173. ToaDu

The word 'toaDu' in Tulu and Kannada now means small narrow path of a minor stream. However it appears that in the past was the word 'toaDu' was equivalent of a river. The exact meaning of the word 'toaDu' might have been changed with passage of time. Check for example the two place names in Sullia taluk that straddle either sides of the River Payaswani.

Todikana , Aranthodu
Arantodu and Todikana. These two villages straddle the northern and southern banks of the Payaswani river. From Aranthodu village you can cross the River Payaswani and travel to Bhagamandala, the origin point of the river Kaveri (Kodagu district) through curvy roads through the forsts of Todikana. Arantodu seems the 'toaDu'(=stream) of beside the ancient settlement of Aria tribes and the Todikana is the kaana (=forest) by the side of toaDu, the Payaswani river.
There are no evidences to the guess that Payaswani River was a small 'toaDu' (= minor water course) once upon a time in the history. The deep and wide river valley associated with the River suggests that it was a broad river since ages.
Therefore we can conclude that earlier in the history the word 'toaDu' represented a 'river' unlike in the present usage.
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