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! 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