Names of Sri Lanka

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in the northern Indian Ocean
which has been known under various names over time.

The oldest recorded name of Sri Lanka is Tamraparni[1] (= Taprobane). Six centuries before Christ, it was named Simhalam[2] (Simhala [3]in Pali). Simhalam became Saylan mentioned from the 9th century.[4] Lanka appears between the 10th[5]and the 12th centuries after Christ.[3]

Before 6th century BC : Taprobana, Tamraparni

Main article: Taprobana
Taprobane in the Catalan Atlas (1375): "Illa Trapobana".

Tamraparni is the oldest recorded name of Sri Lanka.[6] According to some legends, Tamraparni is the name given by

Pandyan kingdom in Tamil Nadu.[8]
The name was adopted in Pali as Tambaparni.

The name was adopted into Greek as

Gaedel, ancestors of today's Irish, had sojourned in their previous migrations.[10][11]

The name remained in use in early modern Europe, alongside the Persianate Serendip, with Traprobana mentioned in the first strophe of the

epic poem Os Lusíadas by Luís de Camões
.

John Milton borrowed this for his epic poem Paradise Lost and Miguel de Cervantes mentions a fantastic Trapobana in Don Quixote.[12]

From 6th century
BCe to 9th century CE
 : Silam, Sihala, Sailan

Six centuries

before Christ, Sri Lanka was known as Silam,[13][14] from the Pali Sihalam[15](or Simhalam,[3] Sihalan,[16] Sihala[17]). Silam was transliterated as Sinhale in Sinhala,[2] and Ilam in Tamil (from Silam without the initial sibilant).[18]

In the

Dipavaṃsa (the Buddhist oldest historical record of Sri Lanka, 3rd to 4th century CE), it is written that "The island of Lanka was formerly called Sihala".[19] Sihala means lion's abode[20]
(from Siha = lion)

In the 2nd century CE, Ptolemy called the inhabitants of the island Salai.[21][22][23] Salai derives from Sihalam (pronounced Silam).[24][25]

The Buddhist monk Faxian (3rd and 4th century CE) called the island Sinhala[26] (or the Lion kingdom[27]). Cosmas Indicopleustes (6th century CE) named it Σιελεδίβα : Sielediba or SieleDiva[28][29] (Diva, Dwipa meaning Island). Siele also derives from Sihalam.[30] In the 9th century, the forms Sailan and Saylan were used.[4]

From 9th century to 15th century CE : Sailan, Saylan, Silan, Seilan

From Silam came the names :

  • Sailan and Saylan, mentioned on the 9th century CE,[4][31]
  • Ilam in Tamil[32]),
  • Siyalan and Silan (mentioned on the 10th century CE[33]), etc.

Marco Polo, in 1298 CE, names it Seilan.[34]

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the forms Sailan,[35] Sílán,[36] Sillan,[37] and Seyllan,[38] were used

From the 16th century : Ceilão, Lanka ; Zeylan, Ceylon

With the Portuguese colonization in the 16th century, the original local names Silam, Sihala and Sailan were adopted as Ceilão in Portuguese (from 1505), and later as Zeilan or Zeylan in Dutch, and Ceylon in English. After independence in 1948, the name Ceylon was still used until 1972.

Lanka appears later and in parallel, between the 10th

Hindu text the Ramayana, where Lanka is the abode of King Ravana
.

The Ramayana Lanka began to be considered as the present-day Sri Lanka between the 10th[40]and the 12th centuries CE.[3] Then from the 16th century, in opposition to colonization, the assertion that the Ramayana Lanka was the present-day Sri Lanka became part of the Sinhalese Buddhist mythology,[41] and started to be used by locals in opposition to the Portuguese colonial name Ceilão.

Sri Lanka

The name of Sri Lanka was introduced by the Marxist Lanka Sama Samaja Party founded in 1935.

The Sanskrit honorific

Sri was introduced in the name of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Sinhala
: ශ්‍රී ලංකා නිදහස් පක්ෂය, romanized: Sri Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya) founded in 1952.

In 1972, the Republic of Sri Lanka was officially adopted as the country's name with the new constitution[42] and changed to "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka" in the constitution of 1978.

Other names

Serendip

The names Serendip, Seren-dip are Persian and Arab translation of the Classical Tamil name of Sri Lanka, Séradīb, derived from the Tamil words Chera (meaning Naga or declivity of a mountain) and Theevu (meaning island).[43]

Lakdiva

Another traditional Sinhala name for Sri Lanka was Lakdiva, with diva also meaning "island".[44] A further traditional name is Lakbima.[45] In both cases, Lak is derived from Lanka. The same name could have been adopted in Tamil as Ilangai; the Tamil language commonly adds "i" before initial "l".

