Avvaiyar
Encyclopedia
The Avvaiyars "respectable women" was the title of more than one poet who was active during different periods of Tamil literature
. The Avvaiyar were some of the most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon. Abithana Chintamani
states that there were three female poets titled Avvaiyar.
Among them, Avvaiyar I lived during the Sangam
period (c. 1st and 2nd century CE) and had cordial relation with the Tamil chieftains Paari and Athiyaman. She wrote 59 poems in the Puṟanāṉūṟu
.
Avvaiyar II lived during the period of Kambar and Ottakoothar
during the reign of the Chola dynasty
in the 13th century. She is often imagined as an old but intelligent lady by Tamil people
. She wrote many of the poems that remain very popular even now and are inculcated in school textbooks in Tamil Nadu
. These books include a list of dos and don'ts, useful for daily life, arranged in simple and short sentences.
, 4 in Akanaṉūṟu
and 33 in Puṟanāṉūṟu
.
Legend states that she was a court poet of the rulers of the Tamil country. She travelled from one part of the country to another and from one village to another, sharing the gruel of the poor farmers and composing songs for their enjoyment. Most of her songs were on a small time chieftain Vallal Athiyamaan Nedumaan Anji and his family. The chieftain had also used her as his ambassador to avert war with another neighbouring cheiftain Tontaiman. The rest of her songs related to the various aspects of state governance. Although traditions claim that she was a sister of Kabilar, Thiruvalluvar and Athiyamaan, V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar
refutes this claim based on his studies that all four of them were most likely of different walks of life, thus from different caste backgrounds and hence impossible to be siblings.
and Ottakkuttar. She found great happiness in the life of small children. Her works, Aathichoodi
and Konraiventhan written for young children, are even now generally read and enjoyed by them.
Her two other works, Mooturai and Nalvali were written for older children. All the four works are didactic in character — they explain the basic wisdom that should govern mundane life.
illustrate the simplicity of her style and profoundness of the messages:
கற்றது கைமண் அளவு, கல்லாதது உலகளவு (ஔவையார்)
Alternatively "Known is a drop, unknown is an Ocean". (Source: Avvaiyar)
"Thol Ulagil Nallaar Oruvar Ularael Avar Poruttu Ellarkum Peiyum Mazhai" - The rain falls on behalf of the virtuous, benefitting everyone in the world.
"Nanri Oruvarku Seithakal An Nanri Enrum Thalaravalarthengu Thaan Unda Neerai Thalaiyaalae Thaan Tharuthalal" - A good deed will pay back, as the coconut tree that gives the benefit holding on its head, for the water you pour in its feet.
Her quote "Katrathu Kai Mann Alavu, Kallathathu Ulagalavu" has been translated as "What you have learned is a mere handful; What you haven't learned is the size of the world" and exhibited at NASA
. Her famous works include:
, a small village in the Kanyakumari District
of Tamil Nadu
. there is an image of Avvaiyar. By tradition, this is stated to be the spot where the great poetess left the mortal world.
published a selection of Avvaiyar's poetry from the 12th century, entitled "Give, Eat, and Live: Poems by Avviyar." The poems were selected and translated into English by Thomas Pruiksma, a poet and translator who discovered Avviyar's work while on a Fulbright scholarship at The American College
in Madurai
, Tamil Nadu
, India
.
Tamil literature
Tamil literature refers to the literature in the Tamil language. Tamil literature has a rich and long literary tradition spanning more than two thousand years. The oldest extant works show signs of maturity indicating an even longer period of evolution...
. The Avvaiyar were some of the most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon. Abithana Chintamani
Abithana Chintamani
Abithana Chitamani is an encyclopedia on Tamil Literature written by A. Singaravelu Mudaliar . It is said that this is the first encyclopedia on Tamil Literature. The first edition, which contains a recommendation dated 1899 by V. Kanakasabai Pillai, appeared in 1910 and contained 1050 pages...
states that there were three female poets titled Avvaiyar.
Among them, Avvaiyar I lived during the Sangam
Sangam literature
Sangam literature refers to a body of classical Tamil literature created between the years c. 600 BCE to 300 CE. This collection contains 2381 poems composed by 473 poets, some 102 of whom remain anonymous The period during which these poems were composed is commonly referred to as the Sangam...
period (c. 1st and 2nd century CE) and had cordial relation with the Tamil chieftains Paari and Athiyaman. She wrote 59 poems in the Puṟanāṉūṟu
Purananuru
Purananuru is a Tamil poetic work in the Pathinenmaelkanakku anthology of Tamil literature, belonging to the Sangam period corresponding to between 200 BCE – 100 CE. Purananuru is part of the Ettuthokai anthology which is the oldest available collection of poems of Sangam literature in Tamil....
