Glossary of names for the Tirukkural


Tirukkural, or the Kural, an ancient Indian treatise on common moralities, has been given by various names ever since its writing around the first century BCE. Originally referred to as Muppāl, perhaps as presented by its author Valluvar at the ruler's court, the work remains unique among ancient works in the sense that it was not given any title by its author himself. All the names that the work is referred by today are given by later days' scholars over the millennia. The work is known by an estimated 44 names excluding variants, although some scholars list even more. Monsieur Ariel, a French scholar of the 19th century who translated the work into French, famously said of the Kural thus: Ce livre sans nom, par un autre sans nom.

Etymology

Tirukkural was originally known as 'Muppāl', meaning three-sectioned book, as presented by its author himself at the king's court, since it contained three sections, viz., 'Aram', 'Porul' and 'Inbam'. Tolkappiyam divides various types of Tamil poetic forms into two, namely, kuruvenpāttu and neduvenpāttu. Kuruvenpāttu came to be called kural pāttu and, eventually, kural. The word kural applies in general to something that is short or abridged. More specifically, it is a very short Tamil poetic form consisting of two lines, the first line consisting of four words and the second line consisting of three, which should also conform to the grammar of Venpa. It is one of the most important forms of classical Tamil language poetry. Thiru is a term denoting divine respect, literally meaning 'holy' or 'sacred'. Since the work was written in this poetic form, it came to be known as 'Tirukkural', meaning 'sacred couplets'.

List of names by which the work is known

The following table lists the various names the Kural text has been known by over the millennia.
S. No.NameLiteral meaningNamed byFirst citedNotes
1முப்பால் The threefold pathValluvar Tiruvalluva MaalaiOne of the twelve most traditional names. Believed to be the name indicated by the author during the presentation of the work at the Pandya king's court at Madurai. The most used name for the work in the Tiruvalluva Maalai, where it appears in 15 places, including verses 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, 30, 31, 39, 44, 46, 49, and 53, indicating the title of the work.
2திருக்குறள் Sacred coupletsKapilarTiruvalluva MaalaiOne of the twelve most traditional names. The chief name of the work used since the Medieval Era. One of the two chief names that the work is known by today.
3அறம்
Variant: தமிழறம் 		Virtue
Tamil virtue		Alathur KilarPurananuru, verse 34 Denotes that the entire work was written keeping virtue as the base.
4குறள் The coupletsOne of the two chief names that the work is known by today.
5தெய்வ நூல்
Variant: தெய்வமாமறை 		The divine bookOne of the twelve most traditional names. Employed by Sodasāvadhānam Subbaraya Chettiyar.
6திருவள்ளுவர்
Variant: வள்ளுவர் 		Saint Valluvar
Valluvar		TraditionalOne of the twelve most traditional names. The book came to be called by the name of its author, which is a traditional Tamil literary practice known as Karuthāgupeyar. Tiruvalluvar was employed by Swaminatha Desikar and Valluvar by Umapathi Shivacchariyar.
7பொய்யாமொழி The infallible wordsVelliveedhiyarTiruvalluva Maalai, verse 23One of the twelve most traditional names.
8வாயுறை வாழ்த்து Medicinal praiseMadurai Aruvai Vanigan IlavettanarTiruvalluva Maalai, verse 35One of the twelve most traditional names.
9தமிழ் மறை The Tamil VedaOne of the twelve most traditional names. Employed by Thyagaraja Chettiyar and in the work of Sivasiva Venba.
10பொது மறை The common VedaTraditionalOne of the twelve most traditional names.
11தமிழ்மனு நூல் The book of Tamil ManuTraditionalParimelalhagar's commentary One of the twelve most traditional names.
12திருவள்ளுவப் பயன்
Variant: வள்ளுவப்பயன் 		The fruit of Saint ValluvarYapparunkalakaarikai 40 uraiOne of the twelve most traditional names. Employed by Nacchinarkkiniyar, Perundhevanar, and Gunasagarar.
13பொருளுரை Meaningful speechSeethalai SathanaarManimekalai, verse 22:61
14முதுமொழி
Variant: பழமொழி 		Ancient words
The maxim		Nariveruvu ThalaiyarTiruvalluva Maalai, verse 33"Mudhumoḻi" employed in the title of the works Mudhumoḻimel Vaippu and Somesar Mudhumoḻi Venba. "Paḻamoḻi" employed by Arunagirinaadhar in his work Tiruppugal and in Sivisiva Venba.
15இரண்டு The TwoPerunthogai, verse 1128This term is found in the ancient adage ஆலும் வேலும் பல்லுக்குறுதி; நாலும் இரண்டும் சொல்லுக்குறுதி, which literally means "Banyan and neem maintain oral health; Four and Two maintain moral health."
16முப்பானூல் The three-part book
17ஒன்றே முக்காலடி
Variant: ஈரடி நூல் 		The one-and-three-quarter feet
The two-lined book
18வள்ளுவம் ValluvarismThe most common name used in literary sense today.
19இயற்றமிழ் முதமொழி
20உள்ளிருள் நீக்கும் ஒளி
Variant: உள்ளிருள் நீக்கும் விளக்கு 		Light that disperses the internal darknessNappalatthanarTiruvalluva Maalai, verse 47
21மெய்ஞ்ஞான முப்பால் The three divisions of divine knowledge
22இருவினைக்கு மாமருந்து Panacea for the karmic dyad
23வள்ளுவர் வாய்மொழி
Variant: வள்ளுவன் வாய்ச்சொல் 		The words out of Valluvar's mouthMangudi Marudhanar and Seyalur Kodum Senkannanar ; Iraiyanar Tiruvalluva Maalai, verses 24 and 42 ; verse 3 Valluvar Vāimoḻi also employed in verse 1539 of the Perunthogai praising Parimelalhagar's commentary.
24மெய்வைத்த வேதவிளக்கு The vedic light that laid down the truth
25தகவினார் உரை
26பால்முறை The divided dictumKovoor KilarTiruvalluva Maalai, verse 38
27வள்ளுவமாலை The garland of ValluvarOne of the twelve most traditional names. Employed by Venkata Subba Bharathiyar in his work Prabhandha Deepikai.
28வள்ளுவதேவன் வசனம் The dialogue of Lord ValluvarPerunthogai, verse 2001
29உலகு உவக்கும் நன்னூல்
30வள்ளுவனார் வைப்பு The laying on by Valluvar or the treasure of ValluvarPerunthogai, verse 1999
31திருவாரம்
32மெய்வைத்த சொல் Word that established the truth
33வான்மறை The cosmic Veda
34பிணைக்கிலா வாய்மொழி
35வித்தக நூல் The doyen literature
36ஓத்து The Veda
37புகழ்ச்சி நூல் The famed book
38குறளமுது The Kural ambrosia
39உத்தரவேதம் The later, ultimate VedaOne of the twelve most traditional names.
40வள்ளுவதேவர் வாய்மை The truth of Lord Valluvar
41கட்டுரை The treatise
42திருமுறை The divine path
43வள்ளுவர் வாக்கு
Variant: திருவள்ளுவன் வாக்கு 		The saying of Valluvar
44எழுதுண்ட மறை The written VedaKambarKamba Ramayanam