Eelam

See also: Eelam

The earliest use of the word is found in a

Tirupparankunram inscription found near Madurai in Tamil Nadu and dated on palaeographical grounds to the 1st century BCE, refers to a person as a householder from Eelam (Eela-kudumpikan).[46]

The most favoured explanation derives it from a word for the

toddy-drawers, i.e. workers drawing the sap from palm trees for the production of palm wine.[48]
The name of the palm tree may conversely be derived from the name of the caste of toddy drawers, known as Eelavar, cognate with the name of Kerala, from the name of the Chera dynasty, via Cheralam, Chera, Sera and Kera.[49][50][unreliable source?]

The stem Eela is found in Prakrit inscriptions dated to 2nd century BC in Sri Lanka in personal names such as Eela-Vrata/Ela-Bharat and Eela-Naga.[citation needed] The meaning of Eela in these inscriptions is unknown although one could deduce that they are either from Eela a geographic location or were an ethnic group known as Eela.[51][unreliable source?][52] From the 19th century onwards, sources appeared in South India regarding a legendary origin for caste of toddy drawers known as Eelavar in the state of Kerala. These legends stated that Eelavar were originally from Eelam.

There have also been proposals of deriving Eelam from Simhala (comes from Elam, Ilam, Tamil, Helmand River, Himalayas).

toddy drawers" until the medieval period.[48]

Murray Emeneau, marks the Indo-Aryan etymology with a question mark.[55]

