Sage Thiru-valluvar
"The Bard of Universal Man"
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Translator's Preface to Part - 1 : On Virtue
 

The teachings of Thiru-valluvar (known as Valluvar in short) on virtue are simple. First section of this part is on Domestic Virtue i.e. virtue in life as a householder. He starts saying that householders are as important as other three orders – children, forest dwellers, full ascetics – since he supports all of them (Ch 5).

Then Valluvar talks about wife who is the most important constituent of a household (Ch-6) and goes on to sons. Sons and daughters bring lot of happiness to parents and when they achieve fame exceeding parent that joy is doubled (Ch-7).

Having dwelt on the people who make up the household, he goes to the Virtues the head of household must cultivate and possess. This is the most important or valued portion of the book.

He concludes by saying that practicing these virtues bring renown to the householder, which lasts beyond his death and thus he lives. (Ch-24)

In short, Valluvar talks about importance of householder in society, importance of wife and sons (& daughters) in the household, the 16 virtues that a householder must possess to earn renown.

The 16 virtues he talks about overlap to a large extent with Ten Commandments of Christianity & Judaism, the virtues mentioned in the Straight Path of Islam, the Eight Fold Noble Path of Buddhism, the Five Vows of Jains, and the Five Yamas of Yoga. In other words, teachings on ethics contained in major religions and belief systems of the world are incorporated in Valluvar’s work.

Second section of this part is on Ascetic Virtue i.e. virtue in life as a ascetic.

The Statue is located on a Rock 400 Metres from Mainland of India. This is Land's End.
It is mindboggling to think that there is only water from this point till Antartica.
Thiruvalluvar Memorial (133 Feet, 7000 Tonnes), Kanyakumari, India
Cr

References

i] Rev G.U.Pope’s translation of 1886, is available on many websites
ii] Thirukkural – Dr.S.M.Diaz, Ramanandha Adigalar Foundation, Coimbatore (2000) (Volume 1 & 2)
iii] Thirukkural – J.Narayanasamy, Sura Books (Pvt) Ltd, Chennai (2004)
iv]