Iyer-Iyengar

[Guest guest]

The root-word for both Iyer and Iyengar (Ayyar, Ayyangar) appears to be

Iyen (Ayyan) which, in turn, may be derived from Aryan. Since the ending

with the letter N indicates lack of respect, Iyen became Iyer.

Similarly, 'garu' in Telugu is added to show respect and Iyen became

Iyen-garu which in turn was contracted to Iyengar.

If this (unsupported) explanation is accepted, why was a telugu

appellation adopted for Sri Vaishnavas? May be, historically, many

lived around 1500 AD in Telugu areas?

 

This version of the origin of the words is advanced merely for the

purpose of consideration as to aptness and discussion by the Bhakti

groupmembers.

 

Narsi Mehta, the author of 'Vaishnava Janato" song has described the

admirable qualities of a Sri Vaishnava who is dedicated to the Lord.

Intolerance towards a non-believer of Sriman Narayana is certainly not

one of them.

 

Adiyen dasan,

MK Krishnaswamy

[Guest guest]

This was inadvertently sent as a personal reply rather than as a response

in the Forum.

 

Warm Regards.

 

--- Lakshmi Srinivas <lsrinivas wrote:

> Wed, 5 May 1999 09:47:36 -0700 (PDT)

> Lakshmi Srinivas <lsrinivas

> Re: Iyer-Iyengar

> "M.K. Krishnaswamy" <surfing

>

>

> --- "M.K. Krishnaswamy" wrote:

>

> I do not think the etymology of the word Iyengar is clearly established

> There are various theories. One of the theories is also that it is a

> translation of the term "tAtAchArya" where the Sanskrit word tAtA stands

> for Father which in Tamil is also "ayya".

>

> The second part of the term "gAr" has been variously interpreted. Two

> theories are "kArar" (Tamil) or "gAru" (Telugu). The objection to the

> latter is the need for a Telugu derivation for a self-appellation of a

> Tamil community. Even then, the term "Ayyangar" becomes a partly Telugu

> and partly Tamil term which is clearly not very acceptable to scholars.

>

> Are your suggestion that ayyangars might have lived in Telugu speaking

> areas prior to 1500's, clearly Sri Ramanuja, Sri Alavandar and other

> acharyas were Tamil speaking and they lived in areas such as

> Sriperumbudur, Kaattumannarkovil etc, many hundreds of years of before

> that. As also, Alwars such as Perialwar, Madhurakavialwar,

> Thodaradippodialwar etc..

>

> > Narsi Mehta, the author of 'Vaishnava Janato" song has described the

> > admirable qualities of a Sri Vaishnava who is dedicated to the Lord.

>

> Confusion of terminology is what I alluded to in my original to the

> mail.

> SriVaishnavas, IMHO, are a different community. If one wants to know

> the

> attributes of a Srivaishnava acharya or disciple etc, one has more

> authoritative sources viz., rahasyatrayasaram

> of Sri Desika or Srivacanabhushanam of Sri Pillailokachariar.

>

> > Intolerance towards a non-believer of Sriman Narayana is certainly not

> > one of them.

>

> In any closing, I believe jokes are permitted. In fact I had attached a

> "smiley face" to my concluding remarks. No intolerance was intended nor

> was it communicated. Indeed, I would consider it invidious if someone

> were to suggest that such was the case.

>

> The gentleman in question (Sri Jagan's friend, Sri Swaminathan) has

> already written to me and we have taken this discussion offline. Btw, he

> was wondering if he hurt my sentiments. Well, I have to tell the Bhaktas

> that such is not the case.

>

> But if you would like to discuss the facts contained in my mail, I would

> naturally be delighted to do so.

>

> Warm Regards.

>

>

>

>

>

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