Raghava Iyengar
Encyclopedia
Maha Vidhwan Rao Sahib Mu Raghava Iyengar (Tamil: மு ராகவ ஐயங்கார்) (1878–1960) was a well known Tamil scholar and researcher of Tamil literature
.
in Tamil Nadu
and lived in the Ramanathapuram
area. He was born on July 26, 1878. He was a Tamil scholar and he conducted research on Tamil History and Literature. Notably he worked on establishing the time periods of the old Tamil Poets. His research was also centered around the Alwars.
His father was Sadavadhaanam Muthuswamy Iyengar, a Tamil Poet in the court of Ponnuchami Thevar, the brother of the king of Ramnad
, Muthuramalinga Sethupathy. His father wrote a 100 verse Tamil poem மணவாள மாமுனி நூற்றந்தாதி - Manavala Mamuni Nootranthathi on the Vaishnava Saint Manavala Mamuni.
Pandithurai Thevar, who was a nobleman from the Royal family of Ramnad, studied Tamil under his father. When he was young, Mu Raghava Iyengar studied Tamil from Pandithurai Thevar. His cousin R. Raghava Iyengar was a Poet Laureate of the Sethu Samasthanam.
His grand father, Sri Krishna Iyengar was the deputy chief minister under Sri Muthuramalinga Sethupathi or Sri Baskara Sethupathi, Raja of Ramnad. Sri Krishna Iyengar was also known as Chinna Prathani Sri Krishna Iyengar, while, his colleague, Sri Muthirulappa Pilla was the Periya Prathani (Chief of Ministers).
He collaborated with Pandithurai Thevar in promoting Tamil Language. Mu Raghava Iyengar was a leading member of Madurai Tamil Sangam and helped edit the magazine Senthamizh(செந்தமிழ்) between 1905 and 1910. Mu Raghava Iyengar was appointed to the committee that worked
on the Tamil-English lexicon/dictionary. This project started with Rev. J.S. Chandler as the Chief Editor and Mu Raghava Iyengar as the Chief Pundit around 1913. The project eventually finished in 1936 under Prof S. Vaiyapuri Pillai (1891–1956). For his scholarly contributions, Mu Raghava Iyengar was granted the title of "Rao Sahib" in 1936 by the government.
He had deep interest in the history of Tamil and Tamil Nadu. Working with the archeologist T.N. Gopinatha Rao, he researched the stone writings in the temples of Tamil Nadu.
He contributed scholarly treatises to magazines like செந்தமிழ்,(Senthamil) கலைமகள்(Kalaimagal), தமிழர் நேசன்(Thamizhar Nesan), ஸ்ரீவாணி விலாசினி(Srivani Vilasini), கலைக்கதிர்(Kalaikathir), அமுதசுரபி(Amuthasurabhi).
Other books by him include:
In total, he published over 20 books in Tamil.
His books were nationalized by the Government of Tamil Nadu on July 10, 2009.
Tamil literature
Tamil literature refers to the literature in the Tamil language. Tamil literature has a rich and long literary tradition spanning more than two thousand years. The oldest extant works show signs of maturity indicating an even longer period of evolution...
.
Life
Maha Vidhwan Mu Raghava Iyengar (known as M. Raghava Iyengar) was from ManamaduraiManamadurai
Manamadurai is a panchayat town in Sivaganga district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Geography:Manamadurai is located at It has an average elevation of 70 metres .shops-Demographics:...
in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
and lived in the Ramanathapuram
Ramanathapuram
Ramanathapuram , also known as Ramnad, is a city and a municipality in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Ramanathapuram district.-Tourism:...
area. He was born on July 26, 1878. He was a Tamil scholar and he conducted research on Tamil History and Literature. Notably he worked on establishing the time periods of the old Tamil Poets. His research was also centered around the Alwars.
