The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism

Tamil (teyvattamil
̄

). In tandem with this movement (and occasionally at cross
purposes with it) were concerted efforts to establish the “classicality” of Tamil
in order to prove that Tamil speakers were among the most “civilized” peoples of
the world, if not the most. Both projects were largely spearheaded by literary
and religious elites in whose musings Tamil
̄

tta ̄y appears as a deity (teyvam) or a

the goddess and the nation 553

Figure 26.1: Tamil
̄

tta ̄y (Mother Tamil). Color poster, ca. 1941.
Source: Courtesy Kamban Kazhagam, Karaikkudi, Tamil Nadu.