Word Meaning
मातम-ख़ाना
mātam-ḳhāna
Meaning
A house of mourning; a place of lamentation and grief.
Detailed Meaning
Literally meaning a house of mourning or lamentation, the term signifies a place dedicated to grief and sorrow. In the given couplet, the poet portrays the heart—which once served as a bright abode for the beloved—as having turned into an ancient, desolate house of mourning. It emphasizes the complete transition from romantic vibrancy to desolation and bereavement.
Etymology
Arabic 'mātam' (mourning, grief) + Persian '-ḳhāna' (house, place).
Usage
In classical Urdu poetry, 'mātam-ḳhāna' is widely used as a poignant metaphor for a desolate heart or a deserted dwelling robbed of the beloved's life and light.
Examples
A heart turned into a house of mourning after love departed.
The ruined chamber resembled an ancient house of grief.