Avvaiyar (12th-century poet)

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]

This article is about the 12th-century poet. For other uses, see Avvaiyar (disambiguation).

Biography

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.

Quotes

The following quotes from Aathichoodi illustrate the simplicity of her style and profoundness of the messages:

Uyir Ezhuthuஆத்திசூடிEnglish translation
அஅறம் செய விரும்புIntend to do right things
ஆஆறுவது சினம்Anger is momentary; do not take decisions during times of anger (in haste)
இஇயல்வது கரவேல்Help others based on your capacity
ஈஈவது விலக்கேல்Never stop aiding
உஉடையது விளம்பேல்Never boast possessions (wealth, skills, or knowledge)
ஊஊக்கமது கைவிடேல்Never lose hope or motivation
எ எண் எழுத்து இகழேல்Never degrade learning
ஏஏற்பது இகழ்ச்சிBegging is shameful
ஐஐயமிட்டு உண்Share what you eat
ஒஒப்புர வொழுகுBe virtuous
ஓஓதுவது ஒழியேல்Never stop learning or reading
ஒளஒளவியம் பேசேல்Never gossip
ஃஅஃகஞ் சுருக்கேல்Never 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

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 reading

See also

Notes
  1. Dalal, Roshen (18 April 2014). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin UK. p. 242. ISBN 978-81-8475-277-9.
  2. [B. Ramadevi]
  3. Ramadevi, B. (3 March 2014). "The saint of the masses". The Hindu.
  4. Mukherjee, Sujit (1999). A dictionary of Indian literature. India: Orient Blackswan. p. 32. ISBN 978-81-250-1453-9.
  5. Amaresh (2006). The Encyclopaedia of Hindu literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 295. ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1.
  6. "Biography « The Poet's Magic". Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2023.

    References
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