Now, before we go into each and every verse, let us look into the whole of chapter one of Thirukkural to see how “God” is portrait within the concept of Thirukkural and within the Tamil mind.
1. The first verse informs us that God is the creator of matter, life and knowledge and the example of the Tamil alphabets (uyir, mei and uyirmei & a'autham) are used as the example. Thus we come to know that God is the initiator of everything; thus denoting that He is the uncreated one and is the start and end of everything. This is the first quality of God.
2. In the second verse, we are informed that God is the Wisest One, as such we must pay homage to Him.
3. In the third verse, we are informed homage is to be made in the form of meditation, for any one reaching the highest level of meditation will become the most perfect one (like God) in the after world and in this world
4. In verse four, we are informed that God’s nature is un-attachment thus we are clearly informed that prayers, rituals and sacrifices are not the way to reach God. Meditation. as mentioned in verse three is the way to reach God. By this meditation, the soul also becomes unattached and thus in not enveloped in sorrowfulness.
5. Verse five stands out prominently. Here the word “Irivan” definitely means God and cannot be interpreted otherwise. The verse also informs of the linking (of the soul) with God. In this verse, we are informed that it is our own actions or (Good and Bad Karma) that decides our path towards spirituality.
6. In verse six, we are further strongly informed that God is without emotions and thus by controlling the five senses (hearing, touch, sight, smell and taste) we can live a virtues’ life.
7. In verse seven we are informed that God has “incomparable power” and an individual who can control the five senses (thus achieve the highest meditative stature) also becomes incomparable.
8. In verse eight, we are informed that God is the most "virtuousness one’’ and is devoid of any negative qualities, and the learned individual also is not swayed away from this virtues’’ path.
9. Verse nine informs of the eight qualities of God (and indirectly for the soul) It also explains that the eight qualities are with the body, senses and mind of an individual.
10. The final verse indirectly informs that those who cannot achieve the above eight qualities will not reach God.
Let us now table His qualities mentioned above and compare with the theological concepts usually attributed to God.
Qualities of God as described in Thirukkural
No. Quality Verse
1 Infinite 1
2 Eternal 1
3 Wisdom 2,3,8
4 Creation 1, 7
5 Compassion 2,8
6 Unchanging 3,8
7 Unattached 4,6,7,
8 Pure 3,5,8
The above are the eight qualities indirectly and directly informed to us through Thirukkural. Apart from this, the concept of Karma (verse 5), rebirth (verse 10) and Souls and God are separate entities (verse 10) provides us with the basics of the Siddhanta philosophy.
Further the soul not being pure (verse 2 and 3); the need to control its senses and emotions (verse 3, 6 and 9); the need to strive to reach God (verse 3, 7, 8, and 9) and without this it will continue its rebirth (verse 10) are all indirectly stated.
What more messages do we need from 10 couplets having only 7 words each? The essence is provided; we need to see through the body, life and the mind (verse 9) of the Thirukkural.
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