Tamizh 3.0: 3 திருக்குறளின் தாக்கம்! Impacts of Thirukkural!

What is Thirukkural?
Thirukkural is a collection of couplets on Ethics, Politics / Wealth and Love, composed by Thiruvalluvar. There is no clear evidence of when Thiruvalluvar lives or when this work was presented – it is believed to be anywhere between 300 BC and 6th century AD.

Thiru means the One who is Omniscient and Kural means Words – Words of the Omniscient. We can see that there is no reference to any religion in this work. Hence, it belongs to all mankind. It is a set of common rules that a man/woman has to follow to live a splendid life, in the path of righteousness.

This book is structured into 133 chapters, each containing 10 couplets (or kurals), for a total of 1,330 couplets. All the 133 chapters have an ethical theme and are grouped into three parts, or “books”

Book I – Aṟam (அறம்): Book of Virtue, dealing with moral values of an individual (Chapters 1-38)

Book II – Poruḷ (பொருள்): Book of Polity, dealing with socio-economic values, polity, society and administration (Chapters 39-108)

Book III – Inbam (இன்பம்): Book of Love (Kama), dealing with psychological values and love (Chapters 109-133)

The book on aṟam (virtue) contains 380 verses, that of poruḷ (wealth), has 700 and that of inbam or kāmam (love) has 250. Each kural or couplet contains exactly seven words, known as cirs, with four cirs on the first line and three on the second.

One of the many Kurals that has had a huge impact on me is

Kural 183
புறங்கூறிப் பொய்த்துயிர் வாழ்தலின் சாதல்
அறங்கூற்றும் ஆக்கத் தரும்

This kural, hits the nail right on the forehead – it means, it is better to die than talk bad about a person when they are not present and talk pleasantly in their presence. Through this Kural, Valluvar is asking everyone to be truthful not just to everyone around, but also to oneself.

This kural also reminds me of the triple filter test that I heard of a long time ago that Socrates used while talking / gossiping about people
Is the information shared TRUE?
Is this information something GOOD or KIND?
Is this information USEFUL or NECESSARY?

If the answer is NO to any of these questions, why to proceed?

Valluvar asks everyone to introspect, and talk about those things that are useful for oneself and the society, many many years prior to this triple filter test. If only we all follow these words of wisdom.

CONCLUSION:
Thirukkural cannot be caged – it is not for just one sect of the populace. Its principles are for everyone – man, woman, kids, saint, kings, politicians – everyone on this earth. Impacts of Thirukkural cannot be condensed in a few pages. Each couplet has a profound meaning, all in seven words. The more you read, understand and follow in your day-to-day life, the more you would enjoy.

I pray, that everyone follows the path of riotousness as prescribed by Valluvar for a peaceful world.

Here is a collation of a few of the impacts of Thirukkural in my life…

திருக்குறளின் தாக்கம்! #1
Impacts of Thirukkural! #1
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Kural 1
அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதி
பகவன் முதற்றே உலகு

When I think about திருக்குறள், this is the kural that always comes to my mind as that is the logo and theme of Kavithalayaa Films of இயக்குனர் சிகரம், Sri. Balachander. This is the banner that has brought us a number of beautiful, forward thinking movies. And, for me, it brings in a lot of beautiful childhood memories – the times we have been to various movies in beautiful Vellore.

The times we used to rent a VCR for a couple of days and a number of movies at the same time to enjoy; how we had our neighbours join us to watch the movies and how mom had to prepare food for everyone. It was those innocent, simple and beautiful days when people were not immersed about themselves and actually were ready to help each other and had time for one another. Those times when technology had not invaded our homes, and kids were allowed to be kids.

Those beautiful days…

திருக்குறளின் தாக்கம்! #2
Impacts of Thirukkural! #2
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Kural 411
செல்வத்துட் செல்வஞ் செவிச்செல்வ மச்செல்வம்
செல்வத்து ளெல்லாந் தலை.

This weeks’ topic has certainly kindled some memories of the long post past. I fondly remember my Tamizh Teacher in grade 9&10, Mr. Srinivasan. Though he is no more, I still remember his classes.

This above kural is one of the many that he would repeatedly remind us – an unruly class of teens. He insisted that we used this gift of listening. The meaning of this kural is – of all the wealth / gift that one can attain in this world ‘ear’ (listening) is the best.

Though it seemed to fall into deaf ears those days, that kural has always stayed with me. Over the years, when the meaning of the kural got ingrained in my head, the impact was even powerful.

Certainly the ability to listen is the supreme gift one can posses as that can solve many problems in our lives. If we listen, we can understand better; we we can sense better and thereby act more appropriately.

