aNNA , appA , aaryA

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends :

It is fascinating to learn about the nomenclature used

to address one's Father.In my house , my doting grandfather

used to address me as "aNNA " , when I was a small child .

 

Among all births , the birth called Jn~Anap piRavi

resulting from the blessings of Moola Manthram as

Mother and one's AchAryan as the Father providing that

"BrahmOpadEsam " elevates the role of parents , who are

endearingly called ammA /ambhA/aaryAmbhA ( the most merciful )

and appA/appan (the most sacred ) .aNNan is typically

the name for the elder brother in Tamil Naadu .

aNNal seybhavan is aNNal .aNNal is the leader .

aaryA is the term for a very revered one

and the term AchAryA mihgt be interpreted as AchArEna

aarya : , or anushtAnEna prasiddha aarya :

In old formal Sanskrit , when a revered one

( mahaneeya or pUjaneeya ) arrives at your home ,

you prostrate before them and invite them to

sit ( aasana parigrahENa alankarOthu imam

pradEsam Aarya : ) .

 

The connection to all these nomenclature can be found

in Divya Prabhandhams , when Thirumangai and NammAzhwAr

address the Lord in their SaraNAgathi Paasurams .Examples are :

 

Periya Thirumozhi : ThiruveLLak KuLam paasurams:

 

** 4.7.1-- ThiruveLLak KuLatthuL aNNA adiyEn idaraik kaLayAyE

^^^^^

 

** 4.7.2: ThiruveLLak KuLatthuL yenthAi ----

^^^^^^^

 

Periya Thirumozhi : Thiruvenkata Pasurams

 

** 1.9.5: --yenn appA vanthadainthEn adiyEnai aatkandaruLE

^^^^^

 

** 1.9.6--aNNA vanthadainthEn ---

^^^^^

 

** 1.9.7--Gana maamalai VenkatavA ,

ariyE ( HariyE ) vanthadainthEn --

 

**1.10.1 -10 : aNNaa adiyEn idarik kaLayAyE ,

^^^^^

aNDA "

kOnE "

yenthAi , ini unnai yenRum vidEnE

^^^^^^^

 

NammAzhwAr : ThiruvEnkatam paasurams ( Thiruvaaimozhi )

 

3.3.1: Ozhuvil kaalamellAm---ThiruvEnkatatthu ,

yezhil koLL sOthi yenthai tanthai tanthaikkE

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

6.10.3 : aNNalE unnadi sEra adiyErkkAvennAyE

^^^^^^

 

PriyAzhwAr PallANdu : Paasuram 6

 

yenthai tanthai tanthai tam mUtthappan yEzhpadikAl thodangi

^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^

 

The sum of it all is that one's father revered by

Vedam as "pithru dEvO bhava " is deservedly addressed as

"appA , aNNA , tanthai , appan , aNNal , Aaryan et al "

to indicate the reverence for givng us the JN~Anap piRavi .

In the days past , a son never sat in front of his father .

He always stood unless asked by his father and even then at a

place below his father's seat .

 

The exemplary case of Father-AchArya-Son relationship

is that of Kumara VaradAchAr and Swami Sri Desikan ,

His father , AchAryan and God .

 

KrishNArpaNam asthu

V.Sadagopan