Thirukkural - An ancient Tamil lietature of Moral Science Chapter 1

12th January 2008

Couplet 2

The second Thirukkural is as follows:

Katradhanaalaaya payanenkol Vaalarivan
Nattraal thozhaar yenin.

The break up is like this:

Katradhanaal aaya payan yen kol Vaal arivan
Nal thaall thozhaar Yenin/

Means

Learning and scholarship are of no avail if they do not lead
One to worship at the wise one’s divine feet.

Education must make one, think of God. The idea is that the concept of reaching God's feet is the culmination of all birth, which can be achieved only by right learning and appropriate conduct in keeping with such learning. But the end of all learning is universally accepted to lead one to God-head. For, knowledge leads to steadfastness. "The steadfast, having controlled the senses, sits focussed on Me as the supreme" ( Gita 2,61)

In this respect these Kurallines are of import. similar to the Biblical lines, that " Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind and with all thy strength". This is also the natural thing to do, for the Psalmist says, "the human soul thirsts for God like the thirsty land" (Psalms 143:6). This is also what the Holy Koran lays down when it says "We have no knowledge saving what thou hast taught us". ( Chapter 1, Rukoo 3). The right knowledge, therefore, would take one to God. Thus the purpose of all education is categorically laid down here as "the holy one of knowing God and worshipping Him" ( courtesy: Thirukkural by Dr. S.M. Diaz I.P.S. Ph.D.)

The expression "Vaalarivan" refers to God, of "pure intelligemce". Thiruvalluvar would have expressed as "Iraivan" means "God" in this place, but he never mentioned such words, so even non believers of God also read this and understand the important of education and reach the supremacy which is equivalent to God.

Thirukkural - An ancient Tamil lietature of Moral Science Chapter 1

I was told by my niece in USA there is no Moral Science as subject in schools and so the youngsters there have no lessons on Moral Science, but they are taught moral in different ways.

I though it will be useful if I post some important Thirukkurals in this blog, it will be useful to many youngsters.I am beginning with the first chapter. Please read this and explain to your kids or make them to read. Please spread this news to every one whom you know irrespective of Religion, Language. I do not think you have to do any other social service, than spreading this to as many people as possible, to attain Greatness.

Chapter 1. In praisCe of God
Agara mudhala Ezhuththellaam Aadhi
Bhagavan mudhatre Ulagu.

"A"gara as in "And"
"E"zhuththellam - E as in End
"U"lagu - U as in Utopia
English translation

The alphabet begins with A;
So does the Universe, with God.

Just as the letter"A" begins and energises all other letters of the Alphabet, God is the origin and sustenance of all the Universe.
Though we may admit that the basis of the Poet's religious though is Hindu and ethical philosophy is Tamil, Valluvar ( the author of Thirukkural) has so carefully and ingeniously worded these Kurals avoiding denominational names and exclusive doctrines, that every religionist all over the world is able to see the God of his own conception in the references by the author.

In this particular couplet, there is more in the comparison of God to the first letter, of the alphabet,than is obvious in the ordinary context. Linguists would realise that the sound of the letter "A" is that which energises all other letters and is the indispensable origin and source of utterances for all letters of the alphabet of most languages. In this way the letter " A" and its sound not only from the starting point for all the letters of the language,but also give life and integrity to all other sounds and letters. In the same way God is the fountain-head and source of all life and activity in this Universe.

This is not only in keeping with the Tamil tradition of hailing God as the prime mover of all things at the commencement of the poetical work, but also in accordance with the general practice of acknowledging God as the origin and source of life itself. This has parallel in the Biblical lines, " I am the Alpha and the Omega"(Revelations 216) meaning, the beginning and the end(i.e all of life). That is why Spinoza called God, "the first cause" in his philosophic discourse on Ethics. So does Thomas Acquinas and, from a more rational angle Decartes. This idea is found equally well in the Bhagvad GitaI am the origin and dissolution of the whole Universe and in Zorpaster's teachings as well in the Holy Korann>style="font-style:italic;"> and the sacred books of almost all religions of the world. That really is the special feature and vital core of Valluvar;s universality of religious outlook. And it is not as if it is all a patchwork. On the contrary, what he presents in Thirukkural is a well digested happily integrated universal philosophy which is all his own and at the same time, acceptable to all thinkers, including those of all acknowledged religions.