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Re: Who is Ammachi ?
In article <ghenDqntC2.L8r@netcom.com> mani@srirangam.esd.sgi.com writes:
>
>> In Tamilnadu, India this word 'Ammachi" is used in a colloquial form
>> to mention god.Mainly, such an usage is predominant when parents tell
>> something about "god" to their children.
>
>The word as I have understood it is derived from
>``Mahalakshmi'', said in a style appropriate for
>children. I have relatives named Mahalakshmi whose
>nicknames are ``Maachi'' or ``Ammachi''. Presumably
>these nicknames arose when they were children.
>
>Mani
>--
Ammachi is a Malayalam word for mother used in certain parts
of Kerala. Amma is used more. Appachan is used often for
father in these areas. The -achi suffix just denotes
a female person, and sometimes means "lady". The masculine
equivalents are "-achan", "-ayya(n)", and also "-appan".
Similarly, the name Uma (which was mentioned in an earlier
message) may be from Umma (meaning mother). The derivation
saying that it is from "No" because she said No to marriage to
anyone other than Shiva is fanciful.
Vallath Nandakumar
