"[Leat Ir.] "Auszüge aus Padtanattupullei
எட்டுத்திசையும் பதினாறு
கோணமும் ஈரேழுயகும்
(YLLSAS (YGS (yosaa
தெழுசோதியை மூடரெல்
(Leaf 1v] லாங்கட்டிச் சுருட்டிக்
Ihr Unverständigen! Wollt ihr den Herrschergott, der alle [acht Himmelsri chtungen14], 16 Himmel und 14 Welten durchaus erfüllet und durchdringet zusammen binden, einwickeln unter den Arm und
nicht ins Hertz nehmen, so erkläret
கக்கத்தில் வைப்பர கருத்தில் வையாரihr laut den hellen Tag zur Finsternis பட டபபகலை யிரவென்று கூறுவர Ihr Böswichter "15
பாதகரெ".
A Tamil by name Ñâparan translated this poem from Pattanattu-p Pullai could be summarised in Tamil as follows: "Oh, you fools! As you want to bind God to your arms and as you are unaware that he who fills all heavenly directions. 16 heavens and 14 worlds you do not want to accept him into your hearts. Thus you, evil doers, declare the bright day as the darkness." These and other examples demonstrate the genius of the Tamils three hundred years ago. They could communicate their thought patterns in a way that the Europeans would understand them. Thus their discernment drew the attention of others.
IV. Details of the Palmleaf Manuscripts in Halle/Saale, Germany
The author of is essay is grateful to the authorities of the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research Institute to grant leave to go to Halle/Saale to prepare a catalogue of the Tamil palm leaf manuscripts. He is thankful to the authorities of the Francke Foundation for a scholarship in this regard. The original Tamil diction found on the Tamil palm leaf manuscripts are kept unchanged. These texts are historical and should be treated as such. Their philological importance would not allow any attempt to modernise the Tamil diction by introducing long vowels, placing dots of the consonants to point out the Tamil mey-eßuttu, to change the various spellings involving different Tamil 'I's, 't's, 'n's, 's', and 'k's. The only modification introduced is the word separation that would make the reading easy. The transliteration system is based on the method followed in the Tamil Lexicon of Madras University (first published 1924-1934, reprinted in 1982). Using the accompanying German writings such as diaries and letters of the missionaries exact date could be ascertained for most of the Tamil
The words "eight heavenly directions" were not translated.
15 TAM 97:1
124
காகிதச்சுவடி ஆய்வுகள்
