Tiruvalluva Maalai

Tiruvalluva Maalai (Tamil: திருவள்ளுவ மாலை), literally 'Garland of Valluvar', is a collection of ancient Tamil paeans containing fifty-five verses each written by different poets praising the ancient work of the Kural and its author Valluvar. With the poets' time spanning across centuries starting from around 1st century CE, the collection is believed to have reached its present form by 11th century CE. With the historical details of the ancient philosopher and his work remaining obscure, much of the legend on the Kural and Valluvar as they are known today are chiefly from this work.[1] The collection also reveals the name of the author of the Kural text as 'Valluvar' for the first time, as Valluvar himself composed the Kural text centuries earlier without indicating his name anywhere in his work.[2] Reminiscing this, Monsieur Ariel, a French scholar of the 19th century, famously said of the Tirukkural thus: Ce livre sans nom, par un autre sans nom ("The book without a name by an author without a name").[3]

Work

Tiruvalluva Maalai is a collection of verses said to have been composed by gods, goddesses and poets of different times, all belonging to the legendary Tamil Sangam at Madurai.[1][4] A total of 55 poets have composed their encomia in 55 verse in the collection, all written several centuries after the composition of the Kural text.[5] With the exception of Avvaiyar and Idaikkadar, both of whom composed their verses in Kural venpa metre (couplet form), all the 53 poets have written their composition in the Venpa (quatrain) form.

Following is a sample verse in quatrain from the collection, written by poet Kapilar (c. 1st century CE):[6][7]

தினையளவு போதாச் சிறுபுல்நீர் நீண்ட
பனையளவு காடும் படித்தால் — மனையளகு
வள்ளைக்கு உறங்கும் வளநாட! வள்ளுவனார்
வெள்ளைக் குறட்பா வரி. (Verse 5)

The meaning of the above verse can be laid thus: As the tiny dew upon the blade of a grass reflects the whole of a tall palm tree nearby, so the pithy Kural couplets of Valluvar reflect the wholesome thoughts of humanity.

Contributors

Contributors of the Tiruvalluva Maalai include three divine poets and 52 Sangam poets.

  1. Asariri (the Oracle)
  2. Naamagal (Goddess Saraswathi)
  3. Iraiyanar (Lord Shiva)
  4. Ukkira Peruvaluthiyar
  5. Kapilar
  6. Paranar
  7. Nakkirar
  8. Mamulanar
  9. Kalladar
  10. Seethalai Sathanaar
  11. Marutthuvan Dhamodharanar
  12. Nagan Devanar
  13. Arisil Kilar
  14. Ponmudiyar
  15. Kodhamanar
  16. Naththathanar
  17. Mugaiyalur Sirukarunthumbiyar
  18. Aasiriyar Nallanthuvanar
  19. Keerandhaiyar
  20. Sirumedhaviyar
  21. Nalgur Velviyar
  22. Thoditthalai Viluthandinar
  23. Velliveedhiyar
  24. Mangudi Marudhanar
  25. Ericchalur Malaadanar
  26. Pokkiyaar
  27. Mosikeeranar
  28. Kaari Kannanar
  29. Madurai Tamil Naganar
  30. Baratham Paadiya Perundevanar
  31. Ruthrajenma Kannar
  32. Perunchithiranar
  33. Nariveruvu Thalaiyar
  34. Madurai Tamilaasiriyar Sengunrur Kilar
  35. Madurai Aruvai Vanigan Ilavettanar
  36. Kavisagara Perundevanar
  37. Madurai Perumarudhanar
  38. Kovoor Kilar
  39. Uraiyur Mudhukootthanar
  40. Ilikat Perunkannanar
  41. Seyir Kaviriyar Maganaar Saathanar
  42. Seyalur Kodum Senkannanar
  43. Vannakkan Saathanar
  44. Kalathur Kilar
  45. Nacchumanar
  46. Akkaarakkani Nacchumanar
  47. Nappalatthanar
  48. Kulapathi Nayanar
  49. Thenikkudi Keeranar
  50. Kodi Gyalanmaani Boodhanar
  51. Kowniyaar
  52. Madurai Paalasiriyanar
  53. Alangudi Vanganar
  54. Idaikaadar
  55. Avvaiyar I

Commentaries

The first commentary on the Tiruvalluva Maalai, interpreting the meaning of the verses, was written by Tirutthanigai Saravana Perumal Iyer.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Mohan Lal (1992). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot. Sahitya Akademi. p. 4333. ISBN 978-81-260-1221-3.
  2. ↑ "Tirukkural". Retrieved 8 October 2007.
  3. ↑ Pope, G. U. (1886). The Sacred Kurral of Tiruvalluva Nayanar. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. i (Introduction).
  4. ↑ Kamil Zvelebil (1975). Tamil Literature. Handbook of Oriental Studies. BRILL. p. 129. ISBN 90-04-04190-7.
  5. ↑ N. Velusamy and Moses Michael Faraday (Eds.) (February 2017). Why Should Thirukkural Be Declared the National Book of India? (in Tamil and English) (First ed.). Chennai: Unique Media Integrators. pp. 54–55. ISBN 978-93-85471-70-4.
  6. ↑ Kowmareeshwari (Ed.), S. (August 2012). Pathinen Keezhkanakku Noolgal. Sanga Ilakkiyam (in Tamil). 5 (1 ed.). Chennai: Saradha Pathippagam. pp. viii.
  7. ↑ Vedhanayagam, Rama (2017). திருவள்ளுவ மாலை மூலமும் எளிய உரை விளக்கமும் [Tiruvalluvamaalai: Moolamum Eliya Urai Vilakkamum] (in Tamil) (1 ed.). Chennai: Manimekalai Prasuram. pp. 7–8.
  8. ↑ Desikar, S. Dhandapani (1969). Tirukkural Alagum Amaippum (திருக்குறள் அழகும் அமைப்பும்) (in Tamil). Chennai: Tamil Valarcchi Iyakkam. p. 118.

Further reading

  • K. Panneerselvam (2016). திருக்குறள் அமைப்பு [Tirukkural Structure] (in Tamil) (1 ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Padhippagam. p. 123–125.
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