Meenakshi sundaram pillai biography books

Today (13Jan2022) we went to Dr.U.Ve.Swaminatha Iyer Library, Beasant Nagar, Chennai, in hope to glimpse the books of U.Ve.Sa. and buy a copy of Sri Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai’s biography.

Who is Sri Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai?

Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai or Mahavidhvan Meenakshisundaram Pillai (Tamil:மீனாட்சிசுந்தரம் பிள்ளை) was a Tamil scholar and teacher of U. V. Swaminatha Iyer, a Tamil scholar and researcher who was instrumental in bringing many long-forgotten works of classical Tamil literature to light. Pillai’s important contribution is in the form of temple history called Sthalapuranam for 90 temples in Tamil Nadu.

Born in Trichy, Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai began his career as a Tamil teacher in Mayiladuthurai and went on to train many students in the craft of Tamil literature. One of his first publications under his own name was Akhilanda Nayaki Pillai Tamil, written in 1842. He is remembered for his contribution to Tamil studies as well as Saiva Agamas (Rules of Saivites). The celebrated Tamil scholar U. V. Swaminatha Iyer, known for his discovery of the Sangam classics, became his student at the age of 17. Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, who left behind him a treasure of Tamil palm leaf manuscripts, died in 1876. He led a poor person’s life but is respected as one among the greats who served to Tamil language.

Some notes about U.Ve.Sa

Uttamadhanapuram Venkatasubbaiyer Swaminatha Iyer (19 February 1855 – 28 April 1942) was a Tamil scholar and researcher who was instrumental in bringing many long-forgotten works of classical Tamil literature to light. His efforts over five decades brought to light major literary works in Tamil and contributed vastly to the enrichment of its literary heritage.

Meenakshisundaram Pillai (1869–1964) is a classical dance guru considered as the prominent founder of Pandanallur style of Bharatanatyam, Indian dance. He lived in the village of Pandanallur, in the Thanjavur district in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Background

Meenakshisundaram Pillai, whose ancestors were nattuvanars, was a descendant from the Thanjavur Quartet, which comprised four brothers: Chinnaiah, Ponniah, Sivanandam and Vadivel. The works of these four brothers, who were court composers in the early 19th century in Thanjavur, form the main classical masterpieces of Bharatanatyam.

Baroda Guru Kubernath Tanjorkar (1916 - 2007), a disciple of Pillai, later established Tanjor Dance Music & Art Research Centre in Baroda, Gujarat. Thiruvallaputhur Swaminatha Pillai, also known as T.K.Swaminatha Pillai, was one of the leading disciples of Pillai. He learned Bharathanatiyam under the Gurukula of Pillai for more than ten years. He also mentored Ram Gopal, who became one of the pioneers of Indian dance in the west.

Pillai was said to have been trained by his uncle, Kumarasamy Nattuvanar. He trained several famous Bharata Natyam dancers, including Devadasis such as Pandanallur Jayalakshmi, Thangachi Ammal, Sabaranjitam, as well as people from other castes such as Mrinalini Sarabhai, Rukmini Devi and Tara Chaudhri. He was one of the most sought after Bharathanatyam Gurus.

After Pillai, his son-in-law Chokkalingam Pillai (1893–1968) became the doyen Guru of the Pandanallur style. Subbaraya Pillai (1914–2008), Chokkalingam Pillai's son, was the next leading Guru of the Pandanallur style. He grew up in the village of Pandanallur and was an apprentice under his grandfather and father. He trained leading dancers such as Alarmel Valli and Meenakshi Chitharanjan.

Style

The Pandanallur style developed a reputation for the emphasis on linear geometry tha

Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai (April 6, 1815 – February 1, 1876; Tiruchirappalli , Tamil Nadu )

Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai (April 6, 1815 – February 1, 1876; Tiruchirappalli , Tamil Nadu ) was an outstanding Tamil scholar. E. Way. Author of Saminathiyar . Ambalavana Desikar, the Athena leader of Thiruvananthapuram, conferred on him the title of ‘Mahavidvan’ . He was the chief priest of the Thiruvaduthurai monastery. Mayuram Vedanayakam, who wrote the history of the first novel in Tamil, Pratapa Mudaliar, who worked as a foreman in Sirkazhi, was close friends with Pillai . Because of the pride he had on her, he wrote a book called ‘Kulathukovai’ praising him.

Life and education

He lived in what is known as the Cyrillic period and sang numerous head myths describing the history of the revisions. He was the author of many books in Tamil in the 19th century. He has composed Puranas, epics, children’s Tamil texts, Anthadi, Kalambakas, expressions and countless individual Puranas. He was hailed as ‘Pillai Tamil Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai’ as he sang a lot of Pillai Tamil texts.

A master of great mythological discourse. All of his works are in verse form. He is known to have composed over one lakh songs. So far, 75 of his books have been published in print.

Educational work

He stayed in Mayiladuthurai for a long time and taught Tamil to many students who came to know about his scholarship. He does not have the habit of taking money and teaching lessons. He treated the poor students who came to him as his own children, provided them with food and space, and imparted education without discrimination. He spent the wealth he received as a gift from singing poetry on himself and his students. Notable among the students who studied with him were U.V. Saminatha Iyer, Sodasavathanam The. Ka. Subbaraya Chettiar , Ghulam Kader, Novelist, Savurirayalu Nayakkar.

‘My teacher loved me more than my mother,’

Tamil poet and scholar

Not to be confused with Dance Guru Meenakshi sundaram Pillai of Pandanallur style in Baratnatyam.

Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai or Mahavidhvan Meenakshisundaram Pillai (Tamil:மீனாட்சிசுந்தரம் பிள்ளை) was a Tamil scholar and teacher of U. V. Swaminatha Iyer, a Tamil scholar and researcher who was instrumental in bringing many long-forgotten works of classical Tamil literature to light. Pillai's important contribution is in the form of temple history called Thala Varalaru for ninety temples in Tamil Nadu. He was born in Trichy and went on to associate himself with Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam. He was an ardent devotee of Sivaperuman and a Tamil teacher.

Some of his notable works are Prabada Tirattu, Kanthimathiammai Pillai Tamil, Sri Mangalambigai Pillai Tamil, Perunthipirattiyar Pillai Tamil and Thiruvidaikazhi Murugar Pillai Tamil.

Biography

Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai was born on 6 April 1815 to Chidambram Pillai and Annathachi Ammayar in Somarasanpettai in Trichy. He born in a Tamil Vellalar family. He got his early education from his father who taught him Tamil literature and also Mathematics. He then went on to learn Tamil from Velayutha Munivar in Mounamadam in Rockfort. He also learnt from other people such as Velur Subramanya Desikar, Sri Sivakkira Yogi Mutt head Ambalavana Munivar, Keezhavelur Subramanya Pandaram, Kanchipuram Sababathi Muthaliyar and 'Thandiyalangar' Paradesiyar. He married Kaveriachi in his fifteenth year. He got Sivadikshai on his 21st year Thirisirapuram Setti Pandrathiya. He went on to associate himself with Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam where he started teaching and publishing his works.

Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. U. V. Swaminatha Iyer compiled Pilla's biography in Tamil, which was translated into English by Sridharam K. Guruswamy. as "A Poet's Poet" (Maha Vidhwan Sri Meenakshisundaram Pillai of Tiruchrappalli). This book of 129 pages was first published