TIRUKKURAL : VAIMAI - TAMIL POEM

   

  Vaaymai Enappaduvadhu Yaadhenin yaadhondrum

    Theemai Ilaadha Solal.                                           1

     Poimaiyum Vaaymai Idattha Puraitheerndha

     Nanmaip Payakkum enin.                                      2

     Thannenju Arivadhu Poyyarka Poytthapin

     Thannenje Thannaich Chudum                              3

     Ullatthaal Poyyaadhu Ozhugin Ulagatthaar

     Ullatthu Ellaam Ulan                                             4

     Manatthodu Vaaymai Mozhiyin Thavatthodu

     Dhaanam Cheyvaarin Thalai                                 5

     Poyyaamai yanna Pugalillai Eyyaamai

     Ellaa ARamum Tharum                                         6

     Poyyaamai Poyyaamai AatRin ARam PiRa

     Cheyyaamai Cheyyaamai NandRu                        7

     PuRanthooymai Neeraan Amaiyum Aganthooymai

     Vaymaiyaal KaaNappadum                                    8

     Ellaa ViLakkum ViLakkalla ChaandRorkku

     Poyyaa ViLakke ViLakku                                      9

     Yaam Meyyaak KaNdavatRul Illai EnaitthondRum

     Vaaymaiyin Nalla PiRa                                         10 

 "Tiru" in Tamil connotes "anything that is good or holy", Example : Goddess Lakshmi, wealth, beauty, sacredness and "Kural" means couplet: so Tirukkural means "Holy Couplet''.

Tiruvalluvar is generally assigned to the first century AD. He is said to have been a weaver from Mylapore which is a part of the present Chennai city. Vaishnavas, Shaivas, Buddhists and Jains all claim Tiruvalluvar as their own.

Tiruvalluvar led a simple happy married life with a number of children. His wife vasuki adored her husband as her God and maintained with unsleeping vigilance  a tranquil domestic environment needed for the master's work.  

The Tirukkural is divided into three sections dealing with the three goals of people who want to live a full life in this world: aram, porul, and kama. Together there are 1330 Kural couplets grouped in 133 cantos each containing ten Kurals (serial numbers are standard and strictly followed)

The Tirukkural of Tiruvalluvar is the most outstanding and inspiring work on general ethics, political principles and happy married life. It is the greatest treasure - house in Tamil. There have been ten Tamil commentators of the Tirukkural. 

The Kural is so terse and profound that it is almost impossible to make a proper translation into another language. Tirukkural is the most translated of Tamil literary works. There have been a number of well intentioned standard English renderings by Indian translators. No thinker ancient or modern has practised like Valluvar, the precise and discriminating use of words as a means of discourse on spiritual illumination.  

Tirukkural is one of the notable works of 4th-6th century along with the twin epics of Tamil Literature. No doubt till to today it is the one to which everyone reaches out for all things in life.

(This blogpost is a part of BlogChatter's Half-Marathon 2023)