Thirumoolar's Educational Policies

Abstract

Saivism is one of the oldest religions in our country. The Saiva saints gave ‘Panniru Thirumuraikal (Thirumurai is a twelve-volume compendium of songs or hymns in praise of Shiva)’ to instill in the minds of the people of the world the feeling of God. Thirumanthiram by Thirumoolar is the 10th Thirumarai among the religious books of such a special Thirumarai Panuval (Thirumurai Discourses). Thirumoolar has created a book that explains the good life, the system, and the subtleties of Jnana Yoga (The Path of attaining Knowledge) for all the people of the world to undertake. In Thirumanthiram, Thirumoolar has effectively laid down the principles of education, questioning, and illiteracy for the well-being of the people of the country. Education is the basis of the principle of individual morality. Education is something that enables an individual to excel in life. Education has the power to change society. If every human being is to have good discipline, there must be education. That is why our great sages have emphasized the importance of education in their books. Thirumoolar, a Saiva devotee, has also explained the education of individual life in Thirumanthiram. He has emphasized the significance of wisdom education in enabling man to live as a human being. This thesis explains the educational principles that Thirumoolar proposed for the betterment of individual lives.