Thirukkural is the first and the oldest Tamil book we have today which explains the concept of God in full detail as envisaged by the Tamil people more then 2, 000 years ago. This is a fact that cannot be denied by any one of us. There are many instances where the word God is explicitly mentioned in Thirukkural and a substitute cannot be placed or matched for such instances, and still providing us with a clear, acceptable and concise meaning and understanding.
The opening chapter itself is ample proof, that Thirukkural laid emphasis on the concept of God and we have 10 verses to it. Within these ten verses, there are subtle references, indirect references and direct references about the concept of God.
One of the most important references that captures the attention of every one is seen in verse nine, where we are informed that God has eight qualities. This a rare phenomenon, where in most regions and cultures of that era, the concept of God is not fully understood and developed, but here the Tamil people have started proving God not only a concept but also giving God eight qualities, and explicitly penning it down with examples.
A through analysis of all the ten verses is necessary to understand what our fore fathers had in mind about the concept of God, and to compare them with what we are following and teaching our younger generation now.
All cultures throughout the world, in every nook and corner, in their evolution of growth, the concept of God was a part and parcel of their intellectual interpretation. In this manner, numerous concepts of God had been created, preached and propagated, either by peaceful and educational means or by tactical influence, through wars, political power and social weakness.
The number of converts have became more important then the content and the substance of a religion, thus the spiritual theme, the essence for the need of a God concept for humans is now nearly lost.
Yet, it is in these times of blurred vision; clarity is necessary and is also sought after and let us scrutinize how the Tamil culture, especially through the “mind” of Thirukkural, envisaged and propagated the God concept for us.
Let us begin with the arrangement of the verses themselves in the whole book. Many are aware that the book is divided into three sections namely virtue, character and romance. However, many are not aware that the first 4 topics are not actually part of the book, but are the introduction for the whole book termed as “Pa’ayeram” in the Tamil language.
An introduction to a book is essential as it provides the nucleus of what the author wants to express in his book. It becomes even more important if the author himself writes the introduction as in the case of Thirukkural.
The “paa’yeram” of Thirukkural is set in four topics.
It makes one wonder why Thirukkural has four topics as an introduction for three chapters. Maybe he wants to retain the magical seven number arrangements, or he is subtly providing us a message. Beauty is in eyes of the beholder. It is us who see beauty in everything. Similarly we wish to see through the Thirukkural for more beauty within it.
It seems that the four topics have been provided with a message for us to interpret the Thirukkural. The “greatness of rain” seems to be for the first section of the Thirukkural, “viture”.
Rain is the symbol of fertility and prosperity of the masses of that agricultural era. Without rain, there is no prosperity (food) and with hunger and poverty, a community cannot safe guard its population to live and follow a life of virtue. It also translates into “honest work”; which now has been corrupted by the “work smart culture” which conceals much illness.
Similarly, for one who cannot become detached, no amount of wealth can develop a good character. Thus wealth and education cannot develop character, but only lead our life into greed and corruptness. Only detachment from the scenes and emotions can one develop character and be able to suppress greed and corruption. As the great “mahatma” expresses that the world can provide the needs of every one but not the greed of an individual.
Finally, without the emphasis of virtue; love, romance and matrimony will have no meaning at all. Only lust will remain and that will never bind a man and a woman in happiness forever. A healthy society cannot be developed. Now elderly homes, orphanages, discarded babies and the increase of divorce rates are a result of the absence of virtue.
For all the above to work, a pivotal and focal point of spirituality is necessary and maybe that is why the topic “Praise of God” is placed as the first topic and key that binds all these qualities together. The rest of the three pa'ayeram is for each portions of Thirukkural.
The opening chapter itself is ample proof, that Thirukkural laid emphasis on the concept of God and we have 10 verses to it. Within these ten verses, there are subtle references, indirect references and direct references about the concept of God.
One of the most important references that captures the attention of every one is seen in verse nine, where we are informed that God has eight qualities. This a rare phenomenon, where in most regions and cultures of that era, the concept of God is not fully understood and developed, but here the Tamil people have started proving God not only a concept but also giving God eight qualities, and explicitly penning it down with examples.
A through analysis of all the ten verses is necessary to understand what our fore fathers had in mind about the concept of God, and to compare them with what we are following and teaching our younger generation now.
All cultures throughout the world, in every nook and corner, in their evolution of growth, the concept of God was a part and parcel of their intellectual interpretation. In this manner, numerous concepts of God had been created, preached and propagated, either by peaceful and educational means or by tactical influence, through wars, political power and social weakness.
The number of converts have became more important then the content and the substance of a religion, thus the spiritual theme, the essence for the need of a God concept for humans is now nearly lost.
Yet, it is in these times of blurred vision; clarity is necessary and is also sought after and let us scrutinize how the Tamil culture, especially through the “mind” of Thirukkural, envisaged and propagated the God concept for us.
Let us begin with the arrangement of the verses themselves in the whole book. Many are aware that the book is divided into three sections namely virtue, character and romance. However, many are not aware that the first 4 topics are not actually part of the book, but are the introduction for the whole book termed as “Pa’ayeram” in the Tamil language.
An introduction to a book is essential as it provides the nucleus of what the author wants to express in his book. It becomes even more important if the author himself writes the introduction as in the case of Thirukkural.
The “paa’yeram” of Thirukkural is set in four topics.
- The first is the “Praise of God”;
- Followed by “Greatness of Rain"
- The “Honour of the Detached Individual” and
- Finally the “Emphasis of Virtue”.
It makes one wonder why Thirukkural has four topics as an introduction for three chapters. Maybe he wants to retain the magical seven number arrangements, or he is subtly providing us a message. Beauty is in eyes of the beholder. It is us who see beauty in everything. Similarly we wish to see through the Thirukkural for more beauty within it.
It seems that the four topics have been provided with a message for us to interpret the Thirukkural. The “greatness of rain” seems to be for the first section of the Thirukkural, “viture”.
Rain is the symbol of fertility and prosperity of the masses of that agricultural era. Without rain, there is no prosperity (food) and with hunger and poverty, a community cannot safe guard its population to live and follow a life of virtue. It also translates into “honest work”; which now has been corrupted by the “work smart culture” which conceals much illness.
Similarly, for one who cannot become detached, no amount of wealth can develop a good character. Thus wealth and education cannot develop character, but only lead our life into greed and corruptness. Only detachment from the scenes and emotions can one develop character and be able to suppress greed and corruption. As the great “mahatma” expresses that the world can provide the needs of every one but not the greed of an individual.
Finally, without the emphasis of virtue; love, romance and matrimony will have no meaning at all. Only lust will remain and that will never bind a man and a woman in happiness forever. A healthy society cannot be developed. Now elderly homes, orphanages, discarded babies and the increase of divorce rates are a result of the absence of virtue.
For all the above to work, a pivotal and focal point of spirituality is necessary and maybe that is why the topic “Praise of God” is placed as the first topic and key that binds all these qualities together. The rest of the three pa'ayeram is for each portions of Thirukkural.
Thirukkural is often proclaimed to be a 2000 years old literature. The Kural is not a Sangam (200 BC to 300/400 AD) work for assigning such an early period. Linguistic evidences clearly point out that it is a much later work. So, Kural cannot be the first Tamil work to describe about the concept of God in detail. Valluvar's God was in anycase not a Creator God.
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