ஆசாரக்கோவை and முதுமொழிக்காஞ்சி are two books which emphasise upon following moral codes. Piety is not just a religious belief and external cleanliness. Cleanliness (both internal and external) is essential. ஆசாரக்கோவை deals with this and also prescribes the codes to be observed in everyday life. The Sanskrit work ஆரிடம் is the source for ஆசாரக்கோவை.

கயத்தூர்ப் பெருவாயின் முள்ளியார் is the author of ஆசாரக்கோவை, கயத்தூர் is the name of his native place. முள்ளியார் was a devotee of Siva. முள்ளியார் is believed to have lived in the 5th century A.D.

ஆசாரக்கோவை consists of 100 poems in வெண்பா metre. Different categories of வெண்பா, like குறள் வெண்பா, சிந்தியல் வெண்பா etc., have been employed. Apart from basic moral codes, various disciplines to be followed in day-to-day life are given in this book. Even the routine activity like taking bath and food, the direction one should face while eating etc., are also stipulated. Eight qualities are identified as the basis for good conduct. They are: gratitude, patience, kind words, not-harming others, learning and good company are some of them. Respect for elders, charity, honouring the guests, maintaining the purity of water sources are some of the prescriptions detailed in ஆசாரக்கோவை, So also, alcohol, thieving and murder, adultery and gambling and the like are forbidden.

முதுமொழிக்காஞ்சி is one of the branches of காஞ்சித் திணை, காஞ்சி, as you know, speaks of transitory nature of the body and the world. முதுமொழிக்காஞ்சி is the worldly wisdom as expressed by the elders.

மதுரைக் கூடலூர்கிழார் is the author of this work. He is different from his name-sake of the Sangam age.

முதுமொழிக்காஞ்சி consists of ten chapters and each chapter has ten poems, Each poem is a one-line poem. Maybe the author meant that the very first line of the first chapter is to be added to every poem.

பத்து stands for ten thoughts. For instance, சிறந்த பத்து speaks of ten best things. The other chapters also likewise deal with other matters.

Learning is important; but a moral life is more important. One should not eat alone; the food should be shared with others. Children are the best wealth one could have. Illness easily catches the gluttons. These are some of the teachings we find in முதுமொழிக்காஞ்சி.