Untitled - Himalayan Academy

623 Pages·2012·37.05 MB·English

by  Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

(cid:2)REVIEWS &COMMENTS (cid:2)
The divine poet through his gift of Tirukuralgives maxims to
serve as guidance for all classes,sections,denominations,etc.,
in the world.Tirukuralcouplets have the added significance of
providing invaluable advice for all times,as it takes into con-
sideration the wider aspects,with necessary changes,of hu-
man nature beyond national,religious and linguistic bound-
aries.Tirukuralgives added value because the author,Tiruval-
luvar,had the rare distinction of having lived the ideal life as
portrayed in his immortal work.Tirukuralshows a way of life applicable to all sec-
tions of society,from kings and nobles down to the common man.This teaching
echoes the sentiments expressed in many other religious texts,such as Tirumanti-
ram,Naladiyar,Saiva Tirumuraigalof the Nayanars and Vaishnava Prapanthamsof the
Alwars.¶Good conduct with abiding moral values and sincere brotherhood are the
centerpieces of Tiruvalluvar’s teachings.Kindness to fellow human beings,full sense
of humanity and human values will ensure a better world,according to the tenets of
Tirukural.In a world full of turmoil,the Tirukuralstands as a beacon to a peaceful way
of life,and this coupled with the daily recitation of the Panchakshara Mantra,“Na-
masivaya,”found at the heart of the Vedas,will ensure peace and well being.
Dr.T.S.Sambamurthy Sivachariar,Head of the South India Archaka
Sangam;Head Priest,Shree Kalikambal Kovil;Chennai,Tamil Nadu,India
The Tirukural was very dear to Satguru Siva Yogaswami of
Jaffna.Under his holy feet I have been brought up as one of his
devotees from my early age of eight years.Whenever I visited,
he spoke to me,directed and blessed me always through the
sacred Kural.In 1949,Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami made
a vow to bring together the best of both the East and the
West.In 1999,with his latest book,Tirukural,he has successful-
ly brought this to the West.Referring to the statue of Saint
Tiruvalluvar at Kanya Kumari,Subramuniyaswami states,“While America’s Statue of
Liberty is a metal monument to political freedom and social promise,Tiruvalluvar
stands as a stone statement of political wisdom, social duty and the spiritual
promise of dharma.ӦWe should not confine Tiruvalluvar only to Tamil Nadu.He be-
longs to the world.Tirukuralis beyond race,religion and nationality.It will enrich the
life of a person as he or she journeys along this Eternal Path.The wisdom of the
weaver is a vital part of our lives,and it will pave the way for success in life.
Tiru A.Kandiah,Ph.D.;Author of Malarum Manamum;Former Head,
Department of Tamil,University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka;Former Professor,
University of London;Sydney,Australia

First published in India 2000
© Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechan-
ical, including photocopying, recording or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publishers.
Publishers
A B H I N A V Shakti Malik
Abhinav Publications
E-37 Hauz Khas
New Delhi-110016, India
PUBLICATIONS E-mail: [email protected]
www.abhinavexports.com
Translated, designed, typeset and
distributed in North America by
Himalayan Academy
107 Kaholalele Road
Kapaa, HI 96746-9304 USA
E-mail: [email protected]
www.himalayanacademy.com
ISBN81-7017-390-6
Color imagesetting by Printed at
Brisk Process D.K. Fine Arts Press Pvt. Ltd.
Okhla Industrial Area–I Ashok Vihar
New Delhi, India Delhi, India
Ethical Masterpiece of
The Tamil People
An American English and Modern
Tamil translation of Saint Tiruvalluvar’s
ancient Tirukural
Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami

v
Dedication
Samarpanam
cmafpfp]mf
THIS DEDICATION IS THREE-FOLD: FIRST TO HONOR MY
SATGURU, SIVA YOGASWAMI, THE LAUDED AND PRO-
CLAIMED PONTIFF OF THE THREE MILLION JAFFNA
Tamil peoples, the 161st successor in the esteemed line of the
Nandinatha Sampradaya’s Kailasa Parampara, and to Tiru
Mylvaganam, whom Yogaswamirequested to squeeze grapes
into juice for me with his own hands while I sat facing the
devotees at the satguru’s left side in 1949. Mylvaganam was
also present at the opening of the Sri Subramuniya Ashram
in Alaveddy in the early 70s, and years later at the opening of
the Subramuniya Kottamin Kopay, where he lives today. In re-
cent years, despite the terrible conflicts in his country, this
great man translated 800 of our English verses into modern
Tamil which appear in this edition for the next generation.
Long ago, Yogaswami gave a sadhanato him to memorize Tiru-
kuraland to recite some of the verses daily. Humorously, the
youthful, Oxford-educated Mylvaganam said, “Swami, what if
I forget some days?” Yogaswami said, “Then I will come as a
centipedeand bite you.” Mylvaganam has testified now, at 90
years of age, that he has been bitten forty times or more, al-
ways soon after he had neglected to recite the verses. He said,
“I now see that Yogaswami was preparing me to translate for
Gurudeva into modern Tamil all the verses I memorized so
many years ago.“ We also dedicate this book to Justice of
Peace Tiru S. Subramaniam, who witnessed Satguru Yoga-
swami’s giving me, as a gesture of ordination, a slap on the
back as I was leaving his compound one morning, by which
he transferred his samskaras, or vital divine spiritual energies.

TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
Contents
Porulatakkam
epaRqdkfkmf
Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cmafpfp]mf . . . .v
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .`biMkmf . .xiii
PART ONE: ON VIRTUE
Section I: Prologue
CHAPTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
1 Praising God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kdv<qf vazftfT . . . . .7
2 The Importance of Rain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .va[f cibpfp< . . . .11
3 Greatness of Renunciates . . . . . . . . .nItftaaf epRAm . . . .15
4 Asserting Virtue’s Power . . . . . . . .`b[fvliy<Btftlf . . . .19
Section II: The Way of the Householder
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
5 Family Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .;lfvazfkfAk . . . .27
6 The Good Wife . . . . . . . . . . . .vazfkfAktfT^] nlmf . . . .31
7 The Blessing of Children . . . . . .p<tlfvArpf epBtlf . . . .35
8 Possessing Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .`[fp<AdAm . . . .39
9 Hospitality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viRnfEtamfplf . . . .43
10 Speaking Pleasant Words . . . . . . . . .;[iyAv Pblf . . . .47
11 Gratitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ecyfnfn[fbi `bitlf . . . .51
12 Impartiality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .nDv< ni^lAm . . . .54
13 Possession of Self-Control . . . . . .`dkfkmf uAdAm . . . .59
14 Possession of Virtuous Conduct oZkfkmf uAdAm . . . .63
15 Not Coveting Another’s Wife . . .pib[ilf viAzyaAm . . . .67
16 Possession of Forbearance . . . . . .epaAb uAdAm . . . .71
17 Avoidance of Envy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .`ZkfkabaAm . . . .75
18 Avoidance of Covetousness . . . . . . . . . . . . .ev#kaAm . . . .79
19 Avoidance of Backbiting . . . . . . . . . . . .p<bmf PbaAm . . . .83