Tamil Nadu Health Minister K.G. Arunraj of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has strongly opposed the depiction of poet-saint Thiruvalluvar in saffron attire.
Arunraj’s remarks came after a portrait or depiction of Thiruvalluvar in saffron robes — a color strongly associated with Hindu ascetic traditions and saffron politics — was featured during an event linked to the Governor.
Arunraj, who also serves as TVK’s propaganda secretary, issued a detailed statement asserting that Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural represents universal moral and ethical principles meant for all humanity, not any single religious or cultural identity. “Thiruvalluvar gifted a universal moral text to humanity. Reducing him to a narrow circle or a specific identity amounts to diminishing the global relevance of his ideas,” he said.
“Even in the chapter dedicated to the “Praise of God” (Kadavul Vazhthu), he employed only generic terms—such as Aadhi Bhagavan, Malar-misai Eginan, and Aravazhi Andhanan—rather than citing the name of any deity belonging to a specific religion.”, he added.
“When Thiruvalluvar positioned himself as a universal figure, painting him with a color that is viewed as the identity of a specific religion contradicts his global philosophy,” Arunraj added. “Trying to cage Thiruvalluvar within a specific color is like trying to fit the ocean inside a pot.”
The minister warned against “smearing him in saffron” for political gains
This stance of TVK aligns with DMK which also objects to Thiruvalluvar in saffron robes and Hindu identification marks.
திருவள்ளுவர் உலகப் பொதுமறை தந்தவர். அவரை ஒரு குறுகிய வட்டத்திற்குள்ளோ அல்லது குறிப்பிட்ட அடையாளத்திற்குள்ளோ சுருக்குவது என்பது உலகளாவிய அவரது சிந்தனைகளை சிறுமைப்படுத்துவதற்குச் சமம்.
லோக்பவனில் (அல்லது எந்தவொரு அரசு/பொது இடங்களிலும்) திருவள்ளுவருக்குக் காவி உடை அணிவிப்பது தவறு!…
— Arunraaj TVK (@arunraajkg) May 30, 2026
Below is a thread with the list of Kurals from Thirukkural where Hindu gods, and Hindu concepts like rebirth and karma are mentioned:
Kural 38: “The good things you do without wasting a single day of your life, is the rock that will block your passage on the path to rebirth.” How can Valluvar be secular/irreligious if he believes in rebirth – a concept alien to the Abrahamic worldview?
Kural 358: “What is wisdom? It is that rare realization of the true nature of things, which banishes forever the folly of rebirth.” This is Valluvar’s Jnana Marga to Moksha – the fourth Purushartha.
Kural 8: “The boundless ocean of births can be crossed, indeed, but not without intimate union with Infinity’s Holy Feet.” What’s that you see? Births in plural. Many births. Not one. An ocean of births. One must also consider which faith worships the holy feet of the Lord. Compare this to அவனருளாலே அவன் தாள் வணங்கி in Thiruvasagam.
Kural 1011: “Real shyness is to shy away from evil deeds. The rest are like the shyness of pretty women.” What’s the first word of this Kural? Karma. Used in this context to signify bad Karma only.
Manusmriti(10.63) prescribes 5 tenets that are to be followed by all humans of all varnas – Samanya Dharma. The first of them is Ahimsa – non-violence, followed by Satyam (Truth) next. In Kural 323, Valluvar is quoting the exact order. “Not killing is the first and foremost good. The virtue of not lying comes next.” Ahimsa 1st, Satyam next – knowledge of this order implies Valluvar being aware of Manusmriti
It is also possible to classify Valluvar’s Arathupaal Kurals from Manusmriti’s Samanya Dharma perspective.
- Chapter 33: கொல்லாமை: Ahimsa (Non-Killing)
- Chapter 30: வாய்மை: Satyam (Truth)
- Chapter 29: கள்ளாமை: Asteya (Non-Stealing)
Valluvar also mentions a lot of Hindu concepts (with verse number):
- Indran: 25
- Yaman: 326, 1050, 1083, 1085
- Lakshmi: 84, 167, 179, 617, 920
- Moodhevi, goddess of misfortune: 167, 617, 936
- Vishnu: 610, 1103
- Devas: 18, 25, 86, 346, 906, 1073
- Pitrus: 43 Amritam: 82,1106 Shiva: 9, 580
These are not mere references; the deities are mentioned exactly as per Puranas.
- Moodhevi as elder sister of Lakshmi
- Vaamana as Adi Alandhaan – step measurer
- Devas as Imaiyaar – ones who do not blink (906).
Devas do not blink/sweat/cast shadows according to scriptures
In Thirukkural 413, Valluvar uses the exact Dharmic terminology of Havis being consumed by Devas. “Humans on earth who consume the ear food (wisdom listening) are similar to Devas who consume the Havis (oblations offered with reverence) of the Yagna.” Only Vedic Hinduism believes in this.
