Thiruvalluvar: Tamil Poet

Context: The Governor of Tamil Nadu paid tributes to a portrait of Tamil poet saint ‘Thiruvalluvar’ in saffron robes and described him as a saint of the ‘Bharatiya Sanatan’ tradition. This has revived a controversy, opposing the attempt to ‘saffronise’ Thiruvalluvar. 

About Thiruvalluvar: 

• Valluvar was an ancient saint, poet, and prominent philosopher in the Tamil region, and his significant contributions are particularly evident in his work, 'Thirukurral.'
• Comprising 1330 couplets, this collection holds a special place in every Tamil household. According to traditional accounts, it was the last work of the third Sangam.

• Various communities in the Tamil region regard Valluvar as the 64th Nayanmar of the Saivite tradition.
  • The renowned Mylapore temple, constructed in the early 16th century, stands as a testament to the deep reverence for Valluvar.
  • The temple is situated within the Ekambareeswara-Kamakshi (Shiva-Parvati) temple complex in Mylapore, Chennai. 
• Valluvar influenced and shaped the perspectives of numerous scholars and he presented views on ethical, social, political, philosophical, spiritual and economic domains.  
• Authentic information about Valluvar's life remains scarce as neither his true name nor the original title can be found in Tirukkural. 
• The earliest known textual reference to the legend of Valluvar is found in the Shaivite Tamil text Thiruvalluva Malai.

Religious affiliation:

• It is a subject of debate, with conjectures placing him within either Jainism or Hinduism.
• Some scholars argue that Valluvar's writings align more closely with Hinduism, as evidenced by the integration of his teachings in Tirukkural with Hindu texts.
• Also, Valluvar's treatment of the concept of ahimsa (non-violence), which is an important tenet in both Jainism and Hinduism, further supports the claim.

About Tirukkural:

• It is divided into three parts: aram (virtue), porul (wealth), and inbam (love).
• Valluvar text predominantly addresses the three aspects directly but it does not explicitly cover vitu (moksha or release).
• The concept of turavaram (renunciation) is explored, serving as a means to achieve spiritual liberation. Hence, vitu is indirectly discussed within the Kural text.
• The couplets are organized into 133 sections, each containing 10 couplets.

1. Book I (Aram): Deals with the moral values of an individual and essentials of yoga philosophy.
2. Book II (Porul): Explores socio-economic values, polity and statecraft, and administration.
3. Book III (Inbam): Addresses psychological values and the theme of love.

• Valluvar presents his theory of the state through six key elements: Army (Patai), Subjects (Kuti), Treasure (Kul), Ministers (Amaiccu), Allies (Natpu), and Forts (Aran).
• Valluvar recommends the establishment of forts and other infrastructure, along with adequate supplies and food storage, in preparation for potential sieges.
• While sharing similarities with the teachings found in Arthasastra, Valluvar's perspectives differ in some crucial aspects.
• Example: Valluvar's theory of the state, the army (patai) emerges as the most vital element, in contrast to Kautilya's emphasis on King.

Philosophy: 

• Contrary to being a mystic or purely philosophical document, Tirukkural is centred on the comprehensive understanding of human relationships and is renowned for its concept of 'Pragmatic idealism.'
• Valluvar's philosophy places the 'common man' at its core, emphasizing the need for individuals to lead virtuous lives, uphold human values, promote social harmony and actively engage in political life. 

On Religion and Spirituality: 

1. He glorifies significant divine attributes without specifying a particular deity by name.
2. This approach leads people to perceive the teachings in the Kural text as not being attributed to any specific God or religion.
3. He envisioned a harmonious society where diverse communities from various sects coexist peacefully, thus advocating for a monotheistic divinity.
4. He intentionally avoided discussing moksha or liberation and emphasized on the importance of living a virtuous and honest life on Earth.
5. He believes that individuals who exhibit virtue in their domestic, social, political, and moral spheres will experience abundant joy in all aspects of life.

On Administration and Governance:

1. Democracy: He did not endorse democracy but accepted Royalty with ministers bound by a code of ethics and a system of justice.
2. At the same time, the Kural text, cautions against tyranny, appeasement, and oppression, suggesting that such behaviour leads to disasters, depletion of state wealth, and the loss of power and prosperity.

Governance:

1. He asserts that “just as living beings thrive with good rainfall, citizens flourish when a king governs justly”.
2. He advised rulers to avoid cruelty, as a lack of daily examination of wrongdoings and the absence of justice will lead to the downfall of the kingdom.
3. He highlighted the ruler's duty to protect the realm from terrorism, warning that a failure to control such threats will result in the loss of peace. 
4. Role of ministers is crucial, as they are expected to assist in the smooth administration of the kingdom, understanding the nature of undertakings and offering advice when necessary to the King.
5. He underscored the necessity of maintaining good relationships with neighbouring countries through envoys for peaceful coexistence.

On Business:

1. He advocated for eternal values and moral principles which will govern the conduct of business leaders.

Read also:

Sangam Literature	Sangam Society
Sangam Polity	Dynasties of Sangam Age