Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai Biography In English
- Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai or Mahavidhan Meenakshisundaram Pillai is a Tamil scholar and U.V. Swaminathan Iyer, a Tamil scholar and researcher who was instrumental in bringing many long-forgotten classical literature to Tamil.
- Pillai’s important contribution is in the form of a temple history titled Thala Varalaru for ninety temples in Tamil Nadu.
- He was born in Trichy and associated himself with Thiruvaduthurai Aadheenam. He was an ardent devotee of Sivaperuman and a Tamil teacher.
Birth Details –
Place – Somersanpettai, Trichy
Date of Birth – 6 April 1815
Marital Status: Married
Nationality -Indian
Family –
Mother- Annatachi Ammayar
Father- Chidambaram Pillai
Wife – Kaverichi
Teachers – Subramanya Desikar, Sri Sivakira Yogi Math, Keezhavelur Subramanya Pandaram, Kancheepuram Sabbati Muthaliyar, ‘Thandiyalangar’ Pardesiyar.
Early Life –
- Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai was born on 6 April 1815 to Chidambaram Pillai and Annatachi Ammayar in Somarsanpettai, Trichy.
- He received his early education from his father who also taught him Tamil literature and mathematics.
- He then learned Tamil from Velayutha Munivar at Mounamdam, Rockfort. He also learned from others such as Velur Subramanya Desikar, Sri Sivakira Yogi Mutt head Ambalavan Munivar, Keezhavelur Subramanya Pandaram, Kancheepuram Sabbati Muthaliyar and ‘Thandiyalangar’ Pardesiyar.
- He married Kaverichi in his fifteenth year. He received Shivadiksha in his 21st year at Thirisirapuram Setti Pandarthiya.
- He further associated himself with Thiruvaduthurai Aadheenam where he started teaching and publishing his works.
Career-
Literary Work
- He started his career as a Tamil teacher in Mayiladuthurai and trained many students in the craft of Tamil literature.
- Akhilanda Nayaki Pillai Tamil, written in 1842, was one of his first publications under his name.
Notable Works
- The Sthala Purana is one of the 96 minor literary genres in Tamil, which gained prominence after the 16th century and is recognized as an important literary text for the study of temples in the context of their socio-economic milieu.
- Pillai is said to have composed 90 Sthalapuranas about various temples and passed on the Puranas to his disciples. His major works are listed below.
Works of Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai
- Prabada Tirattu
- Kanthimathiyammai Pillai Tamil
- Sri Mangalambigai Pillai Tamil
- Perunthipiratiyar Pillai Tamil
- Thiruvidikazhi Murugar Pillai Tamil
- Prabada Tirattu – Paguthi 10 – Sri Ambalavantheseekar Pillai Tamil
- Vatapokki Kalambagam
- Thiruvathurai Athinathuk Guru Parambaraya Agaval
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 11 – Sri Ambalavana Thesigar Kalambagam
- Thiruvidaimaruthur Ula
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 13 – Seekazhi Kovai
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 14 – Thirupanjilithirupandathi
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 15 – Thiruthillaiyamagavanthi
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 16 – Thuraisiyamagavanthi
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 17 – Thirukudanthai Thiripandathi
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 18 – Thiruvidaimaruthur Thiripanthi
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 19 – Palaivaana Pathitranthathi
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 20 – Thiravaripathiranthathi
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 26 – Thiruchiramalayamagavanthi
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 27 – Thirupanjili Thiripanthi
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 28 – Kalaichachidambareswarar Malai
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 29 – Agilanda Nayagi Malai
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 30 – Subramanya Thesika Malai
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 31 – Sri Satchidananda Thesikar Malai
- Thiruvanaikka Agilandanayagi Pillai Tamil
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 2
- Seezhkeezhar Pillai Tamil
- Thirugnana Sambandar Aanantha Kalippu, Thirukkarkudi Malai
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 32 – Thesikar Nenjuveedu Thoothu
- Prabantha Thirattu – Paguthi 33
Other Information –
Date of Death – 1 February 1876
Question Related to Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai
What is the birth place and date of birth of Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai?
Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai was born on 6 April 1815 in Somarsanpettai, Trichy.
What was the name of Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai’s father and mother?
Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai’s father’s name was Annatachi Ammayar and mother’s name was Annatachi Ammayar.
What is the name of Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai’s teacher?
Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai’s teachers were Subramanya Desikar, Sri Sivakira Yogi Math, Keezhavelur Subramanya Pandaram, Kancheepuram Sabbati Muthaliyar, ‘Thandiyalangar’ Pardesiyar.
What was the name of Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai’s wife?
Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai’s wife’s name was Kaverichi.
When did Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai die?
Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai died on 1 February 1876.
