Pranam
A confusion of Muttu of Malayalam and Moottu of Tamil; Muttu also means
peals by phonetics; joint of the structure; stroke; and so many and not the
knee only. Anyway, a good article of thoughts on Muttu. Age is a factor on
knees but one who can keep walking an hour a day may avoid such problems
with the control of food. And may be many utterances here quoted may have
different meanings also. K R IRS 8521
On Fri, 7 May 2021 at 21:55, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 <
[email protected]> wrote:
> *MUTTU (KNEE)*
> Dear friends,
>
> While I joined as Divisional Engineer at Calicut in 1996, my colleagues
> told me to make use of holidays to visit temples at *Mookambika,
> Kadampuzha, Tirunelli, Tirunavaya etc.*
>
> They told me the specialty at Kadampuzha- *Muttarukkal- removing
> difficulties*. Except Tirunavaya I could visit all other temples.
>
> A few days back there was a documentary about Kadampuzha Devi temple in
> Doordarshan channel. This made me to make “MUTTU ARUKKAL” offering at
> Kadampuzha temple (Malappuram District of Kerala) as first item in this
> posting.
>
> Muttarukkal is performed in some other temples also in Kerala.
> Muttarukkal is performed in Angadippuram temple (close to Perinthalmanna)
> and *Mammiyur Bhagavathi temple* near Guruvayoor.
>
> The word “MUTTU” in Malayalam has many meanings. *MUTTU most commonly is
> told for the organ KNEE.* In Malayalam the elbow is called *kaimuttu *and
> knee is called *Kalmuttu.*
>
> MUTTU is also used to express *difficulty*. Muttu is also used for
> giving *support to plant*s like plantain which may slant on appearance of
> Kula or while growing due to weight of Kula.
>
> MUTTU is also used to mean *slightly push or knock.*
>
> In bamboo plant species the periodic repetition of hard area (clumps)
> is called MUTTU. This area the *hollowness is not continued*. Eatta also
> has MUTTU with hollowness discontinued similar to bamboo.
>
> Same type of hard area is also there with *cane and sugar cane stems.*
>
> *MUTTU I*n the humans is a flexible area with darker colour than normal
> skin. A human can sit in floor folding knees for taking meals. While
> standing his body weight is balanced in knees.
>
> Knees may become weak in course of time, mostly by about 55 years,
> because of loss of *bone marrow*. There can be exemptions. Knees are weak
> points for all beings.
>
> In course of growth from infant to kid, knees becomes strong with growing
> of *knee cap.*
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Gopala Krishnan 7-5-2021.
>
> 1. Muttu arukkal at kadampuzha temple
>
> In brief the offering is performed as follows: - The devotees have to
> bring coconuts to the temple either procuring locally from shops near to
> temple or from their residences. The devotees have to express the
> difficulty with the details of the name and birth star to the temple
> officials in the counters. A receipt is given from the office noting
> difficulty, name, and star. The devotee has to give the receipt and coconut
> to the priest sitting before deity. The priest *READS THE DETAILS TO THE
> DEITY* then he breaks the coconut on the granite flooring before the
> deity. If the coconut breaks in to two equal halves and there is no decay,
> the problem would be solved soon.
>
> Normally devotees takes two or three coconuts more due to their
> apprehension. If the first coconut is not perfect the 2nd one is given.
> Even after breaking 2-3 coconuts, still they all appear decay or not
> breaking properly, devotees are told to come after a FORTNIGHT or so again
> after sincere prayer.
>
> There are people who make 5-7 visits to the temple, still the problem
> being complicated, coconut does not break properly or appear decayed.
>
> Normally if the first coconut breakes properly and there is no decay, the
> other coconuts are offered to the temple in a place provided. *The priest
> will not break them before deity.*
>
> Muttu arukkal meant sawing the difficulties by Devi pleased on the
> devotee. *Most coconuts breaks in to two exactly two halves.*
>
> I performed the offering in 1996’s and 1997’s - first time I visited
> alone, and 2nd time with my wife. Our coconuts given for different
> problems broke perfectly without decay in the first instance itself by the
> grace of the Devi.
>
> A person can also perform muttarukkal for *family well being called
> KSHEMA MUTTU.*
>
> *My note- There would be long queue for the offering.* Mostly a devotee
> has to wait for one hour or more in the queue because of temple sanctum
> closing for different poojas and the queue.
>
> 2. Buddhimuttu. (Difficulty for living)
>
> In general the word means difficulty to keep a satisfactory standard of
> living even WITH BEST EFFORTS.
>
> A daily worker does not get jobs. He is ready to work. But job is not
> there *due to Covid 19*. A temple priest in a village making out a living
> from devotees offerings, not able to meet both ends meet since *temple is
> closed due to Covid 19.*
>
> There could be other reasons also for difficulties. Income is there, but
> diseases and their curing carves most of the income. Excess
> Engineering/Medical college fees take out a good part of income of even *well
> earning. All these comes under general Buddhimuttu.*
>
> 2a. Learning difficulty.
>
> Some children have difficulty for learning in general subjects of school.
> Here also muttu is used as an adjective- “Buddhi muttu aanu patikkan”
> (Learning difficulty). Even elders have this difficulty. Many people cannot
> ride cycle, scooter or drive car. While many learn easily some have
> difficulty. Some do not get concentration, some have fear complex, less
> courage etc. But they might be efficient in many other things.
>
> 2b. Working difficulty.
>
> There is a free will, but some physically challenged persons having polio
> or partial paralysis cannot move like others. Here the *constraint is not
> money*. They might be very intelligent or having many other skills.
>
> 2c. Aged and difficulty.
