[brraverishhh]

//Anyway can we use the word 'uruLAyam' for the word 'Wheel?' //
"uruLaayam" [ ¯ÕÇ¡Âõ ] here means a rotating wheel used in gambling and it appears to be a game like "roulette". The bettor or punter announces a number and if the rotating wheel comes to stop at that number, he wins. A small ball may be dropped to select the number instead of verbally proposing it and if the revolving wheel comes to stop at that number where the ball has sat, he may be the winner. There may be other ways of playing. You have to consult a Chinese gambling expert. They are the real world experts in gambling. In SE Asia some Bangladeshis are good at these games and have found employment (illegal) as assistants of the Chinese operators. Tamils seem to be no good at gambling.

The word "kuuRin" [ ÜÈ¢ý] shows that during the time of Thiruvalluvar, the number used to be selected by word of mouth rather than a small ball as in roulette.

In a game of "tikam-tikam" the wheel is fixed and does not rotate; it has numbers written on it and the punter places his chips on the number he selects. If a rotating arm with a suspended arrow- like point finally rests and points at that number, the punter wins. The stakes will be as pre-agreed between the punter and the operator of the game. Finance usually is managed by a third person and assistant of the operator.

The hands and mind must be fast if you are to be successful. KuRaL No. 325 "kaiyum tharukki" refers to this dexterity.

Looks like Valluvar knew about gaming methods. The component “aayam” in “uruLaayam” by itself means “game” or “gambling”. The underlying etymological meaning refers to the processing that goes on in gambling: selecting numbers, placing of bets, acceptance of bets, beginning of the game and methods of play and assessments at various levels, the display of skill in handling the gaming instruments, the element of chance and its degree, final decision as to “win/lose” and payment. Gambling and the various games are a study by themselves and if you did PhD in other discipline, you may still be nobody in the field of gambling. One can be sold!! There are few books available and not all games may be covered. The Tamil word “aayam” came from “aaithal” and the ancient Tamils must be praised for selecting the root word “aai” ( meaning look very deeply into, research , process something and its intricacies ) to denote gambling. Those ignorant of gaming and its complexities may not understand why and how “aayam” was formed. One person I admired for his knowledge in this area is Justice Choor Singh (retired judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore ) who wrote GAMING IN MALAYA. See if you can get this book if you just want to know how complex things in gambling can be. Thus the word “aayam” is beautifully formulated.

Prostitution, Intoxicating liquor consumption and Gaming are “evils” and they have been juxta-positioned as chapters in KuraL. These evils usually operate in close proximity to one another (in one or adjacent areas ) and hence the choice and placement of chapters in KuRaL is beautiful.

Thank you for bringing up uruLaayam.

As the wheel mentioned in KuRaL refers to the gambling wheel, it is not applicable to a vehicular wheel.

Thus uruLaayam is different from uruLai. NanRi.