தொ. பா -வின் பண்பாட்டுப் பதிவில் மஞ்சள்

Abstract

Tho. Paramasivan—known simply by the initials “Tho. Pa.”—was a scholar who conducted extensive research into Tamil cultural history and folk deities, bringing them to the attention of the wider world. He was a remarkable figure who chronicled history from the perspective of the common people and articulated Dravidian culture and the shared customs of South India with great simplicity. It is no exaggeration to call him a “cultural repository,” for his writings encompassed not merely twenty books, but the entire span of two millennia of Tamil life. While many professors focused on the history of the Chola dynasty, he was the one who sought out the history of soru (cooked rice). He explained how we often unknowingly follow certain practices, yet consciously erode our own culture. This article explores his insights regarding the significance of turmeric within our cultural traditions.

Keywords

• Manjal Neerattu (Turmeric Bath)
• Puberty Ritual
• Mother Goddess Worship
• Women Culture
• Antiseptic
• Medicinal Value
• Auspiciousness
• Naming Tradition
• Cultural Anthropology
• Oral History
• Sanskritisation