“Words
are a pretext. It is the inner bond that draws one person to another, not
words”. These are words of Sufi mystic Jal-al-Uddin Rumi of Istanbul (erstwhile
Anatolia ) [Post-348], the famous philosopher.
Words
are merely a symbol or shorthand to understand things – natural and
mental. Some are onomotopic, associated
with objects or actions to be named by natural sounds. Each tribal group develops its own language,
assigning meanings to such words. Hence human
languages are many. Hidden meaning of one tongue is notunderstood by another
tongue, lest they should live in close proximity for a long time.
It is
assumed that whole Earth had one language, according to Genesis. Coded meanings
of words and names can be decoded but it cannot be substantiated with original
meanings attached to such ancient words (The Theories of Language Origin- Edo
Nyland).
It is
now firmly thought by linguists that there was one proto language, which was originated
from Africa,and to be more specific from Saharan Nile Valley and Ethiopia.
“…. all
existing human speech is one in the essential characteristics which we have
thus far noted or shall hereafter have to consider, even as humanity is one in
its distinction from lower animals – the differences are in non-essentials”. [Encyclopedia Britannica]
It
spread toMediterraneanregion and from thence to other Eurasian countries, thanks
to migrations on account of many sudden and wide-spread disasters, misfortunes,
mishaps or failures. Exodus of mankind is a continuing phenomenon from
pre-historic days to the present for various reasons. Boat people of yore (Eg.
Manu and Noah’s stories during Great Deluge and also similar stories in Inca,
Mayan and other civilizations) and the Boat people of recent history are striking
examples of migration (Eg. Hapless refugees of war-torn areas of Mediterranean
region or of stateless people elsewhere).
A genetic
relationship is observed among diverse family of world languages. As a language
branches-out, base meanings of words in the original (proto) language remains
under-current in the branched-out language but difference widens eventually
along with the evolutionary trend. Thus, each speech-group becomes stranger to
one another as the time passes. This stranger-ship is assigned,in scriptures,
to esoteric design of the God. These
scriptures are in classic and refined languages (Eg. Sanskrit, Pali, Latin,
etc.), developed from various preexisting
contiguous languages.
Morpheme
Nu/Noo in Tulu
There
are many common heritage words, invariably found in world languages. We have pointed out some of them in our
earlier Posts. We have explained that
‘Nu/Noo’ denotes a place around, above or near water body in our recent
Post-362(29.08.2016) on Morphemes in Tulu Place names.
Further
‘Na or Ni’ refers to ‘water’ as evidenced in Naravi, Narve, Nārayana, Naga
(ship), Nāga (serpent, denizen of water capable of moving in water swiftly),
Nanja, etc. In Tulu, ‘Nanja’ means ‘a wet soil, fit for cultivation’.
The Na also
has a connection, nay relation, with ancient India vis-à-vis with European
countries.
What is
then the inner bond that word unit ‘Nu/Noo’ that prevails in Euro-Asian
languages?
Danu,
an aquatic Goddess
It is
said that the Europeans originated from Vedic woman called Danu. It is also said that she is mother of Vritra,
a Danava. Vritra was killed by his brother Indra, a Sudanava. Vritra
is a serpent, who is capable of taking any form.
Danu
means: Da (to flow, flowing) + Nu (water)
= River. ‘Da’ (= Dra)also means ‘water’ in most of the old dialects (as in
words: Bandar, Dharavi, Dadar, Dariya, Bhayandar, etc).
In
Rigveda, ‘Danu’ is the mother of Danavas, both Su-danavas and Ku-danavas. She is the daughter of Daksha Brahma and the
wife of Sage Kashyapa. According to
legends, Daksha marries off his thirteen daughters (out of 62) to Rishi Kashyapa.
From Aditi, Kashyapa begot Indra, Lord of Heaven and other
Devas, who are collectively called ‘Suras’. Daityas, Danavas and Nagas, born to Diti Danu and Kadru, are collectively called as Asuras. Birds Aruna and
Garuda are born to Vinata. Mythical species, such as Yakshas, Gandharvas, Kinnars,
Kimpurushas, are born from other wives. (Note: According to legends Moon, the
Lord of Night, married 27 daughters of Daksha, who are known by 27 star names
of a month).
In
Balinese scripture, she is a Hindu Goddess.
Irish
Goddess ‘Dānu’, a cognate of Danu of Indo-European legends, is an aquatic
Goddess. The Goddess, mother of mystic
warriors linked to Danu, is known as Ana, Anu or Annan in Wales. In Avestian language, it denotes ‘river’.
