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From: Mani Varadarajan (mani_at_srirangam.esd.sgi.com)
Date: Thu Jul 06 1995 - 11:31:24 PDT
I think the word "aazhvaar" has two meanings. When used for the saints proper, it is usually interpreted as meaning "one who is immersed in the Lord". When used for others, such as kooratthaazhvaan or chakkratth aazhvaar it is added as a respectable suffix meaning "one who rules", or "one who is lordly". Someone else may be able to supply the exact Tamil etymology of the two words. Friedhelm Hardy suggests that the latter meaning was the original one even for the saints. Which is why he thinks that "aandaaL" is the feminine equivalent of "aazhvaar", i.e., "one who rules". Mani