Thiruvalluvar

Why in news?

• Recently, the Prime Minister of India paid tributes to Thiruvalluvar on the occasion of Thiruvalluvar Day.

About Thiruvalluvar:

• Thiruvalluvar was one of the great poet-philosophers during the Sangam period.
• According to traditional narratives and linguistic examinations of his texts, he is thought to have resided at least temporarily in the town of Mylapore, which is a neighborhood of modern-day Chennai.
• His floruit is variously dated from the 4th century BCE to the early 6th century CE.
• Valluvar was born in 31 BCE according to Maraimalai Adigal (This was officially accepted by Tamil Nadu Government).
• He is thought to be linked to Jainism. However, Hindus have also claimed that Thiruvalluvar belonged to hinduism.
• Dravidian groups also count him as a saint, as he dismissed the caste system.
• Tirukkural or Kural is the primary work credited to Thiruvalluvar.

About Tirukkural:

• It contains 1330 couplets, which are divided into 133 sections of 10 couplets each.
  • The first 38 sections are on moral and cosmic order (Tamil: Aram, Sanskrit: dharma)
  • the next 70 are about political and economic matters (Tamil: porul, Sanskrit: artha)
  • the remaining 25 are about pleasure (Tamil: inbam, Sanskrit: kama).
• It is considered one of the greatest works on ethics and morality, and it is known for its universality and secular nature.
• It places a strong emphasis on moral vegetarianism and nonviolence as personal characteristics.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Which of the following subject matters are dealt in the ancient Sangam text of ‘Tirukkural’?

1. Tamil grammer

2. Morality

3. Herbal Medicine

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Answer