>
> The buddhimuttu of the aged cannot be told in one or two sentences. The
> problems caused due to less or poor eyesight and poor hearing, tiredness,
> diseases, loss of teeth and eating problem etc. etc. Many aged are
> affluent, *assistants can be for physical helps, but not for all
> problems.*
>
> There is a Malayalam saying- Ethra karanjalum aval thannae vedanuchhu
> prasavikkanam. (The pregnant lady may cry, but she only has to deliver
> the child- no other lady can share her labor* pain*). The suffering due
> to physical ailments can be cured ONLY TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
>
> 3. Muttu (clumps) in sugarcane and bamboos
>
> In these, the muttu (clump) is hardened. We can break a sugar cane before
> or after a muttu easily. In Bamboos, the muttu is harder, while making
> bamboo ladders, the steps are provided piercing sides and inserting steps
> ABOVE THE MUTTU (Clumps). The bamboos are cut above/below a muttu for
> different works.
>
> 5. Muttaae Pani (Fever in Knee)
>
> Children use to say they have fever just like that. It was customary to
> ask- *whether it is in knee or elbow?* Temperature can be felt more in
> the neck or forehead.
>
> 6. Muttu as a measurement
>
> The level from feet to knee is considered as a measurement. *Normally
> children and elders are advised never go above knee level in seawater.*
>
> The lengthy hair of women of earlier days were told calculating the length
> towards the knee level. *Muttattam muti (Hair to knee level) is told for
> very lengthy hair.*
>
> The workers wear dhoti to knee level folding it for convenience. Even for
> most, folding dhoti to knee level is very convenient. In most of the films
> of one decade back in Malayalam, one could see the male characters folding
> and wearing dhoti to knee level. Before elders to be respected, they might
> lover dhoti below knee. On those days it was common to see workers in the
> fields, climbing coconut etc. used to wear thick cotton towel *(Thorthu)
> from waist to knee level.*
>
> The old Kerala police half pant was well above knee level. In police
> department there is a rule - they should not beat a suspect /thief *above
> knee to reveal truth.*
>
> Scout uniform in schools is to knee level irrespective of male or female
> students. Skirt uniform is up to knee level in middle school classes for
> girl students.
>
> Many men wear half pants to knee level now at home and *even while going
> to institutions like ban*ks.
>
> Whatever the convenience with* elders it looks odd to me*.
>
> Young women never raise their clothes above knee level while walking in
> rainy water or standing on sea beach etc. Exception could be in *Adult *
> films.
>
> 7, Muttu kodukkal (Supporting)
>
> It is very commonly used. For preparing RCC structure support is given to
> planks laid by strengthy bamboos or metallic pipes support and tree
> cuttings *till the RCC gets strengthened.*
>
> Many plants are given support to stem while growing, most important is the
> plantains while the kula(Fruits bunch) is growing so that plantain must not
> fall due to kula weight. For slanting trees muttu is given so that it would
> not slant more and straighten. *In my garden pomegranate plant is given a
> bamboo support to grow up straight, since its stem is thin and growing to
> sides and flowering started.*
>
> 8. Muttukutthikkal (Defeating)
>
> For defeating a person the word muttukutthikkal is used. Mostly it is used
> during personal rivalries.
>
> 9. Muttu to compound walls
>
> Some compound walls erected on the slanting side can slip off due to earth
> pressure. To avoid this these *compound walls are given muttu with brick
> works.* In my home two palaces have such structures.
>
> *9a. Uttharam muttuka*
>
> This is used to mean not knowing the answer to a question by another.
>
> *9b. Muttukodukkal*
>
> Beam supporters Support to beam called uttharam at weak locations. In
> course of years due to white ant eating, not balancing weight etc., beams
> may bent. Support is given providing additional wooden pillar. This is also
> called *Muttukodukkal*
>
> 10 Muttu in tapioca stem.
>
> The propagation of tapioca is done by cutting above 4-5 muttu in the stem
> as pieces and planting.
>
> 11. Knocking and pushing.
>
> For opening the doors in the house the normal ethic is slightly
> knocking/pressing calling bell for a moment. If a person in the home is not
> opening the door on repeated calling, pushing using knee is done on the
> door.
>
> 12. Mulanazhi
>
> Mualanazhi is a wooden vessel used by tribal people to collect honey etc.
> The bamboo with good width is cut below a Muttu (clump) and the length to
> next muttu is used as the vessel. This is told as Mulanazhi.
>
> The muttu is the bottom for the nazhi. For keeping arrows *avanazhi *was
> also made in a similar manner using wide bamboo piece on those days.
>
> 13. Human knee.
>
> Humans have knee in legs and elbows in hands. The skin is slightly harder
> in elbow with changed dark colour. We cannot see with bare eyes any hair
> growth either at elbow or knee. In the knee and elbow, the bones have lever
> type joint. A liquid *called marrow in the bones make the knee flexible
> facilitating movements.*
>
> The knees and elbows are maximum used. But wear and tear during old age is
> more felt in knees. Fractures occur more with knee comparing to elbow. As
> age increase marrow become lesser and bones become harder but fragile. *More
> weight of the body is another reason for knee ailments*.
>
> 14. Muttu kootti idikkal (Touching of knees)
>
> Some people tall by nature, may feel the touching of knees even in the
> normal course. Many others due to fear and shiver may feel the knees
> jointing and releasing.
>
> 15. Muttu thalli odikkum (I will break your knee)
>
> During quarrels, it is common the persons to state, I would break your
> knees. *Though say, no body do so.* Without proper working of knee no
> person can stand or walk.
>
> *This is a posting totally rewritten with additions and updating of an
> older one posted on 8-1-2013*
>
>
>
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