About the Authors
Dr. John A. Loud was awarded a Ph.D. degree on South Asian Languages and Literature from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1990. He has specialized in Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, and Sanskrit. He has studies Carnatic music for seven years with a particular interest in the songs of Muttusvami Dikshitar. His research has focused on the Dikshitar priests at the Chidambaram temple and the Nagasväram musicians attached to the Tyagaraja temple Tiruvärür. He was employed by Harvard University as a specialist cataloger for the Rubin Collection o Indian Classical Music. He has taught Tamil, Urdu, World Religions. Religion in America, and Isam. He is the author of The Rituals of Chidambaram, and The Story of the Temple, a translation of the KöyilPuranam Umapati Civācariyar, both published by the Institute of Indian Studies, Chennai. He has also translated the Abirami Andadi published by the CM Centre, Madurai.
Dr.V.A.Vidya, founder of C M Centre, Madurai, an educational resource centre for study abroad facilitation, and A J Trust Madurai, a non-profit foundation. She has thirty years of teaching experience, working with students of different age groups, social milieus, and cultural orientation. She teaches Tamil and English as second language, research methods. and research writing at graduate and postgraduate levels. She has forty years of translation and research consultancy experience. She has designed supplementary courses based on the regular language syllabi of the schools and colleges to teach translation. These courses have benefited 650 students and 350 teachers from 5 colleges, and 18 schools in Madurai district. She has three MA degrees, from Madras University, Madurai Kamaraj University, and University of Notre dame, South Bend, IN, USA. She was awarded her PHD in Peace Education in the year 2002 by the Madurai Kamaraj University. She served as the Academic Director of the University of Wisconsin Study Abroad program in India in their Madurai and Varanasi centres for ten years.
Dr.Angayarkanni's scholarship and deep knowledge lies in the realm of Sangam and classical literature and the Grammar works pertaining to these. Being a strict grammarian, she is versatile in bringing out the relevance of the Sangam and classical grammar to the contemporary academic works. Contextualizing Tamil history in the light of Sangam and Medieval literature is her specialty. Dr.Loud has been studying the Tevaram with her since 2023. She worked with Dr.Lynn Ate on Thirumankai Alwar's works, and Harvard scholar Ms.Sophia Nasti on Tiruvkoviyar. Currently, she is assisting many overseas language learners by teaching from the online platform. She has published many exemplary academic research articles individually and collaboratively. In Madurai city, she is a renowned scholar, orator, and a member of many organizations for language studies. She has made significant contributions to school education by training school teachers and students to speak and write flawlessly in Tamil language. Dr.Angayarkanni was awarded the prestigious "Porkizhi" award for her significant contribution in Tamil literature by the Tamil Isai Sangam, Madurai.
Acknowledgments
Because I am not a native speaker of Tamil, I gratefully acknowledge my Tamil teachers: Dr. K. Paramasivam, Dr. G Vijayavenugopal, Dr. Saras-vati Venugopal, Dr. A. Anandanataraja Dikshitar, and Dr.A.Angayarkanni. I also offer my gratitude to all my other teachers, informants, and friends who contributed to my knowledge and love of Tamil language and culture. Fore-most among them are J. Rajasekaran and Dr. V.A. Vidya, whose Chella Meenakshi Centre for Educational Research and Services have graciously undertaken the publication of this book. I thank Dr.Angayarkkani for the beautiful foreword And special thanks to Artist Babu Kothandam for the cover page design. In July and August, 2023, I spent eighteen days at the Tiruvīlimilalai temple worshiping, meditating, and just absorbing the sacred atmosphere of that holy place. I want to give my deepest thanks to all the priests, musicians, and other staff who enhanced my experience.
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