Virunthombal

Virunthombal is one of the athigaaram under Aram in the great sage Valluvan‘s Thirukural. Two of the kurals that have my attention this time in this athigaaram 9 is as follows:

Kural 89

Udaimaiyul inmai virunthombal oamba
Madamai madavaarkan undu

Exp: selvanilayil ulla varumai enbathu, virumthombalai poatraathe ariyaamaiyaagum. Athu arivilligalidam ullathaagam

Even the host is a rich person, a guest will find them poor when the host does not know how to serve their guest. Even there are 101 food items that being offered to the guest, having a host who doesn’t know how to serve is equivalent to no dish at all. Valluvar says that you will find this quality of those who are illiterate.

A happy guest will find it so fulfilling to even drink just a glass of plain water when the host serve the drink with love and happy face.

Kural 90

Moapak kulaiyum anicham mugarnthirundhu
Nokak kulaiyum virunthu

Exp: anicham poo mogarthavudan vaadividum;athupol mugam malaraamal vaerupattu nokkiyavudan vurunthinar vