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Book Review
Study on Avvaiyar
AVVAIYAR — Andru Mudal Indru Varai: Dr. Thayammal Aravanan; Published by "Pachaippasael", 11, Second Street, Mohan Nagar, Pondicherry-605005. Rs. 100.
AVVAIYAR IS the saint-poetess of the Tamil country who lived thousands of years ago, propagating the fragrance of Tamil literature and also speaking about morality and spirituality. She acted as a messenger between the warring Tamil kings and brought peace among them.
The book under review is an exhaustive research study on Avvaiyar, her literary and other efforts. According to the author, the name of Avvaiyar was conferred on saintly women, who lived in the Tamil country at different times, and there were at least six Avvaiyars right from the Sangam period to the 18th century. The first Avvaiyar belonged to the Sangam period dating back to the second century, the second to the 10th century, the third to the 16th century, the fourth to the 17th and the fifth and sixth to the 18th century.
The word "Avvai" denotes any elderly woman and the author proves this with quotations from Silappadhikaram, Jeevaka Chinthamani, Kambaramayanam, commentary on Thirukkovaiyar and other works. The term had been used in other Dravidian languages like Kannada, Telugu and also Sanskrit. The Avvai of the Sangam period had composed 33 poems and the author exhaustively deals with their literary eminence.
Avvaiyar's poems have been adopted by other faiths including Christians and a separate chapter is devoted to a discussion of the same. The author also mentions various stories in circulation about Avvaiyar's encounters with gods.
Pictures of Avvaiyar statues and idols found in temples in various places right from Salem to Kanyakumari have been appended to the book which is indeed a variorum on Avvaiyar and her works. It deserves to be placed in the hands of all lovers of Tamil.
T. A. SRINIVASAN
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