Valluvar
on Three Special Vices
Dr.
R. Prabhakaran
Introduction
In the first part of his book, Valluvar
delineates the negative qualities such as coveting another man’s wife, envy,
coveting others’ wealth, backbiting, slander, eating non-vegetarian food, improper
conduct, stealing, anger, harming others, killing, and desire as qualities that
one should avoid. But there are three special vices that he does not include in
the first part of his book. Those three vices are relationships with
prostitutes, consuming intoxicating beverages, and gambling. Valluvar treats
these three vices differently from those listed in the first part of the Kural.
If one engages in the vices mentioned in the first part of the kural, one is
causing harm to another living being. Whereas those involved in the three
special vices mentioned above cause harm to themselves and their families and
incur their own financial loss. Perhaps, this is why they are included in the
second part of the Kural dealing with wealth. In fact, Valluvar says that prostitutes,
drinking, and gambling are friends of those who are forsaken by fortune (kural
-920). Thus, he emphasizes the connection between these three vices and one’s
wealth.
Relationships with Prostitutes
Valluvar’s disgust for
prostitutes: Valluvar asserts that prostitutes do not
genuinely love their customers. They are only interested in their customers’
wealth. He says that listening to the sweet words of a beautiful prostitute
will bring forth disgrace to her customers (kural – 911). He advises that one
should analyze the character of wanton women who utter sweet words and care
only for their own material gains and stay away from them (kural – 912). He
says that the false embrace of a prostitute is as disgusting as embracing a
strange corpse in a dark room (kural – 913). These statements by Valluvar reveal
his disgust for prostitutes and his reasons why one should not have any
relationship with them.
About those who abstain
from prostitutes: Valluvar is of the opinion that men who study and practice
righteousness will never indulge in the mean pleasures obtainable from a
prostitute (kural – 914). He also says that one with knowledge and wisdom will
not indulge in the mean pleasures available from prostitutes (kural - 915). Further,
he adds that those who want to protect their honor and reputation will not
embrace the shoulders of harlots who sell their beauty and charms for their own
monetary gain (kural – 916). The central theme in the three kurals mentioned above
is that the pleasure that one can obtain from a prostitute is despicable and
intelligent men who value virtue and honor will not seek those pleasures.
About those who have a relationship
with prostitutes: In three kurals, Valluvar describes the characteristics of those
who have a relationship with prostitutes. First, he says that only weak-minded
people will seek the pleasures of prostitutes who embrace them while not really
loving them (kural – 917). Next, he remarks that wise people say that for those
who lack discerning intelligence, the embrace of a prostitute will result in
painful consequences (kural – 918). Finally, he mentions that the delicate
shoulders of prostitutes wearing excellent jewels are a deep hell for those
with degraded minds (kural-919).
Valluvar’s stance on
prostitution: Prostitution as a profession has been around for a long time. The
earliest mention of prostitution is found in the Sumerian records dating back
to 2,400 B.C. No wonder prostitution is called the world’s oldest profession!
The primary reason women resort to prostitution is their lack of economic independence.
In the old days, man has been the family's sole breadwinner. Also, in the old
days, due to ongoing wars, many men were killed. Therefore, the male population
was less in number than the female population. So, when a woman could not get
married or if her husband and parents were not there to support her, she would
not have had any means to make a living. Probably, women in such situations
were forced into prostitution. The other reason is the demand for the services
offered by prostitutes. Demand creates supply. If men did not seek the services
of prostitutes, the number of prostitutes would have been much less. Although
prostitution is despicable, it is not entirely the fault of a woman if she were
to become a prostitute. The blame for prostitution should be shared by society
and by society's male members.
In the Chapter on
“Abstinence from meat (Chapter -26)”, Valluvar makes an interesting observation.
The original version of Buddhism, known as the Mahayana, advocated abstinence
from meat eating because it involved killing a living being. The later versions
of Buddhism revised the stance on meat-eating and suggested that meat-eating
was acceptable if a person did not kill an animal and purchased the meat from
someone who had already killed it. Valluvar criticizes this argument by saying
that if no one wanted to eat meat, nobody would be selling meat (kural – 256).
Similar logic is equally applicable here too. If men did not want the services
of prostitutes, there would be no prostitutes. It is surprising that Valluvar
did not apply the same logic and condemn the men for their interest in
prostitutes.
Valluvar’s criticism of
prostitution could have been much stronger and more pointed towards the male
members of society. However, it should be pointed out that in the Tamil society
of Valluvar’s days, prostitution and male promiscuity were not really
condemned. It was accepted by society as a fact of life. Valluvar was the first
Tamil philosopher/scholar to have spoken openly against prostitution and male
promiscuity. That credit certainly belongs to Valluvar.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages
Drinking alcoholic
beverages has been in practice for a very long time. In fact, it has been
discovered that as early as the Neolithic period (10,000 B.C.), people used
fermented beverages. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the
U.S National Academy of Sciences, chemical analysis of the residues from some
jugs confirmed that a fermented drink made of grapes, hawthorn berries, honey,
and rice was being produced during the time period 7,000 BC–6,650 BC. There is
ample evidence in Tamil literature to indicate that locally brewed and imported
alcoholic beverages were consumed in Tamil Nadu, the state in India where
Valluvar was born and raised. As in the case of prostitution, Valluvar was the
first Tamil philosopher/scholar who disapproved of drinking alcoholic
beverages.
