News Tamil Nadu

Raj Bhavan Revives Pre-1971 Tradition Of Celebrating Vaikasi Anusham As Thiruvalluvar Day

May 25, 2024
The Commune

On 24 May 2024, the Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi ignited a new intellectual discussion by commemorating the birth anniversary of Tamil saint Thiruvalluvar on his birth nakshatra. During the event, tributes were paid to Thiruvalluvar’s portrait adorned with saffron clothes, holy ash, and kumkum on his forehead. The Raj Bhavan referred to the day as Vaikasi Anusham Valluvar Thirunaal.

For a few decades, Thiruvalluvar Day has been celebrated by the Tamil Nadu government in mid-January around Pongal. The Raj Bhavan justified the celebration on Vaikasi Anusham by stating, “Thiruvalluvar Thirunaal (Vaikasi Anusham) has been traditionally observed, continuing the legacy of eminent Tamil scholars Maraimalai Adigal, TP Meenakshisundaram, and Vi. Kalyanasundaram.”

During his address at the Thiruvalluvar Thirunaal event held at Bharatiar Mandapam at Raj Bhavan, Governor Ravi proclaimed, “Thirukkural is a true Dharmasastra. This day (Vaikasi Anusham) is the authentic Thiruvalluvar Day. Historically, it hasn’t been given its due importance as Thiruvalluvar Day. As a devotee of Thiruvalluvar, I decided to celebrate this day in a special manner. Vaikasi Anusham itself must be observed as Thiruvalluvar Day in the Tamil calendar.”

Reiterating his views on the translated versions of Thirukkural, Ravi remarked, “As a devotee of Thiruvalluvar, I have read several translations of Thirukkural. Some translations of Thirukkural, the greatest treasure of mankind, appear to be one-sided.”

He also shared his personal connection with Thirukkural, stating, “My relationship with Thirukkural began in class IX. In 1964, during Saraswati Pooja at my school, I found Thirukkural in the library while searching for inspirational books. Through the Kural, I learned that with determination, nothing is impossible. This has guided me throughout my life.”

“Thirukkural was the first book I purchased upon arriving in Tamil Nadu. I frequently read Thirukkural. It is a true Dharmasastra. Thiruvalluvar imparts life’s lessons through it. Thirukkural is the most comprehensive compendium and perhaps the most exhaustive treatise on an integral life, covering all its facets and fullness,” he added.

Earlier, Governor Ravi unveiled an e-flipbook titled “Thiruvalluvar – Patron Saint of Tamil Nadu,” authored by DK Hari and DK Hema Hari, during the event.

Notable attendees included Justice of the Madras High Court GR Swaminathan, Swami Mahendra of Adhi Sankarar Thirumadam, Thiruvalluvar Thirunaal Kazhagam President Thiyagarajan, Central Institute of Classical Tamil Director R Chandrasekaran, and Governor’s Secretary Kirlosh Kumar.”

The Controversial Dravidian Thiruvalluvar Day

Archaeologist and historian like S Ramachandran providing background information, states that in 1966, the Congress government issued a Government Order declaring the day of saint Thiruvalluvar’s attainment of ‘Mukthi’ (salvation) as Thiruvalluvar Day. This day, known as Vaikasi Anusham, corresponds to a specific date in the Tamil month of Vaikasi, marked by the star Anusham. On 2 June 1966, Vaikasi Anusham was celebrated as Thiruvalluvar Day, with a statue of Thiruvalluvar unveiled by then-President S Radhakrishnan, in the presence of former Chief Minister M Bhakthavatsalam and Chennai Mayor M Moses, a member of the DMK.

However, in 1971, the DMK regime changed the observance to the second day of the Tamil month of Thai, which falls in January. Ramachandran also mentioned that the Thiruvalluvar temple in Mylapore, Chennai, where Governor Ravi recently offered prayers, dates back to the 14th century CE. In January 2024, Governor Ravi paid floral tributes to a portrait of Thiruvalluvar dressed in saffron attire, prompting Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to assert that no one could ‘stain’ the revered poet.

(With Inputs From DT-Next)

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