SIGNIFICANCE OF THIRUKURAL
INTRODUCTION:
• Tirukkural, (Tamil: “Sacred Couplets”) also spelled Tirukural or Thirukkural, also
called Kural, the most celebrated of the Patiren-kirkkanakku (“Eighteen Ethical
Works”) in Tamil literature and a work that has had an immense influence on Tamil
culture and life.
• It is usually attributed to the poet Tiruvalluvar, who lived in India in the sixth
century, though some scholars place it earlier (1st century BC)
• The Tirukkural (Tamil) also known as the Kural, is a traditional Tamil sangam
treatise on the art of living. There are 133 chapters in total, with 1330 couplets or
kurals.
• The Tirukkural has been compared to the great books of the world's major religions
for its practical concerns, poetic insights into daily life, and universal and timeless
approach.
ABOUT TIRUVALLUVAR:
Little is known about Tiruvalluvar, the work's author, except that he was born in
Mylaopore (Chennai, Tamilnadu) and belonged to the weaver community. He is also
known by many other names, including Nayanar, Theivappulavar, and Perunavalar. The
work is frequently referred to as Tamil Marai, a reference to its association with the
Vedas.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
It is believed that Valluvar wrote the work in response to a request from his close
friend and student Elela Singan. When the work was finished, Valluvar took it to
Madurai, as was the custom of reading new compositions in public in front of
critics and scholars.
The conceited scholars of Madurai insisted on measuring the greatness of the work
by placing it with other works on a plank kept afloat in the tank of the great temple
and seeing if the plank remained afloat. The significance of this is that the
greatness of a work is realised based on the divine qualities of the work rather than
the weight of its manuscript (written on Palm leaves).
The Sangam Plank is said to have shrunk in size to hold only the Kural
manuscript, throwing out the rest, much to the surprise of the critics.
Idaikkadar had praised Kural, saying that his greatness was such that Valluvar had
packed the essence of all knowledge from the vast world spanned by seven seas
inside a mustard seed. Anu had substituted the term kadugu (mustard) for
Auvaiyar (meaning an atom).
It is interesting to note that the concept of Atom had already been established in
the Tamil country two thousand years ago.
THREE DIVISIONS IN THIRUKURALS:
• BOOK I – Aram (அறம் ):Book of Virtue(Dharma), dealing with moral
values of an individual and essentials of yoga philosophy(Chapters 1-38)
• BOOK II- Porul (ப ொருள் ):Book of Polity(Artha), dealing with socio-
economic values polity, society and administration(Chapters 39-108).
BOOK III- INBAM (இன் ம் ): Book of Love (Kama), dealing with
psychological values and love (Chapters 109-133).
STRUCTURE OF THIRUKURAL:
Tirukkural is a collection of 1330 couplets, each of which follows the structure
of "Kural Venba," a grammatical construction consisting of two lines of four
and three words. The piece is divided into 133 Adhikarams, each with ten
couplets.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THIRUKURAL:
Thirukkural equally emphasizes the vital principles of vegetarianism,
castelessness, and brotherhood. The Thirukkural's lessons are so powerful
that they can be regarded as a source of inspiration for people of all ages.
The sage Valluvar, who was unanimously elevated to the rank of
Thiruvalluvar, observed both the goodness and the weaknesses of
governance at various levels and encouraged men and women to lead moral
lives based on strong values such as righteousness, justice, truth, love,
honesty, courage, and compassion through various couplets. He described
the lives and characteristics of ordinary citizens, wives, husbands, and kings,
among others.
Thirukkural has become a research topic in many universities and learning
institutions around the world. It has been translated into over 40 languages,
and its universality has been universally acknowledged and praised.
