Today is celebrated as "Thiruvazhluvar's Day" in my home state which is Tamuzh Nadu in South India and this post is my way of paying tribute to this great Saint Poet.
Over the past three decades I have been studying the life and teachings of the great South Indian Saint and Tamuzh poet popularly known as Thiruvalluvar. Over the last decade I have been attempting to and unable to complete writing my own interpretation of the Thirukkural (Tamil: ???????????, also known as the Kural) authored by Thiruvazhluvar which is a classic in Tamuzh literature from the Sangam period spanning between 300 BCE and 300 CE.
The Thirukkural is one of the most important works in the Tamuzh language. It has been given many names and highlights all the vital aspects of life as known to man. Thirukkural consists of 1330 couplets or Kurals which are divided into 133 chapters of 10 couplets each. The 133 chapters are grouped into three sections based on certain principles, namely:
Righteousness and the right way to live - 380 couplets
Wealth and the right way to accumulate wealth - 700 couplets
Love and propriety in love - 250 couplets
However, there is an underlying fourth principle which has not been openly addressed by any scholar. All three sections have their philosophy based on this fourth principle and only one who understands this fourth principle can live by these 1330 couplets.
While there are several commentaries and translations on this important treatise, mine is based on my personal belief that the work is not to be taken on its mere external meaning and it has certain inner meanings connected to this fourth principle and the right way of living to aid a man on his path of spiritual enlightenment. If one were to understand and live by all that the Saint has written one will certainly realise Godhead. Unfortunately we are all caught up in our selfish pursuits and fall short of what he propounds and expounds.
There have been several commentaries written on Thirukkural over the centuries. The Latin translation of Thirukkural was made by Constanzo Beschi in 1730. The first ever English Translation of Thirukural by GU Pope brought the Thirukkural to the western world in 1886. ?
Thirukkural has been translated into more than 35 languages across the world by various authors. However, none of these commentaries and translations have done true justice to Thiruvalluvar for they have interpreted the meaning of the couplets only at the surface level and have been unable to comprehend the inner meanings as intended by the poet.
Most people consider "ThirukKural" to be an "Ara Nool" i.e. a treatise on the right way to live. However, my study over the past 30 years has made me understand that “ThiruVazhluvar” had written it as a "Sara Nool" and had kept Siddha Messages hidden inside the Kurals. ‘Saram’ is an ancient synonym for breath and breathing and is still used by practitioners of meditation involving breathing exercises. ?
Coming back to the original discussion, ‘ThiruVazhluvar’, who is considered one of the “63 Nayyanmars” (Shaivite Saints) is the principal proponent of “Sara Nool Shastram” and most Tamuzh scholars who did not understand ‘Vazhluvar’s’ connection to ‘Nool’ assumed he was a handloom weaver by profession. In truth he was weaving his breath of life in the loom of his body. 'Saram' is also called 'Nool' or thread and the same 'Nool' is also used to refer to a book or treatise.?A book is also called a Nool because it is what is written with the breath of life. This is called "Moochu artruthal" in Tamuzh.?
Once again having strayed from the theme of the discussion that ‘ThirukKural’ is a Sara Nool, I would like to use the example of Vazhluvar’s first Kural to explain my contention.
“??? ???? ????????????? ???
????? ??????? ????”
(Agara muthala elluthellam, Aadhi
Bhagawan Muthatrae Ullagu)
This Kural when translated into English is understood by all to mean, “God is the creator of all letters in this world and must be given primary Importance".
Though this may be externally true there is a deeper meaning to it. To understand this deeper meaning I am obliged to give you some background information for reasons of clarity and context.
There are a few records of ancient Tamuzh civilization that say that there existed a divine couple named “Aadhi” and “Bhagavan” who were God’s chosen servants. Aadhi was ordered by Bhagavan (who was also called Yaazhi Thathhamunivar) ?to leave behind all and any children that were to be born to them at the place where these children would be born and not worry about them as their Children were to be special and therefore they would be able to survive.
The lady ‘Aadhi’ obeyed her husband ‘Bhagvan’ and the children thus born to them included the great sage “Thiruvazhluvar”, the female mendicant commonly known as “Avvaipiratiyar” as well as "Uppai", "Adhigamaan", "Kabilar" and "Valliammai". Viewed in the light of this information the first verse takes on a different meaning.
All the Tamuzh words or natural sounds such as “Agaaram”, “Uugaaram”, “Magaaram”, “Nagaaram”, “Vagaraam”, “Lagaaram” are all created only inside the human body at the points were the ‘Adharas’ or chakras are located and this human body which contains the thread "Nool" connecting all these chakras are a gift from the parents namely ‘Aadhi’ and ‘Bhagwan’ who are the creators of this (Vazhluvar’s) body. Therefore indirectly implying that his parents are God to him.
Each of the “Kurals” has many such hidden gems inside and to unravel them has become my life’s mission and pray that God will enable me to complete the same.
I hope I make sense to all readers of this post. Kindly do not hesitate to message me for any clarifications required after reading this post.
Self-Published Poet, fictional writer, Photographer
2 年You have an interesting life mission. I wish you much success and enlightenment Ben ?? Thank you for sharing your studies with us.