Valluvar's World Famous 'Thirukural / Tirikural' And Pandit Iyothee Thass.

Valluvar's 'Thirukural' and Pandit Iyothee Thass

World Famous Thirukural (Tirikural) was written by Valluvar in Tamil. It was printed and published for the first time by European Civil Servant ' Francis Whyte Ellis' who loved the Tamil Language. He used to collect palm leaves and printed. Ellis collected palm leaves from Kandappan a butler of another European Civil Servant George Harrington. Kandappan was the grand father of Pandit Iyothee Thass. ( Note : Pandit Iyothee Thass was the Pioneer to E.V. Ramasamy Periyar and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Pandit Iyothee Thass who founded the Sakya Indian Buddhist Society in Chennai).

Later Tirikural was edited by Muthusamy and corrected by Thandavaraya. When it was released from the press Kandappan was taken aback because four new verses had been added to the original Tiruvalluvar Malai. This was published in 1831 and then reprinted in 1834. Again in 1835, Vishakperumal brought out the 3rd edition of Tirikural with Tiruvalluvar Malai. In 1837, a new edition by Saravana Perumal ( brother of Visaka Perumal ). When Iyothee Thass compared the edition of Ellis with editions of Vishakaperumal and Saravana Perumal, he found a newly added story in the Vishakaperumal's edition of Tiruvalluvar Malai, that Valluvar was born to Brahmin father and Pariah mother. This tale was not found a place in Ellis edition.

Iyothee Thass wrote at length on Buddhism, the life of Buddha, his readings, the dialogues he had with his disciples, and on the principles of faith and action which he upheld. He argued that the text, Thirukural was originally known as Tiri-kural (Tiri means three) and it was the first Buddhist Text in a Dravidian Language. According to him, Valluvar belonged to 'Sakyan' clan who were called the best astrologer and expert doctors of medicines. They present in Mylapore, Chennai was once the abode of Valluvas and for this there are evidences of inscriptions and Copper plates. The Kural content adhered to the three Pitakas of the Buddha's Teachings and hence it was known as the Thirukural.

Reference: 
* “Pandit Iyothee Thass” by T. Nalini Anbarasu. [NCBH Publication]

Also Read:
* 'Pandit Iyothee Thass'.
* Pandit Iyothee Thass and M. Singaravelu ( Founding Father of the Communist Party of India in Tamil Nadu).

Jai bheem...!!!