked to.
The use of this word shows politness, humbleness, respect and reverence and there is no even an iota of ego and self- esteem that is ‘ahankAram’
Neeng(o) (You) - Neer, devaL, devar, devareer
Similarly, others are addressed in a different way here, using these alternatives as a means of additional respect.
PaNNung(o) (do) - PaNNum
Vang(o) (come) - Vaarum
ThaNNi (water) - Theertham/Jalam
Even when the water in question is not the water that is offered to Perumal in a temple; regular water to drink is called as Theertham.
VeeDu (house) - Aathu/ Aagam - when refering to one's own house: Kudil ( literally a hut, displaying you Neecha bhavam where you are below everyone ); when refereing to the house of another Srivaishnava : Thirumaligai ( Holy palatial abode ) FYI size of the house is out of question. Even if your own house is a palace you would still refer to it as a kudil or kudisai, a hut and vice versa for another srivaishanva's house being a hut would still be refered to as a Thirumaligai.
Paayasam - ThirukkaNNamudhu
Sapadu/ So(a)ru - Annam/Prasadam/Amudu - Yes the temple prasadam is also prasadam but cooked rice in general itself is called prasadam or shuddha annam or just annam.
Paniyaaram - BhakshaNam - The snacks and sweetmeats like the adirasam, thattai, thenkuzhal, muruuku, seedai, manoharam, pori urundai, podalanga urundai ( porul vilanga urundai - it's so hard to bite into , people don't even know what it's made up of) etc, prepared are genereally called bhakshanam.
PaNNitrukken (am doing) - PaNNindirukken - the bhramin community often employs 'dr' instead of 'tr' in their words as the usage of 'tr' sometimes involuntarily generates a spray of spittle towards the person they are speaking to. To avoid such scenarios they use 'dr' in their words to a great extent.
Kadavul (god) - Ummachi/ Perumal - Some Iyengars refer to the various forms and names of Perumal simply as Ummachi, while talking to babies and toddlers.
Rasam - Saathamudhu - This is a combination of saar + amudhu
Poriyal - Karmeendhu
Originally called as kari + amudhu -> kariamudhu , it has evolved to be known as karmeendhu.
Samayal (cooking) - ThaLigai
Utkaarungo (sit down) - Kataakshikka
Sollungo (tell) - Saaika( Saadhikka)
Mannichu vidhu (sorry) - Kshamikka
Eppadi irukkeengo? (How are you ?) - thirumeni paanga?
odambu serila (He is not well) - Swami thirumenila nOvu saathindirukkaar - Srivaishnavas are quite the poets even when talking about an illness , they consider other srivaishnavas so great that they literally describe other swamys to be adorning a disease or a fever . The literal translation would be - Swami has adorned his body with pain.
Sambar - Kuzhambu/ Neluhu(Nelugu/Negizh) Kariamudu
MooDradhu (close) - Saathu
ThuLasi - Thiruthuzhaai
Oothardhu - Kuththardhu
Swamy Poitar( sethu poitar )(Swami has passed away) - Swamy Thirunaattukku Ezhundharuli Vittaar . If the said swamy is from a temple town with a presiding deity they would say that the swamy attained the feet of that particular deity. Eg: Swamy Ranganathar thiruvadi adindhar. Some Srivaishnavas also to a great extent say - Swamy Acharyan Thiruvadi adaindhar, where they equate their acharyan itself to the level of god.
Thaalippu( Tempering/Tadka for food) - Thirumaarardhu/Thirukkumaarardhu
Ezhundu Arula( ELla used in short) -Please grace us by visiting/ please sit down.
Parimarardhu - Saadhikardhu – means to serve. In Tamizh Sadhikardhu is used ‘to achieve and succeed’Narukardhu - Thiruthardhu for cutting vegetables
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