Kural Chronicles

There’s an interesting story on how the thirukkural first came into the limelight.

All those thousands of years ago, it is believed there were structured sangams or confluences formed to promote the growth of Tamil literature. Revered poets, kings , ministers, scholars all convened, presided over by no less than the Gods themselves. The sangam period is divided into three – Mutharsangam, Idaichangam and Kadaichangam. The Mutharsangam or the first Sangam is believed to have been headed by the God of tamil, Lord Muruga Himself.

 Our period of interest here is the Kadaichangam or the last sangam. The Kadaisangam was presided over by famous poets of the time -kapilar, Baranar, Nakkirar; It is purported to have been held in today’s southern  city of Madurai, ruled by the Pandyas then. Any new literary work was examined by these august committees for merits and flaws before being accepted and passed on to the common man.

Legend has it that the Thirukkural did not pass their examination and was rejected. An angry Valluvar flung his manuscript into the  waters of the temple tank. It is said that the Olaichuvadi or palm leaves containing the divine verses came to the surface lovingly preserved on a Golden Lotus. The rest is history. Valluvar and his work became immortal, touted as a doctrine of life for all ages.

To this day, you can see a golden lotus or Potramarai in the tank of the  magnificent Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai. The tank is called the Potramarai Kulam.