Suggested Biblical names

See also

References

  1. ^ Robert Caldwell (1989 ), A History of Tinnevelly, pages 9 and 10
  2. ^ a b M. M. M. Mahroof, An Ethnological Survey of the Muslims of Sri Lanka: From Earliest Times to Independence, Sir Razik Fareed Foundation, 1986, p. XVI
  3. ^ a b c d e J. Dodiya, Critical Perspectives on the Rāmāyaṇa, Sarup & Sons, 2001, p. 166-181
  4. ^ a b c R. A. Donkin, Beyond Price: Pearls and Pearl-fishing, Origins to the Age of Discoveries, American Philosophical Society, 1998
  5. ^ Dr. Deborah de Koning, PhD (2022), "Ravanisation": The Revitalisation of Ravana among Sinhalese Buddhists in Post-War Sri Lanka, LIT Verlag, Münster, pages 108-110
  6. ^ Robert Caldwell (1989 ), A History of Tinnevelly, pages 9 and 10
  7. ISBN 9788120601611
    .
  8. ISBN 978-3-639-30453-4
    .
  9. ISBN 978-1-135-59094-9. Archived from the original
    on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  10. ^ Macalister, Robert Alexander Stewart (1 September 1939). "Lebor Gabála Érenn: The Book of the Taking of Ireland – Volume 2 (1939)". Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  11. ^ In the early 1800s, Welsh pseudohistorian Iolo Morganwg published what he claimed was mediaeval Welsh epic material, describing how Hu Gadarn had led the ancestors of the Welsh in a migration to Britain from Taprobane or "Deffrobani", aka "Summerland", said in his text to be situated "where Constantinople now is." However, this work is now considered to have been a forgery produced by Iolo Morganwg himself.
  12. ^ Don Quixote, Volume I, Chapter 18: the mighty emperor Alifanfaron, lord of the great isle of Trapobana.
  13. ^ Cosmas (Indicopleustes), The Christian Topography of Cosmas, an Egyptian Monk: Translated from the Greek, and Edited with Notes and Introduction, Hakluyt Society, 1897, p. 363
  14. ^ J. W. McCrindle, Hakluyt Society, Works Issued by the Hakluyt Society, B. Franklin, Volume 98, 1897
  15. ^ J. W. McCrindle, Hakluyt Society, Works Issued by the Hakluyt Society, B. Franklin, Volume 98, 1897
  16. ^ Henry Yule, A. C. Burnell, Hobson-Jobson : The Anglo-Indian Dictionary, 1903
  17. ^ S. K. Aiyangar, Some Contributions of South India to Indian Culture, Asian Educational Services, 1995
  18. ^ Henry Yule, A. C. Burnell, Hobson-Jobson : The Anglo-Indian Dictionary, 1903
  19. ^ Donald W. Ferguson, The Indian Antiquary, A journal of Oriental Research, Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Archæological Survey of India, 1884, Volume 13, page 34
  20. ^ Henry Yule, A. C. Burnell, Hobson-Jobson : The Anglo-Indian Dictionary, 1903
  21. ^ Ven. Dr. Kalalelle Sekhara, Early Buddhist Saghas and Viharas in Sri Lanka (up to 4th century A.D.),
  22. ISBN 978-1-108-01295-9
    .
  23. ^ J. W. McCrindle, Hakluyt Society, Works Issued by the Hakluyt Society, B. Franklin, Volume 98, 1897
  24. ^ J. W. McCrindle, Hakluyt Society, Works Issued by the Hakluyt Society, B. Franklin, Volume 98, 1897
  25. ^ Cosmas (Indicopleustes), The Christian Topography of Cosmas, an Egyptian Monk: Translated from the Greek, and Edited with Notes and Introduction, Hakluyt Society, 1897, p. 363
  26. ^ J. Barthelemy Saint-Hilaire (1860), Le Bouddha et sa religion, page 321
  27. ^ J. Barthelemy Saint-Hilaire (1860), Le Bouddha et sa religion, page 321
  28. ^ Henry Yule, A. C. Burnell, Hobson-Jobson : The Anglo-Indian Dictionary, 1903
  29. ^ J. W. McCrindle, Hakluyt Society, Works Issued by the Hakluyt Society, B. Franklin, Volume 98, 1897
  30. ^ J. W. McCrindle, Hakluyt Society, Works Issued by the Hakluyt Society, B. Franklin, Volume 98, 1897
  31. ^ mentioned by Al-Jahiz in 868
  32. ^ Robert Caldwell (1989), A History of Tinnevelly, pages 9 and 10
  33. ^ Buzurg Ibn Shahriyar, Kitāb ‘Ajāyab-ul-Hind or Livre des Merveilles de l’Inde, Text Arab par P.A. Van der Lith, traduction francaise L. M. Devic, E.J. Brill, (Leiden, 1883–1886), p. 124, p. 265.
  34. ^ Marco Polo, Book III, chapiter 14.
  35. ^ in 1275, Kazvini, Gildemeister, 203
  36. ^ Rashíduddín, in Elliot, I. 70.
  37. ^ Odoric of Pordenone, in Cathay and the Way Thither, I, 98.
  38. ^ Giovanni de' Marignolli, in Cathay and the Way Thither, II, 346.
  39. ^ Dr. Deborah de Koning, PhD (2022), "Ravanisation": The Revitalisation of Ravana among Sinhalese Buddhists in Post-War Sri Lanka, LIT Verlag, Münster, pages 108–110
  40. ^ Dr. Deborah de Koning, PhD (2022), "Ravanisation": The Revitalisation of Ravana among Sinhalese Buddhists in Post-War Sri Lanka, LIT Verlag, Münster, pages 108–110
  41. ^ Dr. Deborah de Koning, PhD (2022), "Ravanisation": The Revitalisation of Ravana among Sinhalese Buddhists in Post-War Sri Lanka, LIT Verlag, Münster, pages 108–110
  42. ^ Articles 1 and 2 of the 1972 constitution: "1. Sri Lanka (Ceylon) is a Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic. 2. The Republic of Sri Lanka is a Unitary State."
  43. ^ Ramachandran, M. (1991). The Spring of the Indus Civilisation. Prasanna Pathippagam.
  44. ISBN 9789558425398
    .
  45. ISBN 9789559796602
    .
  46. ISBN 9789551132002
    .
  47. ^ a b University of Madras (1924–1936). "Tamil lexicon". Madras: University of Madras. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012.
  48. ^
    ISBN 2-85539-630-1
    ..
  49. ^ Nicasio Silverio Sainz (1972). Cuba y la Casa de Austria. Ediciones Universal. p. 120. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  50. ^ M. Ramachandran, Irāman̲ Mativāṇan̲ (1991). The spring of the Indus civilisation. Prasanna Pathippagam, pp. 34. "Srilanka was known as "Cerantivu' (island of the Cera kings) in those days. The seal has two lines. The line above contains three signs in Indus script and the line below contains three alphabets in the ancient Tamil script known as Tamil ...
  51. Tamilnet
    . Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  52. ISBN 978-955-1266-72-1
    .p. 313
  53. ^ Caldwell, Robert (1875). A comparative grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian Family of Languages. London: Trübner & Co. p. pt. 2 p. 86.
  54. S2CID 162621555
    . at p. 133
  55. ^ Burrow, T.A.; Emeneau, M.B., eds. (1984). "A Dravidian Etymological Dictionary" (2nd ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) (Online edition at the University of Chicago)
  56. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20140728201052/http://www.econsortium.info/Psychosocial_Forum_District_Data_Mapping/galle.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  57. ^ Culture (4 October 2020). "Does the Bible Make Reference to Sri Lanka and South India? | Indo-Christian". medium.com. Retrieved 1 September 2023.

External links

The dictionary definition of names of sri lanka at Wiktionary

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