Thirukural on Motivation

Ever since I have taken up this project of “Taking ThiruKural to Youths” I am so excited that I got a chance to read more and more Couplets (Kural/குறள்) from various chapters (அதிகாரம்) that I have never read before. Thanks to MetroBuzz for giving me this great opportunity.

For this week my focus is going to be on some of the couplets from the chapter “ஊக்கமுடைமை” (Having Faith in Self). This is my favorite chapter from ThiruKural, whenever I feel low; I just read this chapter, immediately I change my thought process and gain my confidence back.

When we all see a Lotus in the pond we become cheerful, amazed and say WOW!!! How Pretty and Colorful? But when ThiruValluvar saw the Lotus, he thought of something else. He monitored our National Flower closely every day and noticed that whenever the water level is decreasing in the pond the height of the lotus also reduced to the height of the water. When it rained and the water level is raised, the height of the lotus was also raised to the same level of the water.

There are no words to praise this great saint’s impeccable divinity and brilliance, he came up with the below couplet (Kural/குறள்).

வெள்ளத் தனைய மலர்நீட்டம் மாந்தர்தம்                                               உள்ளத் தனைய உயர்வு.

Meaning:

Height of the Water is the height of Lotus. Similarly the height of your thoughts will make the height of your life. In other words, if your thoughts are high and positive you will reach great heights in life.

Here is another couplet, from the same chapter:

உள்ளுவ தெல்லாம் உயர்வுள்ளல் மற்றது                                                 தள்ளினுந் தள்ளாமை நீர்த்து.

Meaning:

You must always think and aim high, though sometimes things didn’t happen in your favor, you must never lose your positive attitude and continue to aim high.

My sincere request to today’s parents of Tamil Nadu, please do teach your kids Tamil, if they don’t learn Tamil they are going to miss out a great treasure in their life, moreover the kids will lose their identity. Ignoring Mother Tongue is as same as ignoring The Mother and the Mother Land. Learning Mother Tongue is a must and not an option.

These are not just my words, Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi says the below,

யாமறிந்த புலவரிலே கம்பனைபோல், வள்ளுவன்போல், இளங்கோவைப்போல் பூமிதனில் யாங்கணுமே பிறந்ததில்லை. உண்மை வெறும்புகழ்ச்சியில்லை! ஊமையராய்ச் செவிடர்களாய்க் குருடர்களாய் வாழ்கின்றோம்; ஒரு சொற் கேளீர் - சேமமுற வேண்டுமெனில் தெருவெல்லாம் தமிழ்முழக்கம் செழிக்கச் செய்வீர்!

Hail Tamil! Hail ThiruKural!

வாழ்க தமிழ்! வாழ்க திருக்குறள்! வாழ்க அய்யன் வள்ளுவனின் புகழ்!