Valluvar’s View on Drinking: Valluvar’s view on
drinking can be summarized as follows:
Those who are
addicted to drinking will never be feared by their enemies and they will lose
their fame (kural – 921). One should not drink. If one does not care to be
respected by the learned people, one can go ahead and drink. In other words,
those who drink will not be respected by the learned people (kural – 922). The
drunkard’s intoxication pains even his own mother. So, “what will be the effect
of such intoxication on learned people? (kural -923)”. Those who make the big mistake
of drinking will lack the good habit of modesty in their behavior (kural- 924).
It is utter ignorance to pay money for liquor and get insensibility in return
(kural – 925). The ones who are asleep are like the dead. So also, those who
drink regularly are not any different from those who consume poison (kural –
926). Those who drink secretly in privacy will be the laughingstock of their
fellow – citizens because their inebriation will be detected by others (kural –
927). Let not the drunkard say, “I have never tasted liquor.” When he is
intoxicated, everyone will come to know that he is drunk (kural – 928). To
reason with a drunkard is like going with a torch underwater, searching for a
man drowned in deep waters (kural – 929). When a man is sober and witnesses the
condition of a drunken person, why does he not realize the ill effects of
drinking (kural – 93O)?
Comments on Valluvar’s view on Drinking: From the preceding paragraph, it is clear that Valluvar does not approve
of drinking. His criticism of drinking is somewhat modest and not a very severe
condemnation. In all the ten kurals cited above, we see him describing the ill
effects of drinking. But he does not strongly condemn drinking. Perhaps, he was
convinced that it was of no avail to reason with those who drink, and he was
trying to warn only those who do not drink about the dangers of drinking so
that they may not get into the habit of drinking. If that was his intention,
his approach seems appropriate. All attempts to enforce prohibition generally
end up in failure. Even in countries where drinking is strictly against the
law, people who want to drink somehow manage to get alcoholic beverages. People
often ignore even religious objections to drinking. The best way to avoid drinking
is to practice self-control and not get into the addictive habit of drinking.
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money
or something of value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary
intent of winning money or material goods. Like drinking, gambling has been in
practice for centuries. The Hindu epic Mahabharata is the story describing how
the great and the most virtuous Dharmaputra was enticed into high-stake
gambling and how he lost his country and even his wife. Like drinking, gambling
is also addictive. During Valluvar’s days, prostitution and drinking were not
uncommon. But there is no evidence to conclude that gambling was a widespread
problem during Valluvar’s days.
Valluvar’s view of Gambling: Valluvar’s ideas regarding gambling
are as follows: Even if you are winning, do not gamble. Your gain is like the
baited hook of iron that the fish has swallowed (kural – 931). Is there any way
for a gambler to prosper when he gains one and loses one hundred (kural – 932)?
If one goes on calling his bets, his riches and resources will roll away from
him (kural -933). There is nothing that brings about poverty like gambling,
which causes misery and ruins one’s reputation (kural - 934). Despite their skills
in gambling acquired in the casinos, habitual gamblers eventually end up in
poverty (kural – 935). Habitual gamblers are under the spell of the goddess of
poverty. They will never have enough to eat, and they will wallow in misery
(kural-936). If one wastes one’s time daily in gambling casinos, one’s
inherited wealth and virtues will be ruined (kural – 937). Gambling destroys
one’s wealth, destroys innate benevolence, and leads to falsehood and misery
(kural – 938). The gambler will lose his dress, wealth, food, fame, and learning
(kural – 939). Love for gambling grows with each loss, like the love for life
grows with every torment (kural – 940).
Comments on Valluvar’s view on
gambling: Valluvar
clearly states that gambling is addictive and that it will lead to untold
misery. Therefore, even if one is winning, one should not continue to gamble.
From the above kurals, we can observe his disgust for gambling and his sympathy
for those who are addicted to gambling. It was observed that Valluvar was not
very strong in his criticism of drinking. But his criticism of gambling is
direct and quite strong. He very vividly portrays the negative consequences of
gambling.
Conclusion
In a society where male
promiscuity was not uncommon and drinking was not unusual, Valluvar’s
condemnation of these evils is truly commendable. In addition to Valluvar, religions
have also condemned prostitution, drinking, and gambling in varying degrees. Despite
all this, society has not changed. These vices continued to be practiced by
countless number people around the world. Prostitution is illegal in many
countries of the world. However, sex trafficking and prostitution have not
decreased. Human rights activists like Amnesty International advocate the decriminalization
of prostitution. In the past, drinking was the primary source of intoxication.
Now, starting from marijuana, there are several potent intoxicants and
mind-altering drugs, some of which are even prescribed by medical
practitioners. Like prostitution and drinking, gambling also exists throughout
the world in various forms. Despite the variety of regulations and laws
controlling gambling activities, gambling exists in many forms, including online
gambling.
The increasing trend to
decriminalize or legalize these evil practices is a blatant admission of the inability
of society to stop them. Perhaps, it may never be possible to completely stop
these practices. However, decriminalization and liberalization may not be the
answer. If prostitution, drinking, and gambling are decriminalized because of
our inability to control them, what is next? Since society is unable to control
thefts, rapes, murders, etc., are we ready to decriminalize them? There should
be strict laws, and they should be enforced strictly. Further, it is the
responsibility of individuals to exercise self-control and guard against evil
practices. It is the duty of religious and political leaders and educational
institutions to encourage self-control. Valluvar’s approach is always advising
the individual to exercise self-control and follow the path of virtue. Perhaps,
that is the reason why he did not start a religion or a movement toward the
total transformation of society. His approach is to encourage the individual to
change.
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