Respectful Address
Āyya (Tamil: 'Sir,' 'Master,' honorific for an elder or respected man) is the standard respectful address for senior male figures in the Śrī Vaiṣṇava community — particularly used when addressing older devotees, Ācāryas, and respected elders. It is the male counterpart of the intimate-respectful ammā.
Gradations of Address
The Sri Vaishnava community uses a rich vocabulary of respectful address:
- Āyya or Aiyā — general respectful address for elders
- Svāmī — for Ācāryas and accomplished teachers
- Periya Āyya ('the great elder') — for very senior figures
- Devarēr — formal 'Your Grace' for any devotee
The Family Vocabulary
Alongside ammā, appan, and akka, āyya completes the family vocabulary of the community: elder brother (anna), elder sister (akka), father (appan), mother (ammā), and respected elder/grandfather-figure (āyya). Together these terms make the community a living family of Bhagavān's servants.