Aathichoodi #7 - Yen Elzuthu Igazlel

Verse: Yen Elzuthu Igazlel
Translation: Learn to write and count.

Meaning:
Of all the subjects, math and our mother language is the most important for survival. Therefore one should never be from learning both. Eveybody should learn to count and write. This is of utmost importance to survive in this world and to save ourselves from precarious situations.

Words:

Yen: Numbers
Elzuthu: Letters

Aathichoodi #6 - Ookkamathu Kaividel

Verse: Ookkamathu Kaividel
Translation: Do not abandon your motivation.

Meaning:
The most important factor driving us to achieve great heights is our motivation. Therefore we should never leave it. Always have some motivating factor or the other to keep you going forward. This will be real helpful.

Aathichoodi #5 - Udaiyathu Vilambel

Verse: Udaiyathu Vilambel
Translation: Do not blow your own trumpet.

Meaning:
A man's character is known by his behoviour in society. A boastful man, no matter how hard he may try, will never be respected, whereas a humble person always demands respect.

Words:

Udiaythu: Your belongings
Vilambu: boasting

Aathichoodi #4 - Eevathu Vilakkel

Verse: Eevathu Vilakkel
Translation: Never stop others from giving

Meaning:
In the previous verse, Avvai emphasises on the act of being phinlanthropic. In this one she further expands it by saying "If someone is donating something, never stop him from doing so". She wants to make sure that good deeds are not stopped.

Words:

Eevathu: The act of giving.

Vilakku: Stop or hinder.

Aathichoodi #3 - Iyalvathu Karavel

Verse: Iyalvathu Karavel
Translation: Give onto others.

Meaning:
This verse carries a lot of depth. Avvai says to always give to others. She does not tell us to be philanthrophists, but rather sensibly says to give away after keeping wat you require.

She could have said "keep what you need and give away the rest". But she does not. Why is that so? It is normal human tendency to keep all that comes by our way. Humans are greedy and selfish by nature. Therefore she employs a very nice way to convey the message.

Avvai says "You should always give onto others what you dont require" as this is the way to a very harmonious society. A very well based phrase because this is the only way to eradicate social discrepancies. Also, one of the highest deeds that can be done by a man is "Giving". This brings joy not only to the begetter but also to the giver.

Aathichoodi #2 - Aaruvathu sinam

Verse: Aaruvathu sinam( aaru-vathu see-na-m )
Translation: Anger will die down

Explanation:
Anger is one of the most difficult to control of human emotions. But anger is also the one that dies down with time. Anger is too much energy in a very short time that cannot be used for any constructive purpose. So, if you are angry, let some time pass, and then you will realise that either your anger was unnecessary or you are not as angry as before. Anger has been the cause of many men's miseries. So learn to deal with it.

Aathichoodi #1 - Aram Seyya Virumbu

Verse : aram seyya virumbu
Translation: Always do just deeds.

Meaning:
One should always yearn to do just deeds. Avvai says this in the very first verse. This shows the importance of the statement. If we really sit back and retrospect all our past actions, we would realise two things. We rarely did anything worthwhile, and did we rarely do things that was not self centered and rarely did we do things that was not within our need of society.

Avvai says we should always act based on a just decision and this should be in such a way that there is no prejudice involved in our deeds. This is based on an old tamil dage "Maratthilum aram pottruvar thamizlar" meaning even if tamils went to war they followed a just procedure of war. The protocols in war was,
1. No women will be hurt
2. No animals will be hurt
3. Only soldiers and people in the warfield will be killed.
4. War will not be declared on a state that has suffered a natural calamity

If such actions can be followed by our ancestors in a society so primitive as theirs, i am sure avvai is not very expective when she says "aram seyya virumbu". But, so as not to undermine the need for such actions in man's short life, she emphasises on it by making it her first verse

Aathi choodi

I am going to blog about some of the great tamil literical works here, starting with the Aathi choodi, a alphabetical rhyme on Human morals.