Austere Avvaiyar and Paramacharya

Shri R Prabhu has given good commentary on Avvayar Attichudi and shri Nagai V ramaswami has composed attichudi on Paramacharya. I feel elated in sharing both

The first thing that everyone remembers on hearing the name Avvaiyar is Aathichudi. Aathichudi is said to have been written by the later Avvaiyar. Aathichudi stands as a crown for tha works of Avvaiyar. Its simplicity and the moral values it inculcates has a wide acceptance among people. It is so simple that is even taught to kids just out of kindergarten, and even used by people as quotes during their ordinary day to day talks or speeches. Aathichudi has 109 verses explaining the morals. The beauty is that it is organized in such a way that each verse is in the order of the vowels (Uyir Ezhuthu), consonants (Mei Ezhuthu) of the Tamil alphabets and the combinant alphabets (Uyir Mei Ezhuthu).

அற� ெசய வ�� Aram seyya virumbu Desire doing righteous deeds

ஆ�வ சின� Aaruvadhu Sinam Anger is to be controlled

இய�வ கரேவ� Iyalvadhu Karavael Help others in whatever ways you can

ஈவ வ�ல�ேக� Eevadhu Vilakkael Never prevent others from providing charity

உைடய வ�ள�ேப� Udaiyadhu Vilambael Never proclaim/boast what you have

ஊ�கம ைகவ�ேட� Ookamadhu Kaividael Never give up the confidence and hope

எ எ!" இகேழ� Enn Ezhuthu Egazhael Never despise learning

ஏ%ப இக&'சி Yaerpadhu Igazhchi Accepting alms (begging) is despicable

ஐயமி)* உ

Ayyamittu Unn Share your food with the needy, before you eat

ஒ,ர ெவா!. Oppuravu Ozhugu Act virtuously

ஓ வ ஒழிேய� Odhuvadhu Ozhiyael

Never stop learning

ஒளவ�ய� ேபேச� Ouviyyam Paesael Never gossip about others

அஃக1 2�ேக� Akkam Surukael Never cheat on quantity of items you sell The name Aathichudi is because of the head verse is in praise of Lord Shiva and Lord Ganapathy, who is adorned with the Aathi flowers.

ஆ"தி45 அம67த ேதவைன

ஏ"தி ஏ"தி ெதா!ேவாேம Aathichudi Amarndha Devanai Yaethi Yaethi thozuvomae meaning, we will praise the The God (Lord Vinayaka) who sits in the lap of the Lord (Lord Shiva) who wears the Aathi flowers The simplicity of these verses are not only easy to comprehend but also easy to remember. Very easy for learning kids, that they remember through out their life. Another work, the Kondrai vendhan, is also by the later Avvaiyar, which is similar to the Aathichudi in many respects. The same one-liner style, along with the order of the alphabets makes it easy to read and remember too. This is praise of Lord Shiva, who is adorned with the Kondrai flowers, and Lord Vinayaka. Usually all Tamil poems being with a song that is in praise of the poet's favourite God. This verse is called the Kadavul Vaazhthu. Now, the verses from Kondrai Vendhan.

ெகா8ைற ேவ7த8 ெச�வ8 அ5ய�ைன

எ8�� ஏ"தி ெதா!ேவா� யாேம Kondrai Vendhan Selvan Adiyinai

Endrum Yaethi Thozhuvom Yaamae We will ever worship and praise the Son (Lord Vinayaka) of the Lord (Lord Shiva) who wears the Kondrai flowers.

அ8ைன9� ப�தா:� ;8னறி ெத<வ� Annaiyum Pidhavum Munnari Dheivam The mother and the father are the Gods to be realised first

ஆலய� ெச8றட� சால:� ந8�

Aalayam Sendridal Saalavum Nandru It is good and noble to worship the God in temples

இ�லற� அ�ல ந�லற� அ8�

Illaram Alladhu Nallaram Andru It is ignoble to not follow a peaceful marriage

ஈயா6 ேத)ைட த>யா6 ெகா?வ6 Eeyaar Thaetai Theeyaar Kollvar The belongings of the miserly will be plundered by the evil-minded

உ 5 2@.த� ெப 5�. அழ. Undi Surungudhal Pendirukku Azhagu Reducing the quantity of food intake, by women is good for them

ஊட8 பைக�கி8 ேவட8 ெக*� Oorudan Pagaikkin Verudan Kedum Hostility with the society/country will destroy everything one has right from the root

எ A� எ!" � க ெணன த.� Ennum Ezhuthum Kannena Thagum Education and knowledge is like the eye for everyone

ஏவா ம�க? Cவா ம7 Yaeva Makkal Moova Marundhu Children who do the right things without the parents' guidance are like curative medicine

ஐய� கிD� ெச<வன ெச< Aiyyam Puginum Seivana Sei Even under impecuniousness do your duties

ஒவைன ப%றி ஓரக" இ

Oruvanai Pattri Oragathu Iru Marry one and be loyal the spouse

ஓதலி8 ந8ேற ேவதிய6�. ஒ!�க� Odhalin Nandrae Vedhiyarkku Ozhukkam Discipline is more important to a priest than uttering the sacred hymns

ஔவ�ய� ேப2த� ஆ�க"தி%. அழி: Auviyam Pesudhal Aakkathirkku Azhivu Gossiping is destructive to one's fame

அஃக;� கா2� சி�ெகன ேத* Akkamum Kaasum Sikkena Thaedu Earn cultivation lands and the money soon in your life R Prabhu

Cnu.pne