Kural Chronicles

KURAL 10

ADHIKAARAM 1: KADAVUL VAAZHTHU – IN PRAISE OF GOD

பிறவிப் பெருங்கடல் நீந்துவர் நீந்தார்
இறைவன் அடிசேரா தார்.

Piravi perunkadal neenthuvar neenthaar

Iraivan adi saerathaar

Those who do not reach and follow the feet of God will not be able to swim through the great sea of births.

Piravi: birth;  Periya+ kadal: large sea;  Neenthuvar: those who swim;  Neenthaar: will not swim;  Iraivan: God;  Adi : feet;  Saerathaar: those who do not reach

This one, on the face of it seems similar to Kural 8 – Aravaali anthanan thaal saernthaarku allaal piravaali neenthal arithu -wherein he says if you do not worship God it is difficult to swim through the oceans of material and emotional life.

In Kural ten, Valluvar says follow and worship God if you want to swim the great large ocean of birth. There are a couple of differences between kurals eight and ten. In Kural 10

1. He does not say it will be difficult to swim he says an emphatic it is impossible to swim.
2. Valluvar alludes to the sea of birth and not the sea of life.

What is the sea of birth? There is a belief that a person goes through multiple births before finally resting at God’s feet, one with God. It is said the multiple births evolve from a single celled amoeba to rodents to larger animals to humans. Those who live a life of virtue are said to skip the remaining births due him and reach the feet of God.

You may have the best of everything in life but even that life is a wearying process from infancy to old age. If you can rest peacefully in Heaven, obviously that would be the life of choice. Worship God and follow His principles and virtues and you will reach His feet.

In the adhikaaram – Kadavul Vaazhthu – Valluvar sings the praise of God in the first two kurals, (of course all ten are dedicated to the praise of the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God but the first two are just open direct praise); Kurals 2 to 6 speak of what you attain if you worship God and the last four kurals speak of what happens if you do not worship God. In all ten however, he does not mention by name , any one single God or religion. Valluvar’s thoughts on God and worship hold true for all religions and all cultures.

If I may give you an assignment of sorts, read all ten kurals in Kadavul Vaazhthu, process the thoughts within and live life the way God and Valluvar mean you to.

Of course Valluvar has so much more to say to guide you on your way. I look forward to translate them for you. From now onwards though it is going to be a random selection of Kurals. Until tomorrow……..Good day!