.
Avvaiyar II lived during the period of Kambar and Ottakoothar
Ottakoothar
Ottakoothar was a court poet of three Chola kings namely Vikrama Chola, Kulotunga II and Rajaraja II. He wrote poems in praise of these three kings namely Vikrama Cholan Ula, Kulothunga Cholan Ula and Rajarajan Ula...
during the reign of the Chola dynasty
Chola Dynasty
The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which was one of the longest-ruling in some parts of southern India. The earliest datable references to this Tamil dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BC left by Asoka, of Maurya Empire; the dynasty continued to govern over varying territory until...
in the 13th century. She is often imagined as an old but intelligent lady by Tamil people
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
. She wrote many of the poems that remain very popular even now and are inculcated in school textbooks in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. These books include a list of dos and don'ts, useful for daily life, arranged in simple and short sentences.
Name etymology
The name Avvaiyar is a combination of Tamil word avvai with honorific suffix ar. Avvai refers to respectable elderly woman as the word ammai which means good woman in general term for a woman of any age. Thus the name Avvaiyar means a respectable good woman hence a generic title rather than a specific name of a person.Sangam age Avvaiyar
The Avvaiyar who lived during the Sangam period is considered to be contemporary to poets Paranar, Kabilar and Thiruvalluvar. She is attributed as the author of 7 verses in Naṟṟiṇai, 15 in KuṟuntokaiKuruntokai
Kuruntokai ,a classical Tamil poetic work, is the second book of Ettuthokai, a Sangam literature anthology. Kuruntokai contains poems dealing with matters of love and separation content matter and were written by numerous authors. Nachinarkiniyar, a Tamil scholar living during the sixth or the ...
, 4 in Akanaṉūṟu
Akananuru
Akananuru , a classical Tamil poetic work, is the seventh book in the Sangam literature anthology Ettuthokai. It contains 400 Akam poems dealing with matters of love and separation...
and 33 in Puṟanāṉūṟu
Purananuru
Purananuru is a Tamil poetic work in the Pathinenmaelkanakku anthology of Tamil literature, belonging to the Sangam period corresponding to between 200 BCE – 100 CE. Purananuru is part of the Ettuthokai anthology which is the oldest available collection of poems of Sangam literature in Tamil....
.
Legend states that she was a court poet of the rulers of the Tamil country. She travelled from one part of the country to another and from one village to another, sharing the gruel of the poor farmers and composing songs for their enjoyment. Most of her songs were on a small time chieftain Vallal Athiyamaan Nedumaan Anji and his family. The chieftain had also used her as his ambassador to avert war with another neighbouring cheiftain Tontaiman. The rest of her songs related to the various aspects of state governance. Although traditions claim that she was a sister of Kabilar, Thiruvalluvar and Athiyamaan, V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar
V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar
Vishnampet R. Ramachandra Dikshitar was a historian, Indologist and Dravidologist from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu...
refutes this claim based on his studies that all four of them were most likely of different walks of life, thus from different caste backgrounds and hence impossible to be siblings.
Chola age Avvaiyar
The medievaal period Avvaiyar was the court poet of the Chola monarch and was the contemporary of KambarKambar
Kambar was a medieval Tamil poet and the author of the Tamil Ramayanam known as Kambaramayanam, the Tamil version of Ramayana. Kambar also authored other literary works in Tamil such as Erezhupathu,Silaiezhupathu, Kangai Puranam and Sarasvati Anthati.-Life:Kambar belonged to the Ochchan or Occhan...
and Ottakkuttar. She found great happiness in the life of small children. Her works, Aathichoodi
Aathichoodi
Aathichoodi is a collection of single-line quotations written by Auvaiyar and organized in alphabetical order. There are 108 of these sacred lines which include "A turtle is a turtle, never a tortoise", "Look out of the window, see your life reflected in the bushes and the trees and the glossy...
and Konraiventhan written for young children, are even now generally read and enjoyed by them.
Her two other works, Mooturai and Nalvali were written for older children. All the four works are didactic in character — they explain the basic wisdom that should govern mundane life.
