Along with the
somewhat later Naladiyar, it is one of the most significant works of early
Tamil literature.
The Tirukkural is a compilation of concise lines about
religious, social, and moral life, divided by subjects.
It is attributed to Tiruvalluvar and is thought to have been
composed in the late fifth century.
The Tirukkural's underlying assumptions are theistic, which
distinguishes it from the Naladiyar, whose tone is essentially ethical and has
no mention of divine.
Many of these epigrams have become commonplace phrases in
Tamil, and they have become the cultural property of Tamils of all faiths.
Also see Tamil epics and Tamil language.
