Andastan

[Arpa]

Andastan;

 

I had never given a serious thought about the meaning and origin of the word although at times I had, specially when reading Varuzhan's poem of the same name (to see the poem go to Forum topic Poetry) I had all but dismissed it to mean "there and here", i.e "andi [yev] asti".

It turns out that the word is based on the root of "and" a variation of "hand" that means field, pasture, farm and by extension of the latter , a home, since at times a home is/was an integral part of the land.

 

The poem by Varuzhan is based on a rite of the Armenian Church where during specific occasions the ceremony of Andastan(blessing of the four corners) is performed. This was another surprise for me. To see what I mean go to the Forum topic; Armenian Apostolic Church.