Thiruvalluvar

Thiruvalluvar was a Tamil poet and moral philosopher, author of the Tirukkural, one of the most admired works of Tamil literature. Almost nothing reliable is known of his life, and estimates of his date range from a few centuries BCE to about 500 CE, which most scholars now favour. The Kural's 1,330 short couplets are arranged in three books, on virtue (aram), wealth and statecraft (porul), and love (inbam). It gives practical, largely non-sectarian guidance on household life, friendship, kingship, justice and self-control, and has been claimed by Jains, Hindus and secular readers alike. It has been translated into many languages.

Key ideas

• Virtue (aram) is the foundation of a good life, and non-violence and truthfulness are among its highest forms.
• The householder's life, lived with generosity and hospitality, is as worthy as renunciation.
• A ruler must govern justly, take counsel from the wise and protect the people.
• Wealth is valuable when honestly gained and used for virtue and the good of others.
• Love between partners is a distinct realm of human value, deserving reflection in its own right.

Major works

• Tirukkural (c. 5th century)

In the Book corner

• Tirukkural dates debated (estimates range from c. 1st century BCE to c. 6th century CE) · Beginner
  A Tamil classic of 1,330 couplets (kural) arranged in 133 chapters of ten, attributed to the poet Thiruvalluvar, about whom almost nothing…

In the conversation

No topics yet. Start one about this thinker.