SumeroDravidian Origins of Vedism
Su. Eden , Ta. Veetan and Sk Veda
Dr K.Loganathan 22-5-12
One of the most interesting sentences to occur in SumeruTamil literature is the second in the Temple Hymn 10 of Enhudu Anna and which goes as below:
2(136)
eden muru sa-ta me su-ti ( plain (with) heavy clouds, taking the me’s from its midst)
Going along with this translation I have taken ‘eden’ as the preform of Ta. Eetil, the outskirts, the alien place etc. However on further reflections and seeing that we have Su,en(eeN) which is possibly Ta, eeN that has become Ta. veeN> VeeL (the divine etc), Su en-tu has become Ta. Veentan and eental etc, it is possible that in a similar manner Su.eden(eeten) has become Ta, veetan, veetam and from which Sk. Vedas is possibly derived.
The meaning can be reconstructed now as below
Eden muru sa-ta me su-ti > Veetan muru caaytta mey cooti: The true (mey) red ( saaytta>seeytta) flame(cooti) from the burning (veetan) muru(brilliance)
Here ‘saaytta’ may still be ‘from the midst and which exists in Ta as say(vu): a depression
In Sumerian transliteration scheme as practiced now the semivowels ‘v’ and ‘y’ are not considered as also the vowel length and so forth, all matters for the future study of Dravidian linguists who would also take up cuneiform studies. Even in Sumerian times it appears there was a recognition of these inadequacies. The earlier ‘a-a’ (father) was later written as ai-ia that corresponds better Ta. ayyaa
What is quite convincing about this interpretation of Su.eden is the word ‘muru’ that qualifies it and which is still retained in Tamil with the same meaning: muru, meru: to shine forth, to glisten where muruku, meruku is brilliance. So ‘eden’ taken as Veetan can be equated with Ta, vee, veeku veettu: to burn and which is the root of Ta. Veet-iyal (chemical science where burning is central). Perhaps Ta. Veetanai: pains is a derivative from this root. The original eden as Ta, veetan, veetam may mean ‘fire’ which is rendered also as Agni (Ta. aGki)
In Tamil ‘veetam’ also means the Vedas and ‘veetiyan’ is the Vedic priest where Veetan is also the god Brahma, the lord of the scriptures. Thus it appears that Ta, veetam and Sk Vedas are derived from the root meaning of ‘burning, fire’ etc and possibly the Vedic slokas are verses composed and recited in Fire Worship rituals and hence possibly Yajnas and which is also a variant of Su, ejen: fire festival
Now this yajna was practiced also as part of Sumerian Temple rituals as is the case even now in the temples of Tamil Nadu called also eri oombal. In Sumerian times and as part of temple rituals it was not a massive affair as in the later times in North India. Perhaps during their journey from Sumeria towards India, this temple yajna was isolated and made a cult by itself and made a ritualistic expression of a very sophisticated Solar Cosmology which is also available in Sumerian literature such as Suruppak’s NeRi(nari) dated around 3000 BC.
Now in support of this we can also give the sentences from Curse of Agade
Eden kesi-ga : burning fire? Dry and hot desert?
263.
eden kesi-ga-ke nigin-na-gim se nu-mu-um-gi-gi-gi ( May they shriek like the wandering one of the silent plains)
Here ‘eden kesi-ga’ is similar in construction and meaning to ‘eden muru’ considered above. Here Su. kesi is Ta. Kaasi> kaayi, kaay: to burn, heat up, dry up etc. This suggests again that eden’ is something like ‘fire’ or a flame etc.
An-eden-na: Heavenly Fire?
Temple Hymn 27
2(328)
es-bar an-eden-na u-de galam-e ( Making decisions for (the people living) on the high plain . . . .)
