Thiruvalluvar

On Thiruvalluvar Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar.

Life and Background of Thiruvalluvar

• Identity: Renowned Tamil poet and philosopher, revered as a cultural icon of Tamil civilisation.

Community Link

• He was a Siddha, poet, and philosopher, commonly known as Valluvar or Thiruvalluvar, meaning “the devotee of the Valluva caste.”
• The Valluvas traditionally proclaimed royal orders by beating drums and were associated with the Pariah community (now referred to as Harijans).
• According to tradition, Thiruvalluvar was born to Bhagavan, a Brahmin, and Adi, a Pariah woman.
• Period and Birthplace:
• • Some traditions place his birth in Madurai.
  • Chronological estimates range from the 4th century BCE to the early 6th century CE.
  • Maraimalai Adigal dated his birth to 31 BCE, while Kamil Zvelebil suggested a period between 500–600 CE.
  • In January 1935, the Tamil Nadu government officially recognised 31 BCE as his birth year.

About Thirukkural 

• Thiruvalluvar Authored of the Thirukkuṛaḷ, a classical Tamil text on ethics, politics, economy, and love.
  • The text contains 1,330 couplets, arranged into 133 sections of ten couplets each.
  • The Tirukkural is divided into three book: 
    • Aram (Virtue), 
    • Porul (Statecraft and Society), and 
    • Kamam (Love).
  • Thematic Range: Covers moral conduct, social justice, statecraft, economic life, and personal relationships, offering practical guidance.
  • Literary Style: Written in a concise, poetic, and aphoristic form, making the couplets memorable and widely quotable.

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