Date:06/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/06/stories/2009010656660600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Temple for Avvai on the cards

Staff Reporter

MADURAI: Avvai Tamil Sangam, a Chennai-based organisation, plans to construct a temple dedicated to the legendary poetess Avvai in Madurai.

A committee for this purpose would be formed on Wednesday when the organisation celebrates its fifth anniversary, its founder Vembathur Krishnan told journalists here on Monday.

There were 10 temples in Tamil Nadu dedicated to Avvai.

However, not even one was located in Madurai, a city with a historical significance to the life and times of the poetess and also in Tamil literature.

Forty research scholars of Senthamizh College in Madurai took part in a contest on poetess Avvai.

“The participants conducted research on different aspects of Avvai as poetess. They have done some excellent work on this subject,” he said.

A book, titled ‘Deiveega Avvaiyin Desiya Tamil,’ would also be released during the anniversary function, Mr. Krishnan said.