Ta. eetil keesi-gakkee nikkinnaFim sey naa mun-mii-mii-mii ( Let there be no grass growing over and over again like in the dry desert-like plains
Ta. isaipari vaan veetanna uti kalam-ee ( Singing songs of praise (isai-pari) of the heavenly Fire (vaan veetanna) causing to emerge(uti) the precious wisdom (kalam-ee))
This sentence is immensely interesting in suggesting how the Vedas could have originated. The es-bar can be Ta. Isai-pari: songs of praise and here for an-eden-na: the heavenly (an> Ta. vaan) fire(eden?) so that metaphysical illuminations of a profound kind can be caused to emerge.
An-eden-na> eden an-na: heavenly fire
Thus we can see that the slokas in Rig Veda and so forth are possibly such es-bar(> isai pari) songs of praise of the divine Fire, the Agni as is the case with the slokas in Rig Veda and so forth. The purpose appears to be metaphysical-- to cause the emergence of metaphysical illuminations which is also a form Fire, inner light
Below I append the above sentences as I understood them earlier,
Temple Hymn 10
2(136)
eden muru sa-ta me su-ti ( plain (with) heavy clouds, taking the me’s from its midst)
Ta. eetil muru saaytta mey cooti ( Plain that is brilliant and in the interior of which burns the true Radiance)
6(140)
nun-zu nun-kal-kal (d)asar-lu-hi lu-kal-kal ( Your prince is the highly esteemed prince, Assarluhi, the highly esteemed one)
Ta. nun-ju nun-kal-kal asar-lu-hi lu-kal-kal ( Your Lord is a very precious lord, Asarluhi, the person who is very precious or Your Lord is highly learned, Asarluhi, the person very highly learned))
Curse of Agade
159.
263.
eden kesi-ga-ke nigin-na-gim se nu-mu-um-gi-gi-gi ( May they shriek like the wandering one of the silent plains)
Ta. eetil keesi-gakkee nikkinnaFim sey naa mun-mii=mii-mii ( Let there be no grass growing over and over again like in the dry desert-like plains
ஏதில் கேசிக்ககே நிக்கின்ன ஙிம் செய் நா முன் மீ மீமீ
Kesi: Ta, kaasi, kaay: intensely hot and dry
Se; Ta,. sey: watered field. Originally it might have meant the rice plants where we have Ta, ari-si ; cut or harvested (ari) grains (si) ?
Gi(s) ; Ta kucci : plants, sticks etc
Gi-gi : Ta. mii mii L: repeatedly, over and over again
>>>>>>
255,
lu-hul eden kesi-ga-ke gu hu-mu-ra-ra-ra ( May the evil one of the alien plains scream out)
Ta. uLu ol eetil keecigakkee kuuv ummunRa aRai aRai ( “)
உளு இல் ஏடில் கேசிக கூவ் உம்முன்ற அறை அறை
Kesi)(alien) Ta, keeci: someone who is an enemy in debates combats etc.
Ra-ra ( to scream) Ta. aRai aRai ; to shout etc.
Sumerian Temple Hymn 27
2(328)
es-bar an-eden-na u-de galam-e ( Making decisions for (the people living) on the high plain . . . .)
Ta. isaipari vaan eetilla uti kalam-ee ( Singing illuminating songs (isai-pari) in the sky above the plains (vaan eetilla) causing to emerge(uti) the precious wisdom (kalam-ee))
இசைபாரி வான் ஏதில்ல உதி கலம்-ஏ
Es-bar : Ta. isai pari : to sing (isai) divine songs (pari) . Ta. pari, vari etc : divine songs. Vari> vaaram : divine songs as Tee-vaaram etc. Also C.Ta. pari-paadal: sacred songs
u-de : Ta. uti: to emerge, arise . Ta utayam: id. See suuria-utayam: sun rise.
galam: Ta. kalam : precious like the diamond and so forth. See aruG-kalam : rare jewels, words of wisdom that are immensely precious
Now reading ‘g’ as ng' or ‘n' we have also Ta. nalam: the good, healthy etc