Avvaiyar was the name of more than one poet who was active during different periods of Tamil literature. They were some of the most famous female poets of the Tamil canon. One such Avvaiyar them lived during the Sangam period (c. first and second century C.E.) and was a friend of the Tamil chieftains, Pari and Athikaman. She wrote 59 poems in "Purananuru" (புறநானூறு). Wikipedia
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