Thirukkural

About Thirukkural:

• It is authored by the poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar(also known as “Valluvar”).
• It is considered a seminal work of ancient Tamil literature and philosophy and regarded as an influential work on ethics.
• It was composed more than two millennia ago (between 300 BCE and 500 BCE).
• Thirukkural, which translates to “sacred verses” or “sacred couplets” in English, consists of 1,330 stanzas or couplets, each of seven words called “kurals”.
• These are arranged into 133 chapters, each containing 10 couplets.
• It is divided into three books:
  • The Book of Virtue (Dharma): It deals with morality (aram) and values of an individual. It has 38 chapters.
  • The Book of Polity: It is filled with teachings regarding materialism (porul) and socio-economic values. This has 70 chapters.
  • The Book of Love: It has details teachings of love (inbam). It has 25 chapters.
• Themes of Thirukkural
  • It emphasises moral conduct and speaks of the realities of human life.
  • Thiruvalluvar discouraged divisions based on religion, caste, creed, and race. Instead, he asserted that morality and kindness are indispensable for a meaningful human life. 
  • Thiruvalluvar warned that a life devoid of morality leads to misery, as individuals become dominated by jealousy, greed, wrath, and harshness.
  • To elevate human life and social well-being, he outlines certain virtues, such as spirituality, charity, and love. 
  • The concept of God, delineated in the very first chapter titled Kadavul Vazhthu (The Praise of God), is distinctive.
  • For him, God is “pure intelligence” and omniscient, and embodies wisdom, compassion, morality, and love.
  • The topic of love (inbam) is categorised in two forms: Kalaviyal and Karpiyal. 
    • Kalaviyal refers to pre-marital love and is subsequently tied to marriage without any ceremony, whereas Karpiyal refers to traditional marital love.
    • His verses portray love not just as passion but as a source of tranquil joy.