Abithana Chintamani is an encyclopedia in Tamil language written by A. Singaravelu Mudaliar (1855 - 28 January 1931). It was the first comprehensive encyclopedia in the Tamil literature domain. The first edition, which contains a recommendation dated 1899 by V. Kanakasabai Pillai, published in 1910 and contained 1050 pages. The second edition, containing 1634 pages and includes a preface by the author's son, was published posthumously in 1934 and is available in reprinted form.
On 14 September 1901, the Fourth Tamil Sangam, an academy dedicated to the Tamil language, was established in Madurai. It was founded by Pandithurai Thevar of the royal family of Sethupathis of Ramanathapuram. Thevar was seeking to publish an encyclopedia of Tamil literature. Meanwhile, Singaravelu Mudaliyar, a Tamil pandit working at Pachaiyappa's College, Chennai had completed such a work, but had difficulties finding a publisher. Pandithurai Thevar, upon learning about the manuscript, financially supported its publication.
In the preface, Singaravelu Mudaliyar says:
2. ^ https://discovery.delnet.in/Record/26614215