Twitter Tirukkural

I don't know if there any poems in the world which are as short as Tirukkural. May be Lao Tsu's.

All the 1330 messages in Tirukkural are twitter messages . Every couplet has

* 7 words
* Maximum characters - 50

vaiyattul vAlvangu valpavan vanuraiyum
theyvattul vaikka padum.
( People who lead a good life, are equals of Divine)

In his times, Thiruvalluvar was probably considered a liberal because he broke the rules of poetry - and wrote in brief.

Infinite Intelligence

What we gain through learning is finite and limited. We inherit in our birth the infinite intelligence, the source of all creativity. It is this intelligence which guards us from unforeseen dangers.

Few years back when i was in Atlanta, our family had a trip to a mountain area in a weekend. When we were returning in a highway, i drove over a trash bag. Something hit the bottom. I ignored and continued the driving. After 5 minutes, a car passed by and a passenger in in the car signalled us to pull over. I stopped and the passenger rushed to us and asked us to get out of the car. He said 'Your car tank is on fire!' . Within seconds we came out of the car. Huge flames were all under the tank. If we had not been alerted for another 10-20 minutes, we would not be alive today!! I still remember the face of the young white passenger who alerted us. He appeared very peaceful and Divine. No doubt that was an act of Intelligence. A connected intelligence had asked for help and alerted!

Intelligence guards you in danger; Defense
against the destruction of mind. [ Thirukkural; Intelligence 43 : 1]

All of us are born with this infinite intelligence and if we are receptive to this intelligence assisting us and connected to this source, we are helped all the time.

Every nation is my nation !

We see lot of young and talented Indian professionals in Information Technology, Medicine and Higher education. They are welcomed in every country. Even within one nation, cities compete to attract the talents!.

Education is first of the many qualities, Thiruvalluvar characterizes a leader!. Thirukkural chapters 40-43 is all about Education and Wisdom.

Educated are welcomed in every nation ; every town
If such is the reality
Why one spends all his life as an illiterate?
( Thirukkural - 40 : 7 - Education )

Bold and Beautiful..

Unlike many Indian scriptures, Thirukkural does not brand any practice as holy !. Even today there are many traditions and practices which are considered holy and are not subjected to rational process.

For example some people perform puja(root word - Poosai - a Tamil word, i think ) in a ritualistic manner without anysense of events happening in their environment.

If there is draught, what is the use of puja?
Even the Gods will suffer( the draught).
[Sirappodu poosanai sellathu - vanam
varakku mel - vanorkkum indu.]
( Thirukkural Rain 2 : 8 )

This is such a profound statement. Different parts of the world experience draught in different times. The priority then should be to focus on resolving causes of the draught and making immediate relief.

Charity and Penance are other good examples. Both represent the goodness of ourselves. Thirukkural dedicates 2 chapters( 23 and 27 ) to describe the importance of these charcteristics. However the success of the rain and the wellness rain creates in the earth, is fundamental to success of Charity and Penance.

Charity and Penance cannot sustain
in a rainless world.
[ Thanam Thavam irandum thanga - viyan ulakam
vanam valangathu enin ]
( Thirukkural Rain 2 : 9 )


We can see such bold statements in many couplets in Thirukkural , where the wholeness of the Nature and Goodness are appreciated , even if they require challenging the traditions !

Little drops of water...

It is amazing if we think of the magnitude of rain and hurricanes . But everything starts as a droplet. The vegetation on the other side is also huge and has lot of variety. Each plant variety needs certain amount of water for its growth. Even Grass, a small and yet a common variety of plant cannot survive without a droplet of water. This illustrates how vital is the rain water and why we need to preserve this nature's gift.


Without a tiny droplet of rain,
Even a blade of grass cannot survive !
( Visumpin thuli vilin allal matru ange
Pasumpul thalai kanbu arithu )
- Thirukkural 2 : 6

Thirukkural - A personal Dialog

The Dialog( or Dialogue) is not only an exchange of ideas and views, but also forms the basis for one's evolution of thoughts.

All the 1330 Thirukkurals are structured as 'Pa' ( meaning a musical poem) with 2 short lines. This 'Pa' structure is very condusive for memorizing. Each Thirukkural is also designed as a Dialog(Seppalosai ). Let me illustrate this with some examples:

" What will happen if the Rain fails to the world, sorrounded by oceans? " is the question.

"Hunger will strike the stomach " comes the reply !

Both this question and answer are wrapped in the following Thirukkural.

Should Rain fail, hunger will rack
The world with wide oceans. [ Rain 2 : 3 ]
( Vinninru poippin virineer viyan ulagaththu
unninru udatrum pasi )


Let us take one more example from 3rd theme 'Ascetics'.

"The great do the impossible. The Mean ? " is the question.
" The Mean cannot" comes the reply
[ Ascetics 3 : 6 ]

You can take any Thirukkural and you will see this fascinating Dialog pattern.


Love and Peace.

Karu.Malar Selvan

Rain - Quencher of thirst and hunger

If you are thirsty or hungry, nothing works. It is a great feeling to enjoy pure spring water after experiencing thirstiness. Every drop of it goes into our system as source of energy and life. Can you think of any food without water content ? Coffee, Tea, Rice, Bread, Curry, Vegetables - almost any cooked food needs water and it is healthier than frying a food !.


To the hungry, Rain supplies
Both Food and itself as drink.
( Thupparkku Thuppaya Thuppakki Thupparkku
Thuppaya Thuvum Malai )
( Thirukkural -Rain 2 : 2 )