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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
25
SOME THOUGHTS ON TIRUKKURAĻ AND ITS
AUTHORSHIP
The Tirukkural, the master-picce and immortal work in Tamil literature by Tiruvalluvar, one of the most valuable gems of the rich ancient Indian culture and literary products, is also acclaimed as a world-classic for its lofty wordly wisdom and ethical values presented in superb catholic spirit. Scholars have essentially marked it as an excellent treatise on the art of living; and the author's reflections, prescriptions, and advices etc, stand far above castes, creeds, climes and times, breathing living fresheness all along and attracting not only Tamilians and other Indian, but also great savants, thinkers, humanitarians all over the world like M.Ariel, G.U.Pope, Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Schweitzer ctc. Hence it has been rendered in all major languages of the world and read with all appreciation.
Kural is the name of the short metre in Tamil (a couplet with four and three feet respectively), used for the verses in this work. Actually Kural-venbā is the full name of this metre and the term “Kural literally means short, small; and tiru, (like Srī in Sanskrit or Siri in Prakrit) is just an honourific prefix, used in
the case of both persons and things. The verscs of this classic are Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
