What is Thirukkural?
Thirukkural is an ancient classic tamil literature written by the greatest poet Thiruvalluvar over 2000 years ago. It talks about morality and virtues of an individual who can be anyone from poor to richest man, citizens to king of the nation, which is immortal and applicable to all ages. Thirukural is the combination of two words “Thiru + Kural”. “Thiru” suggests that Honorable in Tamil, “Kural” suggests that Short and Precise.Thirrukural topics and division
Thirukkural has 3 major divisions referred to as Aram (Virtue), Porul (Wealth of Government, Society), Kamam (Love). These 3 divisions consists of 133 topics (Athigaram in Tamil) each topic consists of 10 Kural (Poem) / Couplet, as totally 1330 couplets. Each couplet consists of 2 lines , the first line contains 4 words and second line contains 3 words, so totally 7 words. Kural is the type of poetic meter, which belongs to the poetic meter family Venba. The actual meaning of Thirukural in english is “Hallowed Couplet”The first division topics include Invocation, Glory of Rain, Glory of Renunciation, The power of righteousness, Family, Life Partner, Children, Possessing Love, Hospitality, Speaking Pleasantly, Gratitude, Neutrality, Having Restraint, Having Morals, Not Desiring Others Wife, Tolerance, Bearing no Envy, Avoid Backbiting, Awareness, Charity, Fame, Penance, Truthfulness, Avoiding Anger and more. This division consists of 380 couplets.
The second division topics include Learning, Not Learning, Listening, Qualities of leader, Wisdom, Preventing of faults, Knowing the strength, The right timing, Friendship, Undesirable friendship, Justice, Country, Medicine, Dignity, Poverty, Greatness, Farming, Poverty, Greatness, Enmity, Hostility, Being courteous, Serving people, Whore, Gambling, Mercy, Not being Lazy, perseverance and more. This division consists of 700 couplets.
The third and last division topics include Recognition of the Signs, Rejoicing in the Embrace, The Praise of her Beauty, Declaration of Love, Separation unendurable, Complainings, Sad memories, Wasting away, Pouting, Mutual Desire, Reserve overcome, Desire of reunion and more. This division consists of 250 couplets.