Acharya
David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri) of American Institute of Vedic Studies,
tells: “In fact, the term Danu or Danava (Plural of Danu) appears to form the
substratum of Indo-European identity at the base of the Hellenic,
Illyro-Venetic, Italo-Celtic, Germanic and Balto-Slavic elements. The Northern Greeks were also called
Danuni. Therefore, the European Aryans
could probably all be called Dānavas”.
Charles
Squire says in his book “Celtic Myth & Legend” (page 31): “Danu herself
probably represented the Earth and its fruitfulness. Other Gods are her
children. She is comparable to Greek
Demeter. She is source of essentials,
like water, milk and corn”.
So, Danu
is considered to stand for fertility, a Progenitor – a mother.
Celtic
Origin of Ireland
The
cult of Danu reached Ireland with the Celtic people during Iron Age. The Celtic
is the first language, having a bearing on Indo-European languages. The Inhabitants are known as ‘Tuatha De
Danann’, which means ‘People of the Goddess Danu’.
In
Celtic religion, the Anu or Danu is Earth Mother goddess or the female
principle, who was honoured under many names from Eastern Europe to
Ireland. She is also considered as the
Goddess of Death.
In
Celtic Society, priestly caste is known as ‘Druids’ (Dru+vid = one who is
immersed in knowledge).
Matrilineal
System
It is
not a wonder why matriarchal custom prevailed in Mediterranean region and other
Aquatic Mother concept practicing regions. The system thrived in Sindhu
civilization and western coasts, especially in Tulu Nadu and other Eastern and
Southern States.
Rivers named
after Danu
As we
know, water is the primeval matter, a flowing one. From this meaning of ‘flowing one’, we can
compare it to other rivers of the world:
Nepal: Danu, Bangla Desh: Dhanu, Wales: Don, Germany,
etc: Danube. Russia & Ukraine: Dnieper, which finally debauches
into Black Sea.
Eastern
Europe: Dniester, passing first through
Ukraine, then Moldova and finally heading to Black Sea., The name is based on
Proto-Indo-European root ‘dnh’, meaning to run, to flow.
Danube
is the longest river originating in Germany and passing through ten countries
in Central and Eastern Europe – first through Ukraine, then Moldova and
finally, heading to Black Sea. So, water mode of transport is very famous in
these countries. It has been a major route for trade and tourismfrom Middle
Ages.
Worship
as Holy water
Our
interpretation is confirmed by this study that ‘Nu/Noo’ has the root meaning of
‘water’ (i.e. a life force, a sustainer). Water is the medium of purification
in most of the world cultures, especially in India, irrespective of primitive,
tribal or civilized society. In India, presence
of seven major rivers is invokedby Sacred Mantra as under:
“Om
Gange cha Jamune, chaiva Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri
Jale’asmin sannidihim kuru”
(Let
the Deities of Seven Rivers be present in the water inside Kalasha)
Celestial
water is called Nnu or Nun (Goddess of water) in Egypt, comparable to Neera,
Niharika (= Akashaganga) in Indian context. Also, the Egyptian meaning of ‘Nun’
is ‘flood’. In adoration of Nile, it is
the Deity of Heavenly water that is invoked as mythical source of life and not
simply as the ‘flowing of water’.
Conclusion
We have
traced an etymological connection. There must be some ethnical similarity owing
to migrations out and in since ages.
Racial differences must have occurred on account of distance and
ecological conditions. Consider the
vanishing of Nile Valley civilizations, Sumerian civilizations, Sindhu Valley
civilizations and the so-called Dravidian and Aryan Divide, standing distinct compared
to Western culture. In spite of this, certain ancient terminologies and customs
are understood universally. This speaks volume of Universal oneness.
* * * *
Terms
and their meanings
Mantra =Sacred Seed Syllables or Words, to be uttered to
draw energy by repetition. (There are
different Mantras for different Gods)
Kalasha =Small Pot/vessel to keep water during Pooja, i.e.
Worship of Gods.Earlier it was made of mud and later on,preferably Copper, as
it can destroy virus and bacteria in water, which are detrimental to health.Immediately
on getting up, drinkingof cold water, stored at bed-time in a copper mug/cup,
is recommended by Ayurveda.
Wives
of Kashyapa: Aditi, Diti, Danu,
Arishta, Surasa, Surabhi, Vinata, Tamra, Krodhavsha, Ira, Kadru, Vishwa, and
Muni.
***
Suggested
Reading:
·
Vedic Origins of the Europeans: The Children of Danu, David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri)
·
The Sacred Isle – Belief
& Religion in Pre-Christian Ireland, Daithi O’ Hogain (1999).
·
Gerald Massy: (1) The Ark, the Deluge, & the World’s Great
Year, (2) Ancient Egypt, Light of the World, 2nd Vol set
- Hosabettu Vishwanath,
Pune
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