Elu

Eḷu in comparison with Pali and Sanskrit

Being a Prakrit, Eḷu is closely related to other Prakrit such as Pali. Indeed, a very large proportion of Eḷu word-stems are identical in form to Pali. The connections were sufficiently well known that technical terms from Pali and Sanskrit were easily converted into Eḷu by a set of conventional phonological transformations. Because of the prevalence of these transformations, it is not always possible to tell whether a given Eḷu word is a part of the old Prakrit lexicon, or a transformed borrowing from Sanskrit.

Vowels and diphthongs

• Sanskrit ai and au always monophthongise to Eḷu e and o, respectively

• Sanskrit avi becomes Eḷu e (i.e. avi → ai → e)

Sound changes

• Initial ca in Sanskrit and Pali becomes s or h

• P if not omitted becomes v

• The Sanskrit sibilants ś, ṣ, and s merge as Eḷu s

• The Sanskrit kti becomes ti or vi

Compound consonants

At the beginning of a word only a single consonant can remain

In the middle of a word no group may exceed one consonant

Samples

Tōṇigala Rock Inscription of [[Sirimeghavanna|Śrīmeghavarṇṇa]] (4th century A.D)

pra

[Lines 1–2] Hail! In the time of the third year after the raising of the umbrella by the great king Sirimekavaṇa Aba son of the great king Mahasena.

pra

[Lines 2–6] Two hakaḍas (cartloads) and ten amaṇas of paddy, six amaṇas of udi and ten amaṇas of beans were deposited [with the stipulation that the capital should] neither be spent nor decreased, by Devaya the son of Sivaya, a member of the Council of Ministers, residing at the village of Kaḍubala, with the assembly of the merchants’ guild at Kaḷahumana [situated] in the northern quarter of the city; and were granted for the purpose of conducting the holy vassa in the new monastery of Yahisapavaya.

pra

[Lines 6–10] Of the aforesaid two hakaḍas and ten amaṇas of paddy, the interest at the principal harvest (piṭadaḍa hasa), the interest at the secondary harvest and the interest at the intermediate harvest [amount to] twenty-five amaṇas of paddy. Of the aforesaid six amaṇas of udi, the interest is one amaṇas and two pekaḍas of udi. Of the aforesaid ten amaṇas of beans, the interest is two amaṇas and two pekaḍas of beans.

pra

[Lines 10–14] Of the above-mentioned deposit, the capital should be left unspent and from the interest received, the expenses for two and a half hakaḍas of boiled rice, atarakaja, dishes taken with atarakaja, curd, honey, sweets, sesame, butter (?), salt, green herbs, and turmeric should be given at the refectory of the monastery, . . .

pra

[Lines 14–17] [The above] were granted to the new monastery at Yahisapavata so that the interest may be taken and appropriated for the use of the great community of monks who perform the holy vassa on the twelfth day of the bright half of the month of Nikamaniya in every succeeding rainy season.

Thonigala Rock Inscriptions, Anamaduwa under reign of Gamani Abhaya (1st century A.D)

List of Elu words with their Sanskrit and ''Pali'' equivalents

References

References

1. "Ancient Inscriptions Of Ceylon Edward Muller".
2. (2006). "A glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases". Asian Educational Services.
3. (2007). "Buddhist India". T. W. Press.
4. "Siddham. The Asian Inscription Database | IN03124 Tōṇigala Rock Inscription of Śrīmeghavarṇṇa".