A பா type built mainly from நிரையசை feet, with அகவலோசை (a flowing, sing-song rhythm) - the meter of much of the Sangam-era Pathupattu poems.

Recite a Pathupattu passage aloud and its ஆசிரியப்பா rhythm carries you forward almost like a chant, line flowing into line without a hard stop.

The 10 Sangam-era Pathupattu poems are composed in ஆசிரியப்பா.