Brahmins and Yagas in Tamil Veda Tirukkural -Part 8 (Post.13,378)
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Why do Tamil Poets call Tirukkural- a Tamil Veda? Part 8
Tiru Valluvar, author of Tirukkural (TK), supports Buddha in praising Brahmins . Buddha said in the Buddhist Veda Dhammapada “ even if a Brahmin murders or dislodges a Ruler or Government he should not be punished. He has not committed any sin”.
In ancient India, offending Brahmins were debarred from Vedic rituals or declared out casts. Offending Kshatrias were banished. We know how banished Vijaya came to Sri Lanka and started a new empire.
Buddhist Veda Dhammapada contains 423 slokas in Pali. Of them one tenth are about Brahmins. Last Chapter is about Brahminism. Even before this chapter he says,
Verse 294. Brahmins may murder kings
One’s mother and father having slain
and then two warrior kings,
a realm as well its treasurer,
one goes immune, a Brahmin True.
Verse 295. The ‘Killer’ Who Goes Free
One’s mother and father having slain
and then two learned kings,
as well the fifth, a tiger fierce,
one goes immune, a Brahmin True.
Verse 389. Harm Not A Brahmin
One should not a brahmin beat
nor for that should He react.
Shame! Who would a Brahmin beat,
more shame for any should they react.
Manu also said the same thing,
“A Brahmin by retaining Rig Veda (RV) in his memory incurs no guilt, though he should destroy the three worlds”– Manu Smriti 11-261
But Manu and Buddha and Valluvar define Who a Brahmin is. Like Manu Smrti, Buddha and Valluvar, while praising Brahmins, stipulate strict conditions for Brahmins. Manu says Brahmins should not go abroad, they should not save money but beg for money everyday by doing Yagas and Yajnas. He also says that he should study Veda every day.
Valluvar beautifully repeated all these things.
Valluvar says a Brahmin has six duties throughout his life.
Valluvar says a Brahmin may even forget Vedas, but if his character is lost everything is lost.
Valluvar says Brahmins and cows are the leaders of the living world. ‘Go brahmanebhyo’ oft repeated Sanskrit phrase in Hindu Books. It means the Cows and the Brahmins. Valluvar also repeated this phrase.
If one is a real Brahmin he can bring down a Government, like Chanakya. If he is a real Brahmin he can murder like Agastya, but occurs no sin. End justifies the means.
Here are the relevant Kural couplets
Brahmins are praised in Kural 30, 134, 543, 560,
1066/cow
Yagas – 259, 413
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let us look at the couplets one by one:
Those who are merciful are really the men of virtue,
Because they have compassion for all living beings- 30
Or
The ascetics are truly called Andhanas because they are kind to all creatures-30
Debate on the word Anthanar
Anthanar literally translated would mean Men of mercy. It applies to anyone with mercy. In Hindu context it means Brahmins, saints, Jains and Buddhists. But it is always used for Brahmins with Six duties.
Manakkudavar , one of the ancient commentators clearly says Anthanar are Brahmins.
Sangam literature also says
Aru Thozil Anthanar= Brahmins with Six Tasks.
Brahmins with Six Tasks is in all scriptures including Manu Smriti.
They learn Vedas and teach it (2 duties); they beg and donate (2 duties); they do fire sacrifice at home everyday and they do fire sacrifices for all others (2 duties).
That is why 2000 year old Sangam literature used the word ARU THOZIL (six task) ANTHANAAR.
Moreover, Ilango in Tamil epic Silappadikaram also gives three categories of people who must be welcomed and fed by household women; in those three categories we see Ascetics (thuravor), people of Dharma (aravor) and Anthanar/Brahmins. So Anthanar is Brahmin according to Ilango, author of Silappadikaaram.
‘அறவோர்க்கு அளித்தலும், அந்தணர் ஓம்பலும்,
துறவோர்க்கு எதிர்தலும், தொல்லோர் சிறப்பின்
விருந்து எதிர்கோடலும், இழந்த என்னை- Kannaki laments about what she lost in Silappadikaaram 16-7
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The Brahmin who has forgotten his scriptures could read them up again;
But if he neglects right conduct he will lose his birth right- 134
Or
If a brahmin forgets Vedas ,he re acquire it; but if he fails in his conduct he slips down in his rank of birth-134
Here Valluvar used the word Paarppaan= one who sees or Seer. Thirumular also used this word.
My comments
Both Anthanar and Paarppaan mean the same according to me. They are seekers of Brahman/God
Anthanar and Paarppaan literally mean inward seeing/looking for God.
