Kural Chronicles

KURAL 11

ARATHUPAAL

PAAYIRAVIYAL

ADHIKAARAM 2: VAAN SIRAPPU – IMPORTANCE OF RAIN

வான்நின்று உலகம் வழங்கி வருதலால்
தான்அமிழ்தம் என்றுணரற் பாற்று.

Vaan ninru ulagam vazhangi varuthalaal

Thaanamizhtham enrunarar paatru

Rain is the reason the world and its life forms exist. So know that rain is Amirtham or the divine nectar that gives immortality.

Vaan: Rain clouds; Ninru: stand;  Ulagam: world;  Vazhangi Varuthalaal: because it keeps giving;  Thaan: because;  Amizhtham: amirtham or divine nectar that gives immortality;  Enrunar: know that.

Today’s Kural is the first couplet of the second adhikaaram, right after Kadavul Vaazhthu. That is the importance Valluvar gives to the importance of rain –  Second only to God. All ten couplets in this adhikaaram emphasize and re-emphasize how very essential rain is to life on earth.

This particular Kural says life on earth and the earth itself exist only because the skies and the rain clouds have gifted us with rain through the millenia. Man would do well to remember that. If we want to continue with life as we know it, we need to do what is necessary to ensure continued rainfall in moderation; we need to conserve the eco system, grow more greenery. We need to heed the warning Mother Nature is giving us every now and then.

Most of you must be familiar with the story of the Gods and Asuras fighting for the Amirtham that emerged from the divine ocean of milk. For those of you who are not, I will post it on Storytime shortly. Why did they fight? – because it gives immortality. Valluvar says the rain is our Amirtham. Whereas Gods had to fight for theirs, we have been gifted it all our life. Maybe we got it too easy. If we had had to fight for it too, then perhaps we would have been more careful about preserving it!

Let’s believe its never too late and do what we can to save water and thereby save the earth.