Tirukural

The American English and Modern Tamil Translations of an Ethical Masterpiece

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami-a living legend, yoga master and author of Merging with Siva-recognized the immense value of the Tirukural in 1949 as a young seeker in Sri Lanka. Decades later he instructed two of his swamis to translate it from classical Tamil into American English and had a renowned artist in South India illustrate the 108 chapters. For the first time. a long-neglected and much needed rendering into modern Tamil is included, making the obscure verses accessible to one and all. Here is the fruit of those efforts-the gentle, profound world of Asian ethics and simple humanness. Yet, Tirukural’s universality makes it a book you can share with anyone. Its charming wit and common sense will uplift and inspire you and your whole family.

“There hardly exists in the literature of the world a collection of maxims in which we find such lofty wisdom.”
-Dr. Albert Schweiter, Humanitarian

“Only a few of us know the name of Tiruvalluvar. THe North Indians do not know the name of the great saint. There is none who has given such a treasure of wisdom like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi, Father of modern India

“The Kural is the masterpiece of Tamil literature-one of the highest and purest expressions of human thought.”
-M. Ariel, Historian

“Tirukural alone is enough to edify the world. It contains all things, and there is nothing which it does not contain.”
-Tiru Naganar, Tamil Scholar