Śiva's Demon Devotee: Karaikkal Ammaiyar

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments First and foremost I want to thank Dr. R. Vijayalakshmy, Professor Emeritus at the International Institute of Tamil Studies, with whom I read Kåraikkål Ammaiyår’s poetry. Without her generosity of spirit and willingness to share her vast knowledge of Tamil literature with me, this project would not have been possible. I am eternally grateful to her for opening up this world to me, and for the wonderful memories of sitting on the front porch of her house with her, looking out at her beautiful garden, and discussing Íaiva poetry and Tamil culture. My field research associate Mr. M. Thavamani accompanied me to the temples, conducted many interviews with key people, attended and documented festivals and events, and assisted with a variety of translations. His enthusiasm, wisdom, insights, and ability to connect with people made working with him not only rewarding but joyful. His contributions have added immeasurably to this work. Several other people in Tamilnadu were also invaluable to this work. In Tiruvåla∫kå†u, the temple Gurukka¬ Íri S. Sabarathina generously gave his time and shared his knowledge of the temple and Íaiva traditions. The temple Øtuvår Mr. K. Aru¬ånantam kindly provided information and sang some of Ammaiyår’s songs for us. Mrs. Hema Chandrasekhar extended her gracious hospitality during the festival, and willingly gave important information. It was a privilege to participate in the celebration that her grandmother began. The priest at the PaÒaiya¨r Kailåsanåtha temple told us helpful information. In Kåraikkål, I am grateful to Mr. Tirumalai at the Kåraikkål Ammaiyår temple, and Mr. Kailasanathan, for the important information they shared. Financial support for this project was provided by Southwestern University, for which I am very grateful. Ginni Ishimatsu, Martha Selby, and Tracy Pintchman read portions of this manuscript and offered insightful comments. I would also like to thank the two anonymous reviewers who made invaluable suggestions for improvxi xii Íiva’s Demon Devotee ing this work. I am very grateful to Nancy Ellegate at SUNY Press for her support and kindness. Kelli W. LeRoux provided excellent editorial oversight, and Leonard S. Rosenbaum prepared a draft of the index. My wonderful parents have never wavered in their interest in and support of my work; my mother died before she could see the final product, but her spirit permeates the text. I also appreciate the encouragement my sister Susan and brother-in-law George have given me over the years. I owe the largest debt of gratitude to my partner, Marsha Russell, without whom I could not have completed this work. She is a perceptive reader and editor, a gifted photographer, and an intrepid adventurer; she also shares the joy in my work, nurtures my spirit, and keeps me going. In short, she makes it all worthwhile. Portions of this manuscript have been published previously in the following articles and are reproduced here with permission: “Kåraikkål Ammaiyår: Bridging the Ca∫kam and Íaiva Worlds,” in Passages: Relationships between Tamil and Sanskrit, ed. Kannan M. and Jennifer Clare (Institut Français de Pondichéry; Tamil Chair, Department of South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley, 2009), 171–196; and “The Anatomy of Devotion: The Life and Poetry of Karaikkal Ammaiyar,” in Women’s Lives, Women’s Rituals in the Hindu Tradition, ed. Tracy Pintchman (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007), 131–147. ...