Dear SN / Dear Katherine ( trying to make simple !! appears not so)
Nanda Vilakku is MARUVAL for Nonda Vilakku.
I am sure some one is going to post various meaning/s from some Dhivakara Nigandu or so and enlighten us more!!
However THOONDA VILAKKU was called NANDA VILAKKU.
VILAKKU is a classic example for the Lack of proper LETTER / expression in English Langauge for certain Tamil words !
VILAKKU ( like Velli LLA) is LAMP.
Vilakku ( like Vali LA) IS DIVERSION.
Having been from Karaikkudi - I am sure you KNOW " LENA VILAKKU " - Diversion towards to the Village starts with the name Le .. ( Le.. na ) - say LEchumangudi !!
Back to subject Vilakku - (cant put LL also !!)
In KUTHUVILAKKU / PAAVAI VILAKKU variety - it is open to KINDLE the Flame size by moving the THIRI.. Thoonduthal... THOONDUM provisioned VILAKKU.
In Certain VILAKKAU - wherein the Thiri protrudes upwards positioned over a closed BULB TYPE VESSEL - the Thiri CANNOT BE KINDLED.. !
That is THOONDA VILAKKU ...
Nondhu ( towards DECAY ) pogadha Vilakku !!
LIGHT THAT NEVER GETS EXTINGUISHED is NONDHA VILAKKU !!
PURPETUAL LAMP !!
for Supply of Ghee Normally 96 Goats / Sheep granted !! and Gold Coins to meet Labour too !!
Pls Recall Kavignar Vairamuthu speech in our meet last year ::
A Villager takes over these 96 sheep and makes his earning by herding and reciprocates his commitment to the Temple too by the Donor !!
He gets paid also from the interest receipt on the Capital Gold Deposited !!
How RURAL ECONOMY revolved around and improved because of the TEMPLEs !!