Language and orthodoxy!

I viewed a commercial in a TV Channel. It sells 'Lavana Thailam' an ointment for fat tommy. I don't know the ingredients/components of that ointment. But the name pushed me down the memory lane to a story told by Shri Ram Sharma.

An orthodox Vaidheega joint family. All the members are educated and well versed in Sanskrit, though their mother tongue is Tamil. When conversing either among them or with others they profusely use Sanskrit words and quotations. The family took pride in it.

It sat for dinner on that day. Swarnalakshmi, the daughter-in-law -- the new entrant to the family -- is going to serve food under the strict supervision of elder womenfolk. She has to follow the traditions and customs in serving food. Food items like Sambaar, Rasam, sweets and buttermilk should be served in that order. She has so far managed to serve the food items wonderfully without any deviation. Now far dessert rice and buttermilk has to be served.

Usually salt will be added to the buttermilk while churning and preparing it. But if anybody wants a pinch more he can call for it.

There are also traditions and customs for using words after sun-set. One should not utter words such as Uppu (Salt), chunnambu (lime - for chewing beatle-nut) If it is necessary to use these words they can use similar words of other language. For uppu (Salt) one would use "Lavanam" in Sanskrit. For chunnambu one can use the word "moonavathu" meaning the THIRD One. (The first is beatle leaf, the second is beatle-nut.)

Now, one of the male members wanted a pinch of salt more for his rice soaked buttermilk and asked the daughter-in-law to bring "lavanam". One elderly lady asked,"Swarna, do you know what "lavanam" meant?". Swarnalakshmi replied: Having born in Sri Mahadeva Sashtri's family and having given in marriage and living with Sri Ramanatha Sashtri's family how one could not know it? I shall bring it now.

A minute passed. When the family members saw, the thing she was holding in her hand, they were stunned. She was holding bull-shit in her hand.

In Sanskrit the word "Lavanam" got two meanings: One Salt and the other is bull-shit.