Iyan as root of iyangar -(1)

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SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA

 

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"Ramanujam Varada Srinivasa Thatta" <acharyatvsr

<jayasree_saranathan

Sunday, October 02, 2005 2:35 PM

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.

>

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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