Maraimalai Adigal

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Maraimalai Adigal (1876-1950) was a great Tamil scholar, who was also well read in Sanskrit and English. His parents were Nagapatinam Chokkanaathar (surgeon) and Cinnammai. He was named Vedhaachalar by his parents who were childless for many years before Vedachalar was born. The childless parents sincerely prayed to Lord Siva, known as Vedachalar and His consort Goddess Chokammai of Thirukkazukkunram, in Tamil Nadu and they were blessed with a child. The parents named their son Vedachalar in gratitude to the Lord Siva in Thirukkazukunram. He studied deep into the realm of the sacred classical Tamil language turned a 'purist' and changed his name to a Tamil version with unchanged essence-"MaraiMalai Adigal"- 'a devotee of the mountain of Sacred Wisdom'. He wrote about 54 works in Tamil and English. His Tamil translation of Kalidasa's Sanskrit work Sakuntala and his historical research into Thirukural, and about Saint Manikkavasakar are well known.