Avvaiyar Quotes
The following quotes from AathichoodiAathichoodi
Aathichoodi is a collection of single-line quotations written by Auvaiyar and organized in alphabetical order. There are 108 of these sacred lines which include "A turtle is a turtle, never a tortoise", "Look out of the window, see your life reflected in the bushes and the trees and the glossy...
illustrate the simplicity of her style and profoundness of the messages:
| Uyir Ezhuthu | ஆத்திசூடி | English translation |
|---|---|---|
| அ | அறம் செய விரும்பு | Desire the righteous deeds |
| ஆ | ஆறுவது சினம் | Anger is to be controlled |
| இ | இயல்வது கரவேல் | Help others in whatever ways you can |
| ஈ | ஈவது விலக்கேல் | Never refrain from charity (Always be charitable) |
| உ | உடையது விளம்பேல் | Avoid injurious(harsh) words |
| ஊ | ஊக்கமது கைவிடேல் | Never give up hope |
| எ | எண் எழுத்து இகழேல் | Never stop learning |
| ஏ | ஏற்பது இகழ்ச்சி | Accepting alms (begging) is despicable |
| ஐ | ஐயமிட்டு உண் | Share your food with to the needy, before you eat |
| ஒ | ஒப்புர வொழுகு | Act virtuously |
| ஓ | ஓதுவது ஒழியேல் | Never give up learning |
| ஒள | ஒளவியம் பேசேல் | Never talk bad about others |
| ஃ | அஃகஞ் சுருக்கேல் | Never cheat on grains (Food) |
கற்றது கைமண் அளவு, கல்லாதது உலகளவு (ஔவையார்)
Alternatively "Known is a drop, unknown is an Ocean". (Source: Avvaiyar)
"Thol Ulagil Nallaar Oruvar Ularael Avar Poruttu Ellarkum Peiyum Mazhai" - The rain falls on behalf of the virtuous, benefitting everyone in the world.
"Nanri Oruvarku Seithakal An Nanri Enrum Thalaravalarthengu Thaan Unda Neerai Thalaiyaalae Thaan Tharuthalal" - A good deed will pay back, as the coconut tree that gives the benefit holding on its head, for the water you pour in its feet.
Her quote "Katrathu Kai Mann Alavu, Kallathathu Ulagalavu" has been translated as "What you have learned is a mere handful; What you haven't learned is the size of the world" and exhibited at NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. Her famous works include:
- Vinayagar AgavalVinayagar AgavalVinayagar Agaval is a hymn in praise of the Lord Ganesha, by the great Chola era Tamil poetess Avaiyar. It is thought to be her greatest poem, written shortly before her death."Agaval” is a form of blank verse, close to speech...
- AathichoodiAathichoodiAathichoodi is a collection of single-line quotations written by Auvaiyar and organized in alphabetical order. There are 108 of these sacred lines which include "A turtle is a turtle, never a tortoise", "Look out of the window, see your life reflected in the bushes and the trees and the glossy...
- Kondraivendhan
- Moothurai
- Nalvali
Shrine
In MuppandalMuppandal
Muppandal is a small village on the southern tip of India in Kanyakumari District, in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is located in a hilly region where wind from the Arabian Sea gusts through mountain passes....
, a small village in the Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District ) is a district of Tamil Nadu state, India and is the southernmost land area of mainland India.The district is the second most urbanised district in Tamilnadu, next only to Chennai and ahead of Coimbatore. It also has the highest literacy and education levels in the...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. there is an image of Avvaiyar. By tradition, this is stated to be the spot where the great poetess left the mortal world.
Legend
Legend has it that once the great king Athiyaman gave an eternal amla Nellikani (gooseberry) fruit to Avvaiyar, this is a special and powerful fruit, whoever eats it will have a healthy and long life. Athiyaman wanted Avvaiyar to eat the eternal fruit as she was the right person who could serve the Tamil community.Publication in the U.S.
In 2009, Red Hen PressRed Hen Press
Red Hen Press is an American non-profit press specializing in the publication of literary fiction and poetry located in Pasadena, California. Founded by Kate Gale, the mission of Red Hen Press is to discover, publish, and promote works of literary excellence that have been overlooked by mainstream...
published a selection of Avvaiyar's poetry from the 12th century, entitled "Give, Eat, and Live: Poems by Avviyar." The poems were selected and translated into English by Thomas Pruiksma, a poet and translator who discovered Avviyar's work while on a Fulbright scholarship at The American College
American College
American College is the name of:* Anatolia College, Thessaloniki, Greece* American College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland* The American College in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India* The American College of Norway, Moss, Norway...
in Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.