Thiruvalluvar Day
Syllabus: GS1/History
In News
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Thiruvalluvar, acknowledging the enduring influence of his timeless works and ideals across generations.
Thiruvalluvar
- He flourished around two thousand years ago in Mylapore, present-day Chennai. He was a born Siddha and poet, known simply as Valluvar, or more commonly as Thiruvalluvar, meaning ‘the devotee of the Valluva caste’.
- The Valluvas traditionally belonged to the Pariah community, now referred to as Harijans, and their vocation involved proclaiming royal orders by beating drums.
- Birthplace and period: some traditions state that he was born in Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas, his period has been variously dated between the 4th century BCE and the early 6th century CE.
- Scholar Maraimalai Adigal dated his birth to 31 BCE, whereas Tamil scholar Kamil Zvelebil suggested that Thiruvalluvar and the Tirukkural likely belonged to the period between 500 and 600 CE.
- In January 1935, the Tamil Nadu government officially recognised 31 BCE as the birth year of Thiruvalluvar.
Teachings and Works
- Thiruvalluvar demonstrated that one could lead a divine life of purity and sanctity while remaining a householder.
- He demonstrated that renunciation of family life was not necessary for achieving spiritual excellence.
- Thiruvalluvar is considered one of the greatest poet-philosophers of the Sangam period.
- His work is held in such high esteem that it has been referred to by several names, including Tirukkural, Uttaravedam, Tamil Veda, Teyvanul (the divine book), and Potumarai (the common Veda).
- His magnum opus, the Tirukkural, is a collection of 1,330 couplets dealing with morality, governance, economics, and love.
- The text is regarded as one of the greatest works of Tamil literature and is admired for its universal values and ethical clarity.
Source :PIB
Jallikattu
Syllabus: GS1/Culture
Context
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin attended the jallikattu in Alanganallur.
What is Jallikattu?
- Jallikattu, also known as Eruthazhuvuthal, is a bull-taming sport traditionally played in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal harvest festival.
- The history of this bullfight dates back to 400-100 BCE when it was played by the Ayars, an ethnic group in India.
- The name is coined from two words, Jalli (silver and gold coins) and Kattu (tied). In this festival, a bull is let loose among a crowd of people, and whoever tames it will get the coins tied to its horn.
- The people who participate in the sport try to hold on to the animal’s hump to stop it. Sometimes, they run along with the bull.
- Pulikulam or Kangayam is the breed of bulls used for the sport. This festival has been part of cultural tourism in the state.
- Vadi manjuviraṭṭu, Vēli viraṭṭu, and Vaṭam manjuviraṭṭu are the variants of this sport.
| Do you know? – The practice of Jallikattu and other festivals involving animals have long been contested, with animal rights groups and the courts expressing concern over cruelty to animals and the bloody and dangerous nature of the sport that sometimes causes death and injuries to both the animal and human participants. – However, in 2023, A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the amendments made by the legislatures of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka to The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, allowing bull-taming sports like jallikattu, kambala, and bullock-cart races. |
Source: IE
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