In Tamil, each of the five geographical thinais are named for a flower that is characteristic of that landscape. In English translation, however, it is customary to use the name of the landscape rather than that of the flower, largely because the flowers lack the cultural association with a specific language in English that they have in Tamil.
Kurinji—Mountainous Region , Tamil Nadu The mountain is the scene of the lovers' union at midnight. It is the cold, dewy season. The forest is rich with lakes, waterfalls, teak, bamboo and sandalwood. In this region millet grows and wild bees are a source of honey. Love in this setting is exemplified by
Murugan, and one of his wives,
Valli, the daughter of a mountain dweller. He wears the sparkling red kantal flower and rides a
peacock, the bird of the mountains. The name of the region, Kurinchi, is also the name of the famous Kurinji flower (
Strobilanthes kunthiana) from the lofty hills of Tamil country. The Strobilanthes, a shrub whose brilliant white flowers blossom for only a few days once every ten or twelve years, blanketing the slopes in radiant whiteness under the sun. This event of jubilation and purity symbolizes the frenzy of a sudden love shared, in concert with the unleashed forces of nature: the amorous dance of peacocks, their echoing cries, the splash of waterfalls, the roar of savage beasts. The lovers hold each other tighter still and forget the dangers of the mountain path. The people of this region were known by the names
kanavar,
vedar and
kuravar whose prime occupation was
hunting,
honey harvesting and
millet cultivation. The Vedars or Vettuvars (derived from
vettai - hunting) were the main hunters, kanavars (derived from
kanam - forest) hunted elephants and pigs, the kuravars or kunravar (derived from
kunru - hill) were
forest cultivators. Their headmen were known as
Verpan,
Poruppan and
Silamban. Their settlements were known as sirukuti
and their place-names attached the suffixes kuricci
(hilly village) and malai
(hill). The kovalars
were cowherder and the ayar
were pastoralists involved in cattle herding. Their headmen bore the titles Ayar/kon
, Annal
, Tonral
, Kuramporai
, and headwomen as Aatchiyar and Manaivi.'' The theme of the forest and of shepherds at play, the image of confident waiting for the loved one, produced an original offshoot; for this is the region of
Maayon/kopalan, (Ancient Tamil god), and the love theme it represents symbolizes the devotee waiting in the hope that Maayon will eventually come and fill his soul, thus experiencing the joys of expectation.
Marutham—Cropland The plains were the scene of triangular love plots in which the hero's visits to the courtesan oblige the heroine to counter with a mixed show of coquetry and moodiness, tactics whose limits are described in the Thirukkural ("Sulking is like flavouring with salt; a little suffices, but it is easy to go too far.").
Senon, the god of thunderstorm, is the god of Marutham land. The inhabitants were known as
ulavar,
velanmadar, toluvar and
kadaiyar or kadasiyan whose occupations were involved in
agriculture. The ulavar were the
ploughers, the velanmadar and toluvar the
tillers and the kadaiyars were the
farmworkers. Their headmen were known as
Mahinan,
Uran and
Manaiyol. Their chiefs were known as
mili,
vitalai and
kalai. Their settlements were known as
kurumpu. Kotravai, the Mother goddess and goddess of war, is worshipped here. The theme of wasteland and separation occupies half of one of the most famous anthologies, the theme of the mountain being only secondary. ==References==