MURI- ROOM -CUT-PART I was recollecting the repeating quiz appearing in theforum - What is equal tohalf of the apple? Answer- the other half. Many Fruits when cutvertically the other part can have the same size. But mostly vegetables are cutbreadth wise. The white pumpkin is cut length wise in Devi temples in Keralawhere the Devi is fierce. It is called GURUTHI. In Kerala Guruthi in temples likeCherthala, Chottanikkara, Chettikulangara, Kodungallur etc. are very common.
If a large complex divided on partition, it is common tocall each part as Thekke Muri, Vadakke muri etc. In my home there are manypalaces with such names. If a home is constructed with more rooms, it is common tocall the rooms as Muri and calling rooms also as Kizhakke Muri, Patinjarae Muri etc. Somehow somerooms are mostly used by a person- The rooms are designated with their names-Room of father, Room of daughter, Room of daughter in law etc. Sometimes if aperson does not like other on any issue- It is common to say- Entae muriyil Kerathu (Do notenter my room). In fact when a person continiously use one room,others do not use it unless warranted. Muri as a verb is used to mean cut. Cutting can be with scissors, knife, axedepend on the job. Cloth is cut breadth wise using scissors. Tree branches arecut using axe. Tree is cut using big axe. Knives are used to cut fruits andvegetables. Bigger size knives are used to cut Jack fruit, Elephant Yam etc. Previous day of any auspicious function it was customary onthose days iyers from different homes come to the Home where function is heldand cut vegetables after lighting Nilavilakku. It indicated all invitees would beparticipating and harmony. Now name sake two or three iyers will just come, cutone or two vegetables – All others are done by caterer. Whatever be the rules in this regard, it is customary foriyer brothers to assemble for srardha of parents in Kerala. RecollectingVararuchi story and all brothers bringing some item- my brother from nativeused to bring good vegetables and elder brother dhotis etc., while srardha wasperformed in my home while at Trivandrum. My brother in native used to bringhis knife also, since the knives in my home could not suit to him to cutvegetables. In this context it I worth mentioning thewaste cut items are NOT PUT IN WASTE BOX. IT IS KEPT IN A CONTAINER AND DISPOSEDONLY AFTER SRARDHA IS OVER. I think the only fruit we fell very difficult to cut, buteasy for breaking with a thick knife- Vettu katthi is COCONUT. After dipping inwater coconut breaking is easy by hitting in the middle – many break it toexactly two halves!! I have seen some use small axe first to cut open the jackfruit. In Tamil the wordThundu is commonly used for a part. Normally biggerfruits are purchased as part. Elephant Yam, Jack fruit etc. are cut and sold inTamilnadu. Kerala too it could be the same. I am not sure how it is now. Many times the 2nd cloth comes as part of maincloth, it is cut and divided. Kerala white Towels comes as lengthy piece andthe quantity required is cut through the marked areas. Cutting anything in ahaphazard manner is called KANDAMTHUNDAM. The story of dish AVIYAL is related to cut and remaining partsof vegetables. There is a proverb- One should not cut the branch in whichhe is sitting. If at all he is cutting the front sitting in the back, thebranch may break INCLUDING the area he sit. Another proverb is we can bend- not break- Valaikkam,Odikkaruthu. Relationships can strain- not break. In bachelor lodges many times the rooms are shared by twoor three people. In my period, in training centre three students shared a room.They are called room-mates. A lot of intimacy developed between room -mates. Writer- R. GopalaKrishnan dated 11-7-2016. Reposted on 30-12-2020 after editing and updating. R.Gopala krishnan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1296118982.4429104.1609286671872%40mail.yahoo.com.
