Appan

The Divine Father

Appan (Tamil: 'Father') is the intimate Tamil address for Bhagavān as the divine father-figure, used especially in the context of deities whose primary quality expressed is paternal protection and care. The term carries the same devotional warmth as ammā but from the paternal dimension.

Specific Deity Names

Appan appears as part of specific deity names at Divya Deśams:

• Uppiliappan at Thirunageswaram — 'the Lord who accepted the unsalted food [offered by Bhūmi Devī]'; the appan here expresses His role as the divine father who accepted a child's simple offering
• Varadarāja is sometimes addressed as Devarāja Appan — the divine father-king
• Āzhi Maṇivannā Appan — 'Father, the gem-dark Lord with the discus'

For Senior Devotees

Senior male Śrī Vaiṣṇavas are addressed as appan with the same reverence that ammā is used for women. An Ācārya may be addressed as appan by devoted disciples — the father who gave spiritual birth through the initiation of the pañca-saṃskāra.