MYTHS ABOUT TAMIL VEDA EXPLODED; DR NAGASAMY’S NEW BOOK ON THIRUKKURAL (Post No.4939)
WRITTEN by London Swaminathan
Date: 22 April 2018
Time uploaded in London – 17-22 (British Summer Time)
Post No. 4939
Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks. Pictures may be subject to copyright laws.
WARNING: PLEASE SHARE MY ARTICLES; BUT DON’T SHARE IT WITHOUT AUTHOR’S NAME AND THE BLOG NAME. BE HONEST; OTHERS WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU.
TIRUKKURAL is considered the Tamil Veda; it was written by Thiru Valluvar. One of Valluvar’s contemporary himself said this in Thiruvallauva Malai. He said that Sanskrit has Veda and Tamil has now got Tirukkural. It has 1330 couplets divided into 133 chapters which deal with didactic topics. There are lots of myths about its author Tiruvalluvar and his book. After Dravidian parties came to power in Tamil Nadu fifty years ago, lot of things about Vallauvar’s personal life was changed in the text books. And the accepted commentary of Parimel Azakar is tampered with. Dr R Nagaswamy, eminent historian and famous archaeologist looks at the book from a new angle.
He explodes the myths about G U Pope’s contribution to Tamil literature, Pope’s half- baked statement about Valluvar’s date (800 to 900 CE) and some people’s attempt to show Tirukkural a text of Jain origin. G U Pope who translated 72 Purananuru verses, deliberately vomited Kapilar’s vesre showing him as an ‘Antana’ (Brahmin) and dubbed him a Pariah. Dr Nagasamy also Shows how hardly Pope tried to show Valluvar as a Christian or influenced by Christianity.
Another myth exploded by Dr R N is the gold coin of Valluvar. The coin said to have been issued by Ellis is not of Valluvar, but of Buddha. It was found in a museum in Calcutta. Ellis’ name was unnecessarily dragged into this matter.
Nagaswamy described in detail the futile colonial attempt to Christianise Tirukkural.
Dr R Nagaswamy needs no introduction. He was the Director of Archaeology in Tamil Nadu from 1966 to 1988. He was the Vice Chancellor of Kancheepuram University. He was the author of over 50 books and hundreds of research articles. He has travelled around the world lecturing on History and culture of Tamil people. Recently he has been awarded Padmabhusan by the Government of India.
He says that there is no gem in the whole field of Tamil literature more precious than Tirukkural. He has compared Tirukkural with lot of similar verses in Sanskrit Dharma sastras, Artha sastra, Natya sastra and Kama Sastra. He has also shown that Valluvar wrote it on the basis of Hindu values Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Valluvar himself divided his book into three major sections Dharma (Aram), Artha (porul) and Kama (Inbam). Moksha is dealt with in the book under Dharma.
Dr Nagaswamy says that the work of Valluvar is an abridgement of Sanskrit sastras. Without leaving anyone to guess the authenticity, he has given the relevant passages as well. So no one could challenge him. It is a treasure for the English speakers, and particularly the Non Tamil speakers in India.
Though scholars like V R Ramachndra Dikshitar has done such a comparative study before Dr Nagasawmy, he has added more materaias from different scriptures such as Dhammapada of Buddha and Bhagavad Giat of Lord Krishna.
Another unique feature is the addition of Sanskrit verses in Devanagari lipi which would be of help to North Indians.
He as beautifully summarised all the relevant data from Sangam literature to prove the ancient character of the Tirukkural. First he deals with the three theories about the age of the work and concludes that it is older than the Tamil epic Silappadikaram of second century CE. He rightly pointed out that the couplets are in Sutra format which is further proof for its age.
About Valluvar’s religion Dr Nagasamy says, after examining the previous arguments, “The examination of the personal religion of Valluvar does not give us any definite lead in the matter. Valluvar did not wish to give his work a sectarian character. He gives lot of examples to show the striking correspondence between the Kural couplets and the works of Manu, Kautilya and Vatsyayana.
In another chapte,r the author of the current book examines the statement of Nataka Valakku by the doyen of Tamil literature U Ve Swaminatha Aiyar.
In the concluding chapter hr makes an important statement, “Thirukkural of Thiruvalluvar can be fully understood only with the knowledge of Sanskrit, as it draws heavily from Dharma sastras, Artha sastras, Natya sastra and Kama Sastra and also their commentaries.
Everyone who is interested in Tamil literature must have this book.
The book is priced only 150 rupees which is very cheap. The book has got great value for money.
Details of the Publication:
Tirukkural- An Abridgement of Sastras
Dr R Nagaswamy
December 2017
Pages 248, Price Rs.150
Published by Tamil Arts Academy and Giri Trading Agency Private Limited
Contact: www.giri.in
–SUBHAM-
Tamil and Vedas 