Greatness of Thirukural and Thiruvalluvar
V Shanmuganathan
THE government of Tamil Nadu celebrates the 15th of January as Thiruvalluvar Day, as part of the Pongal (Sangranthi) celebrations in his honour. Thiruvalluvar was a celebrated Tamil Poet and Philosopher whose contribution to Tamil Literature is the Thirukkural, a work on Ethics. He is called Deiva Pulavar, that means Divine Poet. Thirukkural is one of the most revered ancient works in the Tamil language.
The historical fact known about him is that he was living the life of a householder with his wife, Vasuki, following the profession of a weaver, in Mylapore, originally a part of Chennai City. A story about the wife of Thiruvalluvar, is still popularly prevalent in the villages of Tamilnadu. While doing some important work, Thiruvalluvar called his wife who was then drawing water from well. Leaving the vessel dangling half way down the well, Vasuki promptly rushed to answer her husband’s call. The immense wonder was that the vessel remained in its dangling position unaffected by gravity, till she returned back after performing her duty. This is sure proof of her honesty by the grace of divinity.
Content of Kural:
Thirukkural is a collection of 1330 Tamil couplets organized into 133 chapters. Each chapter has a specific subject ranging from “ploughing a piece of Land’’ to “ruling a country”. It preaches simplicity and truth throughout its verses. The 1330 couplets are arranged into three main sections and 133 chapters. Each chapter contains 10 couplets.
Thirukkural is neither a scripture nor an Epic, but an extraordinary treatise on the art of Living, which delves deep into the shifting foundations of human life. Thirukkural attempts to provide guidelines, not for society in general but for the individuals: the ascetic, the family member, the father, mother, the son, the monarch, the minister, the ambassador and in general to the individuals in society with responsibilities to themselves and others.
How should a man live? What are the virtues to be practiced by him and what, the code of conduct? What the duties of the various Ashramas into which man’s life falls? How should a king rule his people and protect them? What is the code of conduct prescribed for him? How can the best be got out of domestic life? These and similar questions have been admirably answered in this beautiful work.
ETHICS – In day to day life:
Thirukkural occupies a place of pride in classical Tamil Literature. It is respected by the Tamils in much the same way as the Vedas and the Gita, in samskrit works. Three of the four purusharthas that mankind should strive for, namely Dharma, Artha and Kama are dealt with at great length in his work under the names of Arathupal (Duty), Porutpal (wealth) and Kamathupal (Love and happiness) respectively. The fourth purushartha, namely Moksha has not been treated separately. It may be because at the beginning of Arthupal, Moksha is dealt with in an indirect way. To him who follows the principles of righteousness and thereby earns his living and gets his legitimates desires fulfilled, salvation is assured.
There are many commentaries on his work, ten of them being very ancient; Parimelazhagar’s commentary is the most famous of them. Every scholar depends on it for a correct interpretation of the kural. The special merit of this commentary is the exhibition of his erudition in the different branches of Samskrith Learning, Tarka, Vyakarana, Mimansa and Vedanta.
It is clear from the following fundamental noble ideas referred to by Thiruvalluvar that he had a firm faith in the Law of Karma. “Those that hold on to the feet of the supreme Lord will cross the ocean of Births”, “From the control of the senses arises the power to save oneself in seven births. “Death is but sleep’’. “Birth is only wakening from sleep.” “Liberation can be secured through true wisom.” “Detachment is the means to come out of cycle of Births” “He who lives with righteousness will attain Heaven.” “He who affords hospitality to a guest will go to the celestial region.”
“The debt owed to a person who aids us on his own, without being asked, cannot be discharged in full, even if both the worlds are offered to him in exchange.”
Most translated Tamil Literature:
The supremacy of the work can easily be gauged from the fact that it has been translated into many other Indian languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali and Kannada and even into foreign languages such as English and French, German and Latin and has acquitted worldwide reputation. One note worthy feature of Thirukkural is that composition and arrangement of chapters and the number of verses. In each have been preserved almost intact upto this time, as written by Valluvar initially. The first printed version of Thirukkural was published by an Englishman, Ellis in 1831, with the help of Tamil scholars.
Grand Memorials:
A temple car like memorial to Thiruvalluvar, called as “Valluvar Kottam” was built in Chennai – Nungambakkam in the year 1976. This monument complex consists of structures usually found in south Indian temples including a temple car carved from three blocks of granite and a rectangular pond. The auditorium adjoining the memorial is one of the largest in Asia and can seat upto 4000 people.
There is also a huge 133 foot tall statue of Thiruvalluvar erected at Kanyakumari at the southern most tip, next to the grand Swamy Vivekananda Rock memorial where the Ganga Sagar, Sindhu Sagar and the Indian Ocean converge. The 133 feet tall stature reflects the Thirukkural’s 133 Chapters or adhikarams.
There is also a statue of Thiruvalluvar outside the school of oriental studies in Russel Square, London. When I went to Myanmar in the year 1997, I saw a beautiful Thiruvalluvar temple on the banks of the river Iravadham.
Thirukkural – Leads us towards the path of righteousness:
Thirukkural is an essential part of our heritage, not only of the Tamils but the country as a whole. The book in a way bears evidence to the height of civilization and culture as well as intellectual attainments that HINDUS had reached nearly 2000 years ago.
