Tirukkural and Science

Abstract

The Tirukkural, a universal scripture over two thousand years old, is primarily a book of ethics. Nevertheless, it contains within itself profound scientific principles and rationalistic thought. This paper aims to investigate how the Tirukkural, far from being just an ancient literary work, astonishingly aligns with the fundamental concepts across various fields of modern science, such as medicine, psychology, agriculture, management, and geography (or astronomy). This article establishes, with evidence, that the observational and analytical methodology of Thiruvalluvar and the principles he puts forth are relevant even to the scientific world of today. The core of this research is to reveal that the Kural is a rational document that promotes a Scientific Temper, and that through phrases like ‘Suzhandrum Ulagam’ (The world, even if it revolves), he has subtly indicated modern astronomical concepts.