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SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ramanujam Varada Srinivasa Thatta" <acharyatvsr@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <jayasree_saranathan@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2005 2:35 PM
Subject: Re: What does "Iyengar" mean?


> Again Iyan need not be Iyyappan. In Sucheendram the deity is known as
> Thaanu-Maal-Ayan (The Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, Maheswara). Ayan is Aja
in
> Sanskrit and denotes Brahma.
> Regards,
> Ramanujam.
>
----------------------

Respected Sri Ramanujam swami,

SthaaNumaalayan is not Iyappan. It is the three murthys in one. The sthala
puranam also says this.

 But Iyan was how Iyappan was addressed in olden days in Tamil nadu. It is
one of the 13 names for Iyappan. It will be interesting to know that Iyappan
was also called as Aryan. In makkal peyar thoguthi, these 13 synonyms have
been given as pertaining to Iyan, one of which  is Iyappan. This shows that
Iyan was earlier than Iyappan by usage among the population.

At the same time Iyan was also used to address anyone who was
respectable.The meaning of Iyan has been given as one who derserves to be
worshipped and respected. It is like 'poojyashri'.

"IyanE mootthOn saatthan appan Ishwaraneer pErE" says the Nigandu verse.

Iyan is mootthOn or elder one. At one place in Silappdhikaaram, Iyan is used
to mean elder brother.

 Iyan is  sAtthan which  refers to Iyanaar.
This Iyan  changed into Iyanaar with 'aar'
vighuthi which is found in every village in tamil nadu even today.

These Iyans or Iyanaars were local gods or valiant persons who have lived
and protected the village while alive. Going by the folklore on Iyanaar it
is
deduced that  'ai' (as an address to master, chief etc) has come to be known
as Iyanaar. The feminine gender of this Iyan is 'Iyai'. Iyai was the wife of
the chief. Goddess Durga was also known as Iyai. The connection is to the
valour and prowess in overpowering enemies.

Iyan was used to refer to father and God also. There are many proofs for
this in prose, poetry and colloquial usage.

Simulateously  the term Iyan also had been in vogue to address persons who
were respected and learned ones. Since brahmins were learned and a
respectable lot they were called as Iyan or Iyer. There is proof for this
too.But why Bharathiyaar said "paarpaanai iyer endra kaalamum pOcchE" is an
issue for another round of discussion.
Is it because Paarpaan (brahmin) was no longer in the  high pedastal to be
worshipped?
Was it a lament that paarpaan had reached a sorry state?
 Or that Paarpaan no longer deserved that
high ranking address?

My contention of Iyan expressed in this and other  mails by me are as how it
has been dealt with in Tamil.

Regards,
jayasree saranathan





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