THIRUKKURAL, A GENERAL TREATISE

Tamil literature can be classified as Sangam literature, Didactic literature, Religious literature, Sittrilakkiyam and Modern Literature. Of these, Sangam literature is the greatest. Next in importance, is Didactic literature. The fountainhead of all didactic literature is the Thirukkural, written by Thiruvalluvar.

The most important quality of a man's character is å¿è¢èñ¢ or righteous conduct. It is derived from the root word, å¿° which means 'நட' Hence, ஒழுக்கம் means நடத்தை or good conduct.

Based on the two aspects of people's lives, viz, family and social, many literary works were produced during the Sangam period. In the next phase, literary works which stressed the value of righteousness an important component of social life, were produced.

Advice given by the elderly, or counsel that was time-tested, was called Moodhurai. When this was detailed and expressed in a particular form, it was called didactic literature. Imagination, aesthetics and bombast had no place in didactic literature. Entirely different from this, is the Thirukkural.

The Thirukkural is a treatise on the art of living. There is a vast difference between didactic literature and a treatise. Didactic works may be related to a particular religion. But a treatise on the art of living is a novel attempt by Thiruvalluvar. Though it may be considered as didactic, the Thirukkural possesses several unique features. It was Tamil culture that provided Thiruvalluvar with the framework for the production of such a work. Nevertheless, the Thirukkural goes beyond all barriers of caste, creed, language and nationality and lays down the formula for good living, that is applicable to all mankind.

One of the shortest forms of Tamil poetry, 'Venba' verse, is also called 'Kural Venba.' As it was in this short form, Valluvar's verse was called 'kural'. 'Thiru' is a prefix meaning beauty, greatness, uniqueness, wealth and so on. Because of its greatness, the Kural was called Thirukkural.

The Thirukkural is divided into three major divisions: அறம், (dharma), ªð£¼÷¢ (wealth) and இன்பம் (happiness). These are further sub-divided into 133 sections, each having ten kurals, thus making a total of 1330. Each kural is in the form of a couplet. It was composed two thousand years ago. Nowhere does the poet use the word Tamil or Tamilian or Tamil Nadu. Hence it is universal; todate, it has been translated into 117 languages. It lays down the tenets relevant for right living -- the code of conduct that would enable MAN to live as man.

What is remarkable about the Thirukkural is that the poet, born in Tamil Nadu and writing in Tamil, has expressed concepts that are relevant to all men and all ages. In a country like India which is caste-based, Thiruvalluvar wished to establish a casteless society. Hence, he said that a man is identified not by the caste into which he is born, but by his profession. This concept holds good even today. The poet also stressed the transitory nature of life on earth. Thiruvalluvar can truly be called a revolutionary, who, long before the advent of science and technology, had progressive views and a vision which saw the whole world as one big community.