History

Thirukkural literature belongs to the Sanga Tamil period (சங்க காலம்), written in Tamil (தமிழ்) language. This literature is part of the Pathinen Keezhkanaku (பதினென்கீழ்க்கனக்கு) set of books. Thirukkural is not the original/real name of this work, this literature is made of couplets style poems (குறள் வெண்பா). Based on this, and to give respectful prefix made the name Thirukkural [Thiru (திரு - respectful part in tamil language) + Kural (குறள் - couplet)]. Researchers claim that work those are discovered (until now) are just a part of the much larger one, the discovered/restored work consists of 1330 couplets. Name of the Author of this work is not known either. Based on the information found so far, its discovered a person who belonged to Valluva (வள்ளுவ மரபு) tradition could be the author. That resulted in the name as Thiruvalluvar [Thiru (திரு) + Valluvar (வள்ளுவர்)].

DescriptionCount
Paal3
Iyal13
Adhigaram133
Kural1330

Thirukkural consist of three groups, Ethics (அறம்-Aram), Wealth (பொருள்-Porul) and Love (காமம்-Kaamam). Each group has multiple sections (இயல்), each section has several chapters (அதிகாரம்). Every chapter has 10 couplets (குறள்), each couplet has two lines. First line of the couplet has 4 words and second with 3 words.

Thirukkural is all about how to lead a right/righteous life, this work covers the complete spectrum of life. This work conveys in a concise content and one that suit for any period of time (past, present and future). There were multiple debates on Thirukkural being contradicting on what to do and what not to do. One of those argument made a lot of sense. 'Thirukkural is like a pharmacy, you will have medicine to cure illness. Also which can be deadly if not consumed as prescribed. You would take the medicince based on your situation/need.'

Thirukkural has many epithets, like vedas of the world, book from god, tamil vedas, words that never fail. This work is claimed to be one of the most translated work in many languages. Many scholars have written text for this work, two of the best known in tamil language are the works of Parimelazhagar (பரிமேலழகர்) and M.Varadharasanar (மு.வரததாசனார்).