Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur   

Maraimalai Adigal's contribution to Tamil literature recalled

Photo: M.SRINATH

commemoration:Maraimalai Ilakkuvanar, Professor in Tamil, Chennai, delivering a lecture at Tamil University on Monday. M.Rajendran, right, Vice Chancellor, is in the picture.—

THANJAVUR: Contribution of Maraimalai Adigal to Tamil language was recalled at a lecture organised by the Annai Anjugam and Thanthai Muthuvelar Trust established by Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, at the Tamil University, here on Monday.

Delivering the lecture on "Maraimalai Adigal-Thanithamizh Iyakka Thanthai", Mr.Maraimalai Ilakkuvanar, a professor in Tamil from Chennai, said Vallalar can be called as the pioneer for the Thanithamizh movement. Until Vallalar's time, Sanskrit was dominating as a language of worship, spirituality and philosophy. Vallalar introduced Tamil as a worship language. Mayuram Vedhayagam Pillai and Manonmaniam Sundaranar followed Vallalar and took forward the Thamizh movement. Life of Maraimalai Adigal was based on preaching and practice of the above three. Maraimalai Adigal became a scholar at the age of 18, but he did not enter the college or any institution of higher learning. He was a master of Tamil, English and Sanskrit languages. He studied Vedas and recited them in the correct pronunciation.

He translated Sakunthalam-Sanskrit drama into Tamil. His contributions to Tamil are in the form of poetry, novel, science, yoga, drama and literary research, historical research, and comparative studies.

What Maraimalai Adigal thought about Tamil Language, Periyar EVR implemented it. That is how many Sanskritised words were later changed into Tamil. Examples are "Vivaga Suba Muhrutha Pathirigai" which was later called "Thirumana Azhaipithazh" in Tamil, "Agrasanar" which was made into "Thalaivar" and "Kariyadarsisi" which was changed to "Seyalalar" that is secretary.

M.Rajendran, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil University, said Marimalai Adigal identified other language words in Tamil works like Mullaipattu and Pattinapalai, and separated them.

DP.Madhaiyan, Professor and Head of the Department, Tamil, Periyar University, Salem, delivered a lecture on Navalar Na.Mu.Venkatasamy Nattarin Aivu Thiran.”

S.M.Ravichandran, Professor and Head, Tamil, Bharathiyar University, spoke on ‘Ka.Su.Pillaiyin Ilakkiya Varalatry Thanithanmaigal, while Padmavathi Vivekanandan from the World Tamil Research Centre delivered a talk on ‘Thiru.Vi.Kavin Samuthaya Nokku' and Y. Manikandan, Assistant Professor, Department of Tamil, Chennai University, on Caldvel. T.Eswara Pillai, Head of the Department, Tamil, Tamil University, also spoke.

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