You are here: SriPedia - Ramanuja - Archives - Sep 2005

Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00130 Sep 2005

 
Sep 2005 Indexes ( Date | Thread | Author )
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]


SrI:

Read this mail.
Sending that part of my mail dealing with Iyengar, which I shared 
with a private group. This might add some input to the existing views.
--------------------------------------
Next let me take up Iyer or aiyya.

The root word is 'I' or 'Ai' 
 In Tamil texts of yore, this word is found at places to refer to 
leader or chief in II person (munnilai). That is when they call their 
leader or chief standing in front of them, they used to say 'Ai' or 
en ai, meaning ' en thalaiva'  or 'oh, my chief'. You will find this 
in verses 78 and 262 in Puranaanuru.

Aiyan means 'poojaikka-th-thagundhavan' or 'vaNanga-th-thagundhavan'. 
(the one who deserves to be worshipped).
The common usage in times of yore had been to refer to Aiyyappan 
originally known as Aiyyan or Harihara kumaran (born to Vishnu as 
Mohini and Shivan).

Then anyone who deserves to be worshipped by their potential, came to 
be addressed as Aiyyan or Aiyyar. (Note that this term was not used 
for Kings, but only to those who rose to respectable positions by 
virtue of their actions and knowledge)

Therefore, the Vediks or Brahmins or paarpanaas (paarpaar is 
one 'vedangalai-p-paarpavar') came to be called as ( also note that 
the usage is while addressing as in 'ai' in olden days) aiyyar or 
Iyer. 

As per choodamani nigandu, the eldest brother is also known as 
Aaiyan, in his being the most resepcted person of the family. 
The others called as Aaiyyan by Choodamani nigandu are God (swami, 
EEshan, iRai, pathi), father, royals (kOmaan), adigaL, kuravan etc.

In common usage all brahmins were addressed to as iyer only. 
The formation of Iyengar, in my opinion, is when Telugus came to be 
associated with these iyers of Tamilnadu. This could have happened 
when Ramanuja migrated to Hoysala region though a kannada populated 
area, came to have association with many Telugus only. The addition 
of term of respect, kaaru, to Iyer could have resulted in Iyeru kaaru 
and Iyengar. The explanation of 5 attributes to Iyengar is 
intelelctual and can not have evolved in colloquial usage. Whereas 
Ai, Aiyyan and Iyer had been in vogue from time immemorial, as an 
address to respectable, worshippable and learned people. It is 
possible to think that usage came first and additional attributes 
came be added later by the intelligentia.

Another reason to justify is that it is customary in Madayam iyengar 
families to call their father as Aiyya. These families, settled in 
Melkote region during Ramanuja's times must have continued the usage 
of Aiyya (for father or for the vediks). Aaiyya or iyer must have  
been in usage when Ramanuja settled there and they must have  been 
addressed as such. The habit could have continued in calling the 
father as aiyya and for commoners / public to call them as iyeru 
kaaru.

Madhavi's address to Kovalan in 'vandhir Aaiyya' in silappadhikaaram, 
is in the meaning of 'kOmaganE' or 'kOmaanE'  --'vandhIr KOmaanE' 
(komaan is called as Aaiyya or Aaiyyan or Iyer)

Any corrections to this mail are welcome.

Jayasree saranathan


----------------------------------------

--- In ramanuja@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Pattangi <danp@xxxx> wrote:
> Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 03:38:16 -0600
> From: Madhuri and Mohan <mmsagar@xxxx>
> To: hokrishna@xxxx
> 
> Dear Sri Krishna,
> 
> This is in response to your e-mail on SriRangaSri asking for the 
meaning
> of the term "Iyengar".
> 
> Contrary to popular belief, the term "Iyengar" is not a Tamil  
word, but
> rather has its origins in ancient Telugu,  This language had once 
been
> very popular among scholars in South India, because of its larger
> alphabet and heavy Sanskrit influence.  The word seems to have been 
a
> derivation of the root "Iy" (pronounced "eye"), which is same root 
for
> the number five (Iydhu), which implies the five-fold set of 
activities
> that are the center and fundamental foundation of the SriVaishnava 
way
> of life.  These are:
> 
>    1. Da:sa - recognizing ourselves to be in the service of those 
who
>       are in service to the Supreme Being
>    2. Tha:pa  - taking on the symbols of Sankha and Chakra to 
indicate
>       to ourselves and others that we are the sole property of the
>       Supreme Being
>    3. Pundra - donning the Supreme Being's Lotus Feet on our head 
and
>       other parts of our body to indicate that He is our only 
Protection
>       and Strength
>    4. Mantra - meditation on the Supreme Being in our heart through
>       contemplation on the Three Great Mantras as gifted to us by 
our
>       Acharya
>    5. A:ra:dhana - worship of the Supreme Being in His Form as the 
Deity
>       in our home and temples
> 
> It is unfortunate that over the past 100 or so years, the full 
meaning
> of this sacred word has been forgotten, and is now just being 
considered
> as being a title for a specific subsect of Brahmins.   Because, when
> properly understood, the use of this term can be of deep 
significance to
> us in our lives, irrespective of our caste.
> 
> For a more detailed discussion on this, please click:
> http://www.srivaishnavan.com/tomcat/srivaish5.html
> 
> I hope this helps.
> 
> Mohan
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>






------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page
http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/.itolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

azhwAr emberumAnAr jeeyAr thiruvadigalE saranam
 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ramanuja/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    ramanuja-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 



[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index ] [Thread Index ] [Author Index ]
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia
ramanuja-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to the list