His father was Sadavadhaanam Muthuswamy Iyengar, a Tamil Poet in the court of Ponnuchami Thevar, the brother of the king of Ramnad
Ramanathapuram
Ramanathapuram , also known as Ramnad, is a city and a municipality in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Ramanathapuram district.-Tourism:...
, Muthuramalinga Sethupathy. His father wrote a 100 verse Tamil poem மணவாள மாமுனி நூற்றந்தாதி - Manavala Mamuni Nootranthathi on the Vaishnava Saint Manavala Mamuni.
Pandithurai Thevar, who was a nobleman from the Royal family of Ramnad, studied Tamil under his father. When he was young, Mu Raghava Iyengar studied Tamil from Pandithurai Thevar. His cousin R. Raghava Iyengar was a Poet Laureate of the Sethu Samasthanam.
His grand father, Sri Krishna Iyengar was the deputy chief minister under Sri Muthuramalinga Sethupathi or Sri Baskara Sethupathi, Raja of Ramnad. Sri Krishna Iyengar was also known as Chinna Prathani Sri Krishna Iyengar, while, his colleague, Sri Muthirulappa Pilla was the Periya Prathani (Chief of Ministers).
Work
He worked as the head of the Tamil Research department in Thiruvangoor University between 1944-1951. He also worked as a lecturer in the Loyola College, Chennai.He collaborated with Pandithurai Thevar in promoting Tamil Language. Mu Raghava Iyengar was a leading member of Madurai Tamil Sangam and helped edit the magazine Senthamizh(செந்தமிழ்) between 1905 and 1910. Mu Raghava Iyengar was appointed to the committee that worked
on the Tamil-English lexicon/dictionary. This project started with Rev. J.S. Chandler as the Chief Editor and Mu Raghava Iyengar as the Chief Pundit around 1913. The project eventually finished in 1936 under Prof S. Vaiyapuri Pillai (1891–1956). For his scholarly contributions, Mu Raghava Iyengar was granted the title of "Rao Sahib" in 1936 by the government.
He had deep interest in the history of Tamil and Tamil Nadu. Working with the archeologist T.N. Gopinatha Rao, he researched the stone writings in the temples of Tamil Nadu.
He contributed scholarly treatises to magazines like செந்தமிழ்,(Senthamil) கலைமகள்(Kalaimagal), தமிழர் நேசன்(Thamizhar Nesan), ஸ்ரீவாணி விலாசினி(Srivani Vilasini), கலைக்கதிர்(Kalaikathir), அமுதசுரபி(Amuthasurabhi).
Published books
He wrote Toklaapia Poruladikaara Araichi (தொல்காப்பியப் பொருளதிகார ஆராய்ச்சி), a study of ancient Tamil grammar, Tolkappiyam.Other books by him include:
- Alvargal Kaala Nilai (ஆழ்வார்கள் கால நிலை) (work on the historical dating of Alwars)
- Alvargal Varalaru (historical sketches on alwars).
- Velir Varalaru (வேளிர் வரலாறு)
- Nari Virutham - நரி விருத்தம் (அரும்பதவுரையுடன்)
- Thiru kalambagam - திருக்கலம்பகம்
- Vikrama Cholan Ula விக்கிரம சோழனுலா
- Kesava Perumal Erattai Mani Malai - கேசவப் பெருமாள் இரட்டைமணிமாலை
- Nikandaraadhi - நிகண்டகராதி
In total, he published over 20 books in Tamil.
His books were nationalized by the Government of Tamil Nadu on July 10, 2009.
Criticisms
He was criticised by some people for his description of morality of ancient Tamils in his work: Toklaapia Poruladikaara Araichi.External links
- http://www.tamilmozhi.com/dataware/data/litreturelist4.html
- http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/sri-vaishnava/440777-manavala-mamuni-nootranthathi.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._Raghava_Iyengar
- http://www.tamilnation.org/hundredtamils/vaiyapuri.htm
- Article in Kootanchoru