Kural Chronicles

KURAL 9

ADHIKAARAM 1 : KADAVUL VAAZHTHU – IN PRAISE OF GOD

கோளில் பொறியின் குணமிலவே எண்குணத்தான்
தாளை வணங்காத் தலை.

Koalil poriyin gunamilavae enngunathaan

Thaalai vanangaa thalai

Of what use are eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin if they lose their function? Similarly of what use is a head that does not bow before the feet of  He who has all desirable attributes.

Koal, Pori: Sensory objects;  Gunam ilavae: gunam means characteristic, illai means no or in this case ‘does not have’;  Enn: eight or thought;  Thaal: feet;  Vanagaa: does not worship;  Thalai: head

Whatever virtue you can think of, God is the embodiment of it. If you do not have wisdom enough to worship Him, the brain is as useless as sensory objects that have lost their senses. Also all body parts including eyes, ears, nose, tongue etc are all controlled by the brain. If the brain is lacking all body functions go for a toss.

For the atheist, ‘if you do not have the wisdom to cultivate virtues in life, what is the use of a head or indeed life,’ asks Valluvar. That is the importance given to worship and virtue.

This importance should be explained to the coming generations. Parents should, along with food, feed them the qualities that would aid them in making the right choices to live an upright life. Prayer time should be an essential part of family time where all generations come together to worship God, hear and sing songs in His praise and listen to stories of His greatness or stories or scripture that explain discipline, love, honesty, courage, friendship, respect, trust etc.