If people listen to one another they would not be talking at or over each other. Eternal peace and tranquility would prevail in this world.

திருக்குறளின் தாக்கம்! #3
Impacts of Thirukkural! #3
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Kural 788
உடுக்கை இழந்தவன் கைபோல ஆங்கே
இடுக்கண் களைவதாம் நட்பு.

A friend in need is a friend indeed – is an English proverb / phrase that has come into existence since 11th Century. However, our Valluvar has mentioned this centuries before Christ.

Many people come into our lives each day. Just as a train journey (our life), each person enters in a station and leaves when they reach their destination. No one is there forever. Most of them have their own agenda when they extend their friendship. Once in a long while though, we do get to meet good friends, that truly live the words of Valluvar. Don’t miss out on such friendships.

One need not talk to these amazing friends on a daily basis; there is an automatic sync with them and you know that they are there for you as a solid rock, to hold you when you need them the most – financially or otherwise.

If only everyone, lived by these wonderful words of wisdom, wherein they treat everyone as a great friend and run to help each other, there would be no more animosity and hatred amongst people – in a community, state, country or even the world. Only love and peace would reign!

Hope we all would get to live in that peaceful world, one day!

திருக்குறளின் தாக்கம்! #4
Impacts of Thirukkural! #4
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Kural 592
உள்ளம் உடைமை உடைமை பொருளுடைமை
நில்லாது நீங்கி விடும்.

Passion and zeal is the most valuable possession that one can have for any other wealth / material possession is transient and will be lost one day. This is a kural that I love to repeat to myself particularly on those days when things are not going the happy path.

This kural certainly provides the motivation to lift up the sprit and not lose hope during challenging times. During the initial days in Canada while struggling to set foot in this unknown land and culture, this kural gave me the strength to face all hurdles.

Even today, when any challenge knocks my door, this kural reminds me that like a Phoenix I can return from the ashes, as long as I have the passion and zeal to win.

On this fourth day, I would remind everyone that there is a Phoenix hidden in each one of us. All we have to do is to hold on to our passion and follow our hearts, just as what Valluvar has said.

திருக்குறளின் தாக்கம்! #5
Impacts of Thirukkural! #5
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Kural 314
இன்னாசெய் தாரை யொறுத்த லவர்நாண
நட்னயஞ் செய்து விடல்

Thinking of the kural where Valluvar says the way to punish someone that has harmed us is to keep doing good to them and thereby shaming them. Many a times I had wondered if this kural holds good in today’s world, in 21st century where most of the people are very selfish and would do anything to attain their goals.

When this kural is looked at deeply, one can understand its validity in this century. Here is my interpretation. When is it that we get offended and feel bad when someone burners us – it is when we have expectations. Valluvar also implies that you do good and forget both the harm done by the person and the good you have done. In other words bear no expectations which is the root cause for our misery. So, keep doing good with no expectations- either good or bad.

Good deeds are certainly like boomerang – it will find its way back to us in some form. There will always be someone to lend a helping hand when we are in need. I love the ‘pay it forward’ motion in some cages in some European countries, wherein you can pay for someone’s drink in advance.

Valluvar was right. One needs to keep doing their part with no expectations. If only everyone, followed this kural and kept doing only good deeds, this world would be another Garden of Eden, with everything in surplus!

திருக்குறளின் தாக்கம்! #6

Impacts of Thirukkural! #6
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Kural 20
நீர்இன்று அமையாது உலகெனில் யார்யார்க்கும்
வான்இன்று அமையாது ஒழுக்கு

In the second chapter of Thirukkural, Valluvar very clearly describes the importance of rain and water for mankind. It is now scientifically proven that man can live without food for about 3 weeks but only 3 days without water. It is a wonder that he already knew this fact. Also, it is very surprising to know that Valluvar already knew about evaporation and condensation (kural 17).

Valluvar, in the kural quoted above, aptly says rain and water is so important that when righteousness and good deeds vanish when there is no water. People fight and even kill one another in those areas where there is scarcity of potable water. People fight for drops of water. I remember those Vellore days when there was water scarcity during the summers and we had to wait for the government to release potable water. Water was released during the wee hours every two to three days and everyone used to be awake to fill their homes with enough water to survive the next couple of days. Have seen a number of fights when the water tanker came in with the supply of water.

Luckily we live in a country where there is abundance of rain and water. However, if we do not take care of this precious liquid and allow for climate change to happen, we will one day have scarcity in this land of abundance. Hope and prayers that this adopted motherland of our’ is always filled with the richness of rain and water!

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