The Legacy of the Avvaiyars:
One of the Avvaiyars, who lived during the Sangam period, approximately in the 1st and 2nd century CE, enjoyed cordial relationships with prominent Tamil chieftains like Vēl Pāri and Athiyamān. Her poetic legacy includes 59 poems found in the Puṟanāṉūṟu, a classic collection of Sangam literature.
Avvaiyar II in the Chola Dynasty:
Avvaiyar II, in contrast, thrived during the period of Kambar and Ottakoothar, amidst the reign of the Chola dynasty in the 10th century. She is often portrayed as a wise and elderly figure in the hearts of Tamil people. Her enduring contributions to Tamil literature include numerous poems that continue to be popular, with some even finding a place in school textbooks in Tamil Nadu.
- “கற்றதனம் அளவு; கற்றதனம் அகப்பு” – “What you have learned is a mere handful; what you haven’t learned is the size of the world.”
- “வாய்மை ஒழிய, மன்னர் ஒழிய, வாய்மை மன்னர் ஒழிய” – “Speak the truth, speak pleasantly, and let the two not conflict.”
- “அன்பு அழியாது ஆண்டவன் பேணா” – “The one who doesn’t lose love is a true friend.”
- “முதல் முதலாயினும் அடிமேல்” – “First, first, then after that, next.”
- “குணமதாதே, பொருள் போகாதே, உழையாதே, உயர்திணிக்காதே.” – “Don’t forsake virtue, don’t lose your possessions, don’t refrain from working, don’t avoid the noble.”
- “புதிய படம் வெளியாதே, பழம் துணைக்காதே.” – “Don’t release a new arrow without collecting the old one.”
- “வாரா விதியே சாகா, உழையவும் உழையாதே.” – “Work, and while you work, believe in fate.”
- “அருமை உழைய இனி செயல் இல்லை, அதை உண்மை செயல் என அறிந்தேன்.” – “There is no greater deed than working with dedication, and I know this to be true.”
About the Author
