Avvaiyar (Tamil: ஔவையார்) was a Tamil poet who lived during the period of Kambar and Ottakoothar during the reign of the Chola dynasty in the twelfth century.[1] She is often imagined as an old and intelligent lady by Tamil people. Many poems and the Avvai Kural, comprising 310 kurals in 31 chapters, belong to this period. She is most widely known for her 'Aathichoodi', 'Kondrai Vendhan', 'Nalvazhi' and 'Moodhurai'.[2][3] The name Avvaiyar means a 'respectable good woman', hence a generic title; her personal name is not known.[4]
Avvaiyar was the court poet of the Chola monarch and was a contemporary of Kambar and Ottakkuttar.[5] She found great happiness in the life of small children. Her works, Ātticcūṭi 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.
QuotesEdit
The following quotes from Aathichoodi illustrate the simplicity of her style and profoundness of the messages:
Uyir Ezhuthu
ஆத்திசூடி
English translation
அ
அறம் செய விரும்பு
Intend to do right things
ஆ
ஆறுவது சினம்
Anger is momentary; do not take decisions during times of anger (in haste)
இ
இயல்வது கரவேல்
Help others based on your capacity
ஈ
ஈவது விலக்கேல்
Never stop aiding
உ
உடையது விளம்பேல்
Never boast possessions (wealth, skills, or knowledge)
Thirukkural is as powerful as the energy of the seven large oceans compressed into a divided atom.
"Thol Ulagil Nallaar Oruvar Ularael Avar Poruttu Ellarkum Peiyum Mazhai" – The rain falls on behalf of the virtuous, benefitting everyone in the world.
"Nandri Oruvarukku Seithakkal An Nandri Endru tharum kol ena vaenda nindru Thalara valar thengu Thaanunda Neerai Thalaiyaalae Thaan Tharuthalal" -Don't wait for a return benefit as to when a good deed done will pay back, but be just like that tall and erect coconut tree that drank water from its feet gives the benefit of giving that sweet water by its head."
Translation into EnglishEdit
In 2009, Red Hen Press published a selection of Avvaiyar's poetry from the twelfth century, entitled Give, Eat, and Live: Poems by Avviyar. The poems were selected and translated into English by Thomas Pruiksma,[6] a poet and translator who discovered Avviyar's work while on a Fulbright scholarship at The American College in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Further readingEdit
Pruiksma, T. H. (2009). Give, eat, and live: Poems of Avvaiyar. Los Angeles, CA: Red Hen Press.
^Ramadevi, B. (3 March 2014). "The saint of the masses". The Hindu.
^Mukherjee, Sujit (1999). A dictionary of Indian literature. India: Orient Blackswan. p. 32. ISBN978-81-250-1453-9.
^Amaresh (2006). The Encyclopaedia of Hindu literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 295. ISBN978-81-260-1803-1.
^. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
ReferencesEdit
Edward Jewitt Robinson (2001). Tamil Wisdom: Traditions Concerning Hindu Sages and Selections from Their Writings. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN9788120615878.
Krishnamurti, Dr. C.R. (Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. Canada) Thamizh Literature Through the Ages [1]
avvaiyar, 12th, century, poet, this, article, about, 12th, century, poet, other, uses, avvaiyar, disambiguation, avvaiyar, tamil, ஔவ, tamil, poet, lived, during, period, kambar, ottakoothar, during, reign, chola, dynasty, twelfth, century, often, imagined, int. This article is about the 12th century poet For other uses see Avvaiyar disambiguation Avvaiyar Tamil ஔவ ய ர was a Tamil poet who lived during the period of Kambar and Ottakoothar during the reign of the Chola dynasty in the twelfth century 1 She is often imagined as an old and intelligent lady by Tamil people Many poems and the Avvai Kural comprising 310 kurals in 31 chapters belong to this period She is most widely known for her Aathichoodi Kondrai Vendhan Nalvazhi and Moodhurai 2 3 The name Avvaiyar means a respectable good woman hence a generic title her personal name is not known 4 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Quotes 2 Translation into English 3 Further reading 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksBiography EditAvvaiyar was the court poet of the Chola monarch and was a contemporary of Kambar and Ottakkuttar 5 She found great happiness in the life of small children Her works Atticcuṭi 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 Quotes Edit The following quotes from Aathichoodi illustrate the simplicity of her style and profoundness of the messages Uyir Ezhuthu ஆத த ச ட English translationஅ அறம ச ய வ ர ம ப Intend to do right thingsஆ ஆற வத ச னம Anger is momentary do not take decisions during times of anger in haste இ இயல வத கரவ ல Help others based on your capacityஈ ஈவத வ லக க ல Never stop aidingஉ உட யத வ ளம ப ல Never boast possessions wealth skills or knowledge ஊ ஊக கமத க வ ட ல Never lose hope or motivationஎ எண எழ த த இகழ ல Never degrade learningஏ ஏற பத இகழ ச ச Begging is shamefulஐ ஐயம ட ட உண Share what you eatஒ ஒப ப ர வ ழ க Be virtuousஓ ஓத வத ஒழ ய ல Never stop learning or readingஒள ஒளவ யம ப ச ல Never gossipஃ அஃகஞ ச ர க க ல Never compromise in food grains anuvai thulaithezh kadalai pugatti Kuruga tharitha kural Thirukkural is as powerful as the energy of the seven large oceans compressed into a divided atom Thol Ulagil Nallaar Oruvar Ularael Avar Poruttu Ellarkum Peiyum Mazhai The rain falls on behalf of the virtuous benefitting everyone in the world Nandri Oruvarukku Seithakkal An Nandri Endru tharum kol ena vaenda nindru Thalara valar thengu Thaanunda Neerai Thalaiyaalae Thaan Tharuthalal Don t wait for a return benefit as to when a good deed done will pay back but be just like that tall and erect coconut tree that drank water from its feet gives the benefit of giving that sweet water by its head Translation into English EditIn 2009 Red Hen Press published a selection of Avvaiyar s poetry from the twelfth century entitled Give Eat and Live Poems by Avviyar The poems were selected and translated into English by Thomas Pruiksma 6 a poet and translator who discovered Avviyar s work while on a Fulbright scholarship at The American College in Madurai Tamil Nadu India Further reading EditPruiksma T H 2009 Give eat and live Poems of Avvaiyar Los Angeles CA Red Hen Press See also Edit nbsp Poetry portalAathichoodi Abithana Chintamani Thiruvalluvar ThirukuralNotes Edit Dalal Roshen 18 April 2014 Hinduism An Alphabetical Guide Penguin UK p 242 ISBN 978 81 8475 277 9 B Ramadevi Ramadevi B 3 March 2014 The saint of the masses The Hindu Mukherjee Sujit 1999 A dictionary of Indian literature India Orient Blackswan p 32 ISBN 978 81 250 1453 9 Amaresh 2006 The Encyclopaedia of Hindu literature Sahitya Akademi p 295 ISBN 978 81 260 1803 1 Biography The Poet s Magic Archived from the original on 27 March 2022 Retrieved 30 April 2023 References EditEdward Jewitt Robinson 2001 Tamil Wisdom Traditions Concerning Hindu Sages and Selections from Their Writings New Delhi Asian Educational Services ISBN 9788120615878 Krishnamurti Dr C R Professor Emeritus University of British Columbia Vancouver B C Canada Thamizh Literature Through the Ages 1 Project Madurai Purananuru eText http tamilnation org literature ettuthokai pm0057 pdf Project madurai Avvaiyar works in PDF http tamilnation org literature auvaiyar pm002 pdf http www aathithamizharperavai com home html https web archive org web 20110308182216 http www tn gov in policynotes archives policy2004 05 hrce2004 05 3 htmExternal links EditProject Madurai Homepage Article in English about Vinayagar Agaval Avvaiyar amp her Writings Aathisoodi Meaning in English Translated into English Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Avvaiyar 12th century poet amp oldid 1176057952, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
