Aram

From Tamil Wiki
Revision as of 11:53, 29 June 2022 by Priyamvada r (talk | contribs) (Created page with "''இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க:'' அறம் Aram: is a word of Tamil origin. While it is largely an equivalent of the Sanskrit word 'Dharma' or the Prakrit/Pali word 'Dhamma', it has acquired greater meaning in Tamil. The word has evolved over time, acquiring new meaning in different eras. Aram, in general, is used in Tamil as an all-encompassing word, containing connotations such as morality, values, jus...")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: அறம்

Aram: is a word of Tamil origin. While it is largely an equivalent of the Sanskrit word 'Dharma' or the Prakrit/Pali word 'Dhamma', it has acquired greater meaning in Tamil. The word has evolved over time, acquiring new meaning in different eras. Aram, in general, is used in Tamil as an all-encompassing word, containing connotations such as morality, values, justice, [rules of living], generosity, [austerity]. It is also used to denote the cosmic order that governs all life. Arampaduthal was a tradition that existed in ancient times wherein, the idea of 'Aram' itself was called upon as a witness while invoking a curse on a wrongdoer.

Etymology

S. Vaiyapuri Pillai's Tamil Lexicon, published by the Madras University mentions the word 'Aru' as the root word for Aram. Words such as 'Arudal' (to break) / 'Arudhi' (ultimate or final) also emerged from the same root word. In Malayalam, the word 'Attram' is used to denote the end. Amongst the Paliya and Kurumba tribes too, 'Attram' is used in the sense of 'final' or in the context of something being said 'as the final word'. Over time, 'Attram' may have shortened to Aram.

Meanings from Nikandus (Ancient Thesauri in Verse)

The Pingala Nikandu [a thesaurus produced by Pingala Munivar in 10th century CE] lists the Sanskrit word 'Dharma' as the meaning for Aram. Dharma is also a word that finds resonance in Buddhism and Jainism. The doctrine that governs this universe is referred to as 'Dharma'. Buddhism worships it as Mahadharma. The Divakara Nikandu also offers up [austerity or abstinence] as a meaning for the word Aram.

Evolution of Meaning

The meaning of the word Aram grew in three ways. The literature that came later use the word in all three planes.

First Meaning

முன்னோராலும் சமூகத்தாலும் வகுக்கப்பட்டு அறுதியாக உரைக்கப்பட்ட வாழ்க்கை நெறி என்னும் பொருளில் அறம் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டது. இல்லறம், துறவறம் போன்ற சொற்களில் அறம் என்னும் சொல் நெறி என்னும் பொருளையே கொண்டுள்ளது. அறத்தொடு நிற்றல் என்னும் இலக்கியத் துறையில் அறம் என்னும் சொல் முன்னோர் வகுத்த வாழ்க்கை நெறி என்னும் பொருளியேயே கையாளப்பட்டுள்ளது.ஆங்கிலத்தில் System, Order, Rule ஆகிய பொருள்வரும்படி இச்சொல் கையாளப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Aram was initially used in the sense of an ultimate system of rules that governed living, codified and handed down by the ancestors and by society. As can be seen from the words 'Illaram' (domestic life) or 'Thuravaram' (ascetic life), Aram was used to connote a set of rules.