The Kural: Or, The Maxims of Thiruvalluvar

by Thiruvalluvar

Very few in the world outside of the Tamil country have heard the name of the poet whose work is presented here in a new English garb. And yet he is one of those seers whose message is intended not merely for their own age or country but for all time and for all mankind. Born a member of one of the depressed castes and bred up to the profession of weaving, which was his only means of livelihood till the day came for him to renounce all worldly ties, Thiruvalluvar has given to the world a work to which, in perfection of form, profundity of thought, nobleness of sentiment, and earnest-ness of moral purpose, very few books outside the grand scriptures of humanity can at all be compared. Indeed his work is eulogized by the Tamil people as the Tamil Veda, the Universal Veda, the later Veda, the Divine Book etc., etc. It is a great pity that such a treasure should have been confined for so many ages only to one single people even in Hindusthan.

207 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2024

About the author

(Tamil: திருவள்ளுவர்) is a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher whose contribution to Tamil literature is the Thirukkural, a work on ethics. As with most other details about Valluvar, the exact place of his birth remains uncertain. Thiruvalluvar is thought to have lived sometime between the 3rd century BC and the 1st century BC.

The Tamil poet Mamulanar of the Sangam period mentioned that Thiruvalluvar was the greatest Tamil scholar and Mamulanar also mentioned the Nanda Dynasty of northern which ruled until the 4th century BC. This estimate is based on linguistic analysis of his writings, as there is no archaeological evidence for when he lived. He is sometimes also called Theiva Pulavar ("Divine Poet"), Valluvar, Poyyamozhi Pulavar, Senna Pothar,Gnana Vettiyan or Ayyan.