Thiru Narayana Iyengar

Maha vidhwan Thirumaaligai Appan Narayana Iyengar was born to Thirumaaligai Appan Iyengar and Shenkamalavalli Ammal on 31 Oct 1861 in EthirkOtai near Srivilliputhur. He was a great literary scholar of his time and was well versed in both Tamil and Sanskrit languages. He has done many works in these languages and has won many accolades for his works and for the development of these languages. He also worked tirelessly for the development of the Tamil language and was instrumental in its spread through his publication of the Senthamizh magazine as part of the Madurai Tamil Sangam and through his other educational efforts. After having learnt the basics of Tamil literature and grammar from his father Appan Iyengar and other scholars near his home town during his formative years, he moved to Ramanathapuram and then to Madurai when the Madurai Tamil Sangam was established in 1901. Iyengar learnt Sanskrit literature and grammar from Pandalkudi Venkatachariar, tarka sastra from Samaacharyar and Vaishnava literature including Naalayira Divya Prabhandham from Sidhadikkaadu Srinivasachariar. He also learnt the Shaiva literature like Sivagyana bodham, Sivagyaana Sidhiyaar, Thevaaram, Tiruvasakam from Palanikumara Thambiraan of Thiruvaavaduthurai Aadheenam. He, along with Paandithurai Thevar, zamindar of Paalavanatham did their residential education with Sadavadhaanam Muthuswamy Iyengar, father of Mu Raghava Iyengar. During his education, his versatility in both Sanskrit and Tamil literature, his knowledge of Astrology, medicine and tarka sastra impressed Paandithurai Thevar so much that he made him his official poet.