Other three castes look outwards for establishing a prosperous society. Brahmins look after the community’s spiritual wealth, and not economic wealth.
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As the ultimate basis of the Vedas of the sages and Dharma of wisemen
Stands the straight sceptre of a just king – 543
or
The sceptre of a ruler is the stable support of the scriptures of brahmins and all the virtues enshrined by them – 543
Here Valluvar himself agreed that Anthanars are Brahmins. He used the word Books of Anthanar, i.e. Vedas.
Saints don’t read or recite Vedas like Brahmins; they don’t do sacrifices. They only encourage people to do it.
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if the ruler does not perform his protective function righteously,
the cows yield less, and the Brahmins forget their Mantras-560
or
Cows yield less and the people with six fold duties forget Vedas, if the king does not guard justice -560
Two points must be noted here. Modern generation may laugh at Valluvar for linking just rule and yield of milk. They would dub this as superstition.
Second point is linking Brahmins and Cows.
This has been there for over 5000 years including Sangam Literature and Tevaram of Tiru Gnana Sambandar.
The phrase Go Brahmana mean the entire society. From cow- all living beings, From men all human beings must prosper.
Hindus finish all prayers by wishing
svasti prajabhyah: pari-palayantham
nyayeana margena mahim maheesah:
go-brahmanebhya: shubamasthu nityam
lokah: samasthah: sukhino bhavanthu
May there be well being to the people; may the kings rule the earth along the right path;
May the cattle and the preceptors of culture and wisdom have well being forever;
May all the beings in all the worlds become happy;
Peace, peace and peace be everywhere!
Valluvar also coupled cows and Brahmins in Kural
Third point is ‘men of six duties’ is used with Anthanar in 2000 year old Sangam Tamil literature, confirming Anthanar is nothing but Brahmin.
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Yagas 259, 413
More meritorious than a thousand burnt offerings is to give up
The practice of killing a living creature, and eating its carcass.
Or
Better to refrain from killing and abstaining from the flesh obtained there by, than kindling a thousand sacrificial fires – 259
It is nothing but a translation of Manu
See Manu 5-53
वर्षे वर्षेऽश्वमेधेन यो यजेत शतं समाः ।
मांसानि च न खादेद् यस्तयोः पुण्यफलं समम् ॥ ५३ ॥
varṣe varṣe’śvamedhena yo yajeta śataṃ samāḥ |
māṃsāni ca na khāded yastayoḥ puṇyaphalaṃ samam ||5- 53 ||
If a man performs the Aśvamedha Sacrifice every year, for a hundred tears,—and another does not eat meat,—the merit and reward of both these are the same.—(5-53.)
All non- vegetarians and foreigners mis translated it and said Valluvar condemns Yagas. But all vegetarians understood it clearly and said Non-Killing = 1000 Yagas.
Manu also confirmed it. Kanchi Paramacharaya – Shankaracharya of Kanchi 1894-1994- also quoted this couplet and gave the correct meaning.
Poo,r pitiable non vegetarian gangs shed crocodile tears!
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Persons who have listened and internalised from instructions of the learned,
Will be like Gods on Earth, flourishing on obligational offerings- 413
Or
Those who in this world enjoy instruction which is the food of the ear, are equal to gods who enjoy the food of sacrifice- 413
Or
There are men who find listening a feast for their ears. On earth they resemble deities who feast from sacrificial fires- 413
Or
Shuddhananda Bharati
Whose ears get lots of wisdom-food
Equal gods on oblations fed.
GU Pope
Who feed their ear with learned teachings rare,
Are like the happy gods oblations rich who share.
My comments
Here Valluvar praises the Vedic Yagas and Yajnas and deities.
Another point missed by all commentators is Brahmins are called Bhuusurar- Deities on Earth.
So, my interpretation is all that who listen to wisdom teachings are Brahmins or Deities on earth.
So valluvar never criticised Yagas or Yajnas (fire sacrifices) nor Brahmins.
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Cow – Go Maathaa
Even if one begs for water to quench the thirst of a cow, in feverish distress,
Nothing is most distasteful than begging- 1066
0r
It is disgraceful for the tongue to beg even if it were water for a thirsty cow- 1066
My comments
We see the great respect given to cow by Valluvar in this Kural and Kural 560. Why did he mention cow in these Kurals. It is because of the respect to Go Mata (Go maathaa)
–subham—
Tags- Tamil Veda Tirukkural, Part 8, Brahmins, Yagas, Go Mata, Buddha, Dhamapada, Praise, Yagas, Fire Sacrifice
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