New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will do darshan and pay floral tribute at the Thiruvalluvar statue in Tamil Nadu today, June 1. The statue is built next to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a renowned landmark in Kanyakumari. The rock memorial and the 133-ft statue are built on tiny islets that are separate, mound-like rocky formations in the sea, adding to the grandeur of the location. In this article, we will learn more about Thiruvalluvar, a known poet and philosopher.
Who was Thiruvalluvar?
In Tamil culture, Thiruvalluvar is regarded as one of the most notable literary figures, a great poet, philosopher, and wise man. However, no confirmation of his birth leads to a debate among scholars. Some place him in the 3rd or 4th century CE, while others date him around the 8th or 9th century. Similarly, his religious affiliation is a subject of contention. Valluvar is believed to have belonged to either Hinduism or Jainism, and writers of the early 19th century proposed that Valluvar may have been a Jain. Some Dravidian groups have considered him a saint with no religious identifiers except his Dravidian roots.
Thiruvalluvar work
One of the most significant works of Tamil literature is his creation. Thiruvalluvar, also known as Valluvar, is best known for the Tirukkural (a collection of couplets on morality, politics, economy, and love). The book is highly esteemed and an essential part of every Tamil household.
The Thirukkural does not name him as its author, but he is named first in the later collection of verses known as ‘Thiruvalluva Malai’.
In 1873, Edward Jewitt Robinson was the earliest to translate the Thirukkural. In his book Tamil Wisdom: Traditions Concerning Hindu Sages and Selections from their Writings, he described Thiruvalluvar as a “Pariah,” his father a Brahmin, and his mother belonging to “the low class.”
Mentioned in several budget speeches
Thiruvalluvar is frequently invoked in the context of ancient India’s rich philosophical traditions, even beyond Tamil Nadu. Several Indian finance Ministers have mentioned him in their annual Budget speeches.
Other works
The Tirukkuṟaḷ text has been translated into several Indian and international languages and is recognised as Valluvar’s only work.
However, according to Tamil literary tradition, Valluvar is attributed to be the author of many other later texts, such as two Tamil texts on medicine, Gnana Vettiyan (1,500 verses) and Pancharathnam (500 verses). Also, several scholars have stated that these are texts from a much later era—the 16th and 17th centuries—possibly by the same author, Valluvar.
Thiruvalluvar Statue
The Thiruvalluvar Statue, a masterpiece of art and engineering, stands tall on a rock next to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari. The sheer size and grandeur of the statue, created by the renowned sculptor V Ganapathi Sthapathi, is a sight to behold, evoking a sense of awe and admiration.
The total height of the statue and the pedestal combined is 133 feet, which denotes the 133 chapters of the Tirukkural, Thiruvalluvar’s most famous work. Thiruvalluvar’s sculpture is 95 feet long and stands on a 38-foot (12-metre) pedestal representing the 38 chapters of virtue, the first of three books of the Kural text. Wealth and love, the second and third books, respectively, are represented by the statue itself. The total weight of the statue is 7,000 tonnes. It is built according to Indian architectural styles, with intricate details and a hollow inside, making it a marvel of engineering and art.
Tourists are only allowed to climb up to the foot of the statue.
The Thiruvalluvar statue, along with the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, is a magnet for tourists, drawing millions of visitors annually. The statue’s popularity as a tourist attraction is a testament to the enduring fascination and curiosity that Thiruvalluvar and his works continue to inspire.
Thiruvalluvar is regarded as one of the notable figures in Tamil culture. On June 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a floral tribute to the Thiruvalluvar statue. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
