Thiruvalluvar

Thiruvalluvar, commonly called Valluvar, is a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher traditionally regarded as the author of the Tirukkural, a foundational Tamil work of ethics, polity, and love. The text is esteemed for its concise, aphoristic style and its universal relevance across cultures and eras.

Biographical details about Thiruvalluvar are uncertain and largely derived from legend. He is believed to have lived in the Tamil region of South India, but exact dates are disputed. Scholarly estimates place him somewhere between the 1st century BCE and the 5th century CE, with many modern assessments favoring the early centuries CE. Details of his life, birthplace, and social background remain uncertain.

Tirukkural consists of 1330 couplets (kurals) divided into 133 chapters. It is organized into three sections: aram (virtue), porul (wealth and governance), and inbam (love). Each chapter contains ten couplets, offering practical counsel on ethics, public life, and human relationships. The work is noted for its clarity, secular tone, and emphasis on virtue and humane conduct, avoiding sectarian or dogmatic claims.

The Tirukkural has had a lasting influence on Tamil literature and Indian philosophy. It has been translated into many languages and interpreted through numerous commentaries, making it one of the most widely read and revered texts in Tamil culture. Monuments such as the Valluvar Kottam in Chennai and the famous statue at Kanyakumari commemorate Thiruvalluvar’s enduring legacy as a writer of moral wisdom.