Auvaiyar or Avvaiyar was one of the most popular and important female poets in Tamil literature. The term Auvaiyar means respectable woman or elderly lady in the Tamil language, who could acquire the position of a mother. The term was mainly conferred as a title to the female poets` during different periods of Tamil literature. According to the literary work of Abithana Chintamani, there were 3 female poets who were conferred the title Auvaiyar. But the most prominent poet amongst them was Auvaiyar I who existed during the Sangam age of Tamil literature. She was one of the thirty female poets in Sangam literature. Auvaiyar I composed fifty nine verses in the Purananuru and maintained pleasant relation with Athiyaman and Paari, the Tamil chieftains. Auvaiyar moved with the Chera, Chola and Pandya kings, and also the local chiefs like Athiyaman and Paari. She had a close and intimate relationship with her friend Athiyaman, the chieftain of Takatur. Auvaiyar composed several literary works aimed at children that are used in schools in Tamil Nadu.
Auvaiyar II was a contemporary poet of Kambar and Ottakoothar during the rule of the Chola dynasty in the 13th century. She also composed several poems which are very popular even at the present age and are prescribed as textbooks for various schools in the state of Tamil Nadu in India.
Auvaiyar II was a contemporary poet of Kambar and Ottakoothar during the rule of the Chola dynasty in the 13th century. She also composed several poems which are very popular even at the present age and are prescribed as textbooks for various schools in the state of Tamil Nadu in India.
Literary Works of Auvaiyar
Auvaiyar I lived during the Sangam age is believed to be a contemporary of popular Tamil poets like Paranar, Tiruvalluvar and Kabilar. She is considered as the author of 7 verses in the Tamil literary work of Narrinai, 15 verses in Kuruntokai, 4 poems in the Akananuru collection and 33 verses in Purananuru. According to Tamil legends, Auvaiyar was appointed as the court poet of the kings of the Tamil land. She went from part of the Tamil country to the other, by sharing the gruel of the farmers and creating hymns for their pleasure. Most of the songs of Auvaiyar I were about a chieftain known as Vallal Athiyaman Nedumaan Anji and his family. She was also the ambassador of Athiyaman and supported him to prevent war with another chieftain named Tontaiman, in the neighbouring region. Other verses and songs were based on the different aspects of state governance.
Auvaiyar II was the court poet of a Chola ruler and was a contemporary of Kambara and Ottakoothar. The literary works of Aathichoodi and Konraiventhan were composed by her for children. These works have gained immense popularity amongst the Tamil people. Auvaiyar II wrote 2 other works, namely Nalvali and Mooturai that were created for older children. All of her compositions were didactic in nature and describe the fundamental knowledge which should govern everyday life.
