Tirukkural unique blend of Dharma, Nithi Shastras, says Guv Ravi

CHENNAI: Governor RN Ravi on Friday inaugurated a conference on Tamil couplet Tirukkural and spoke about its spiritual depth, a unique blend of Dharma Shastra and Nithi Shastra i.e, spirituality and righteous conduct of every human.

Inaugurating the conference titled “Tirukkural To The Humanity for World Peace and Harmony” at the Anna University here, he lauded the efforts of Kural Malai Sangam for their sustained initiatives to take Tirukkural to all parts of the country and the world through UNESCO.

He hailed the great Sage Tiruvalluvar, as a bright sun in the galaxy of ancient sages of Bharat, gave the Tirukkural the fountain of spirituality and wisdom and highlighted the richness, literary genius and beauty of the Tamil language brought out by Tiruvalluvar in his magnificent literary work Tirukkural.

Every word of every kural is a symmetric, poetic and literary masterpiece, he said, elaborating on the spiritual depth of Tirukkural, a unique blend of Dharma Shastra and Nithi Shastra. i.e, spirituality and righteous conduct of every human.

The Governor said Tirukkural was not just a code of ethics and morality or a code of conduct. But, it is an epic book holding the essence of Bharatiya spirituality.

Then ‘Aadhi Bhagavan’ quoted in the first kural ‘Aadhi Bhagavan’ is found in all the Indian languages. It is at the core of Indian spirituality. The teaching of Ahimsa and ways of freeing from the cycle of birth and death (Moksha) through renunciation as described in Tirukkural have been the core of Sanatan spirituality, including the tenets of Jainism and Buddhism, Ravi said.

GU Pope, was perhaps the first English missionary who translated Tirukkural in English, the Governor said described the background of his coming to India and GU Pope’s de-spiritualising the sacred text of Tirukkural in his translation.

The Governor said India was awakened and marching ahead with resolve and energy towards its destiny to be the Vishwa Guru in the Amrit Kaal by 2047, for which spiritual resurgence is crucial. “For the benefit of the world, India must rise. Tirukkural belongs to humanity and it must get the due place that it deserves. It has to be restored in its full glory for which the role of researchers and scholars is pivotal,” he said and urged them to acknowledge, imbibe and enlighten the world with the eternal spirituality and wisdom of Tirukkural.