தமிழ் இலக்கியங்களில் அறம், நீதி, முறைமை - அறத்தொடு நிற்றல் / Virtue, Justice, System in Tamil Literature – Araththodu Nirral (With Charity)

Abstract

Literature is what sets the goal for human life in motion. It is no exaggeration to say that the literature which records the lifestyle of the Tamils is the face of the virtues to be followed in the various contexts of their lives. The article provides details of the Tamil concept of life-based on the fourfold reality like Virtue (Aram), Material (Porul), Pleasure (Inban) and Salvation (Veeduperu). Knowing and following the virtues in the life of human society leads to living as an individual. Conflicts are natural in a social system. In such a period it becomes essential to follow a certain set of rules and live together without contradictions. Such morals were constructed by our ancestors as virtues. Although the way of life of human beings is changing from time to time, the basic virtues of their life can be found in various forms of Tamil literature such as Sangam literature, epics, and Puranas. Prof. Dr. N. Subbu Reddiar gave talks on the subject of “Virtue-Justice-System in Tamil Literature" at the University of Chennai from March 28, 29, and 30 in the year 1987 on the concepts of jurisprudence and literary systems mentioned in grammatical literature such as “Tolkappiyam”, “Nannul”, “Sangam literature”, “Aimperuppiyam” etc. In printed form, the book has been published under the title "Virtue, Justice and System in Tamil Literature". In the subsection on the meaning of virtue in Tamil literature, the biographical virtues compiled by the author such as purity of mind, intrinsic biological virtue, virtue in devotion, domestic goddess, hospitality, hospitality, denial of animals, monasticism, war ethics, etc., have been elicited in a detailed manner. Hence, it is worthy to scrutinize the work of Subbu Reddiar to get the full meaning.

Keywords

• virtue
• justice
• system
• tamil literature
• charity.