Swaminatha Athreya
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Swaminatha Athreya | |
|---|---|
 Swaminatha Athreya during an event | |
| Born | Thanjavur |
| Baptised | 19 November 1919 |
| Died | 19 December 2013 (aged 94) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | c. 1935–2010 |
| Era |
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| Father | Simizhi Venkatrama Sasthri |
Swaminatha Athreya (also called Swaminathan Athreya or Swaminathan Athreyar or Athreyan) (9 November 1919 – 19 December 2013) was a Vedic scholar and writer of Hindu divine literature in Sanskrit and Tamil. He was based out of Thanjavur, a town in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He was born in Simizhi and had his early tutelage in Sanskrit under his father Simizhi Venkatrama Sasthri. He went on to learn Sanskrit in Annamalai University.
Athreyar associated himself with Kanchi Mutt, a South Indian monastic institution. His major works include the Tamil translation of Bhagavad Gita, Thyagaraja Anubavangal and Samartha Ramadasar. He was honoured with several awards like "Asukavi Thilagam" and "Veda Sri" for his extensive works in Sanskrit and Tamil. He is considered one of the prominent composers of Sanskrit Nirupanas that include the likes of Jagannatha Pandita, Chitrakavi Sivaramakrishna Bhagavatar, Mangudi Saptarishi Bhagavatar, Harikesavanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar and Thanjavur Sundaresa Sarma. He died on 19 December 2013 in his premises due to ailments related to old age.
Athreyar was born on 19 November 1919 in Simizhi, a village in the Thanjavur district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. His father Simizhi Venkatrama Sasthri was a famed Sanskrit scholar and orator. Athreyar started his initial Sanskrit tutelage on Sastras, Ramayana and historical Puranas under his father. He enhanced his knowledge in Sanskrit in Annamalai University. He translated the works of Srinivasa Sastri in Sanskrit and got his appreciation. He later associated himself with Kanchi Mutt under the aegis of the then pontiff Chandrashekarendra Saraswati. He started his works on various Sanskrit and Tamil literature during the association with the Mutt.[1]