Revision as of 23:54, 30 March 2017

Biography

Thiruvalluvar was an eminent poet and philosopher of Tamil literature, during 3rd century BC to 1st century BC. His work Tirukkural is a prominent treatise on ethics, which consists of 1330 couplets or Kurals. It is also known as the "Bible of the Tamil land" or the fifth Veda.

Works

Thirukkural

Solace

P Ram Mohan, Timely Solace That Thirukkural Offers, Feb 6, 2017: The Times of India

Viewed from a moral compass, the Bhagwad Gita, in summarising the essence of transience, speaks of change as the quintessential law of the universe.Assimilating the teachings of the Gita, we dissolve our ego in the ethereal knowledge that possessions are bound by the Law of Change; these possessions, the Gita says, include the human body also, which does not belong to us. In any spiritual discourse on transience, sage-poet Thiruvalluvar's treatise, the Thirukkural, is illustrious company to the Gita. An omnibus treatise on human virtues, ethics, values, morals and ideals, the Kural, with its austere approach and sincere outlook, is a spiritual beacon to mankind.

Thiruvalluvar treats both life and property as being equally transient (verses 341-350, Chapter 34). With the skilful use of metaphors, Thiruvalluvar drives home the t surreal message of instability with abject ease, through an authentic approach to life. In Kural 332 he states that wealth is like the people assembled in a concert hall, and will melt away like the hall becoming empty after the show. In verse 334 Tiruvalluvar praises those who never exult over a day in life as being enlight ened, as they understand that every passing day is like a sword that cuts life down by a day . By raising the bar of awareness that nothing endures time, this chapter acts as a primer for freeing ourselves of bondages in life.

In Kural 337, Thiruvalluvar points out that someone who was existing yesterday is not here today . He now begins to dovetail the transitory aspect with an exemplary couplet in Kural 338, a verbatim reproduction of which is from he the translation by G U Pope: “ Birds fly away , and leave the nest deserted bare; Such is the short-lived friendship soul and body share.“

Apparently , no bird hatched from its shell desires to remain attached to it.

Though Pope used the word “nest“, the word shell is interchangeably used for the Tamil word used by Thiruvalluvar in the original, which is “Kudambai“, when transliterated. The bird comes into existence on freeing itself from the shell; if it remains attached to the shell, it would frustrate the very act of coming into existence. Thiruvalluvar implies that coming into life, the soul displays eagerness to leave the body and search for a new dwelling. He points out that just as this friendship is short lived, the body and soul share a frosty relationship, ever ready to part with each other.

Thirukkural is an insightful narrative on impermanence ­ of money and life, conveyed in a simple yet forceful manner, so that in case there is another demonetisation-type event, we remain contended with whatever we have. The Thirukkural continues to be a reassuring presence for those who seek solace in the everembracing wisdom of Thiruvalluvar.

Statues

Haridwar

The Times of India, Jun 29, 2016

Sheo S Jaiswal

A statue of renowned Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar has been installed in Mela Bhawan after protests against its establishment near Har ki Pauri on the banks of the Ganga in December 2016.

The idea of having the renowned poet's statue installed on the banks of the Ganga near Har Ki Pauri was mooted before the Ganga Sabha by then BJP Rajya Sabha member Tarun Vijay, who offered to pay for the expenses from his MPLAD fund.

However, the project had been opposed by the Ganga Sabha and Akhil Bharatiya Teerth Purohit Mahasabha, another body of priests in Haridwar. "If one such statue is allowed to be installed, there will be a number of others queuing up for it, for so many other people and organisations will insist on having statues of their choice put on the Ganga banks," Ganga Sabha office bearers argued.

Following opposition from Ganga Sabha and Akhil Bharatiya Teerth Purohit Mahasabha, it was decided in consultation with the district administration to install the statue near Shankaracharya Chowk, which has a statue of Adi Shankaracharya. CM Harish Rawat and five state governors were invited for the unveiling.

His statues are also placed in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu and in London, UK.