YOU MUST KNOW #19

Proto Dravidian roots

The orientalist F. E. Pargiter (1852–1927) theorized that Hanuman was a proto-Dravidian deity.^[25] According to this theory, the name “Hanuman” derives from the Tamil word for male monkey (ana-mandi), first transformed to “Anumant” – a name which remains in use.

 “Anumant,”(animal) according to this hypothesis, was later Sanskritized to “Hanuman” because the ancient Aryans confronted with a popular monkey deity of ancient Dravidians coopted the concept and then Sanskritized it.^[24][26] 

According to Murray Emeneau, known for his Tamil linguistic studies, this theory does not make sense because the Old Tamil word mandi in Caṅkam literature can only mean “female monkey,” and Hanuman is male. 

Further, adds Emeneau, the compound ana-mandi makes no semantic sense in Tamil, which has well-developed and sophisticated grammar and semantic rules. The “prominent jaw” etymology, according to Emeneau, is therefore plausible.

^{Jai Bajrang Bali Ji}🙏🏻🙏🏻