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Thiruvalluvar

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    History & Culture
  • Published
    16th Jan, 2021

Context

  • 15th January is celebrated as Thiruvalluvar Day.

About the Day

  • It is celebrated on the fourth day of Pongal celebrations.
  • The day is observed as a mark of respect for his contribution to the literary field and honoured for the teachings it showers on readers.
  • Womenfolk leave food on banana leaves or turmeric plants for the birds to feed. Food is offered in different colours to attract birds.

Who is Thiruvalluvar?

  • Thiruvalluvar is commonly known as ‘Valluvar’ and expected to live during the 2nd Century CE.
  • He was a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher.
  • He is best known as the author of Tirukku?a?, a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economy and love.
  • The text is considered an exceptional and widely cherished work of the Tamil literature.
  • Little is known about the life of Tiruvalluvar except that he is believed to have lived in Mylapore (now part of ChennaiTamil Nadu) with his wife, Vasuki.
  • He was probably a Jain ascetic of humble origins who worked as a weaver.
  • Both Buddhists and Shaivites, however, claim him as their own, and he is especially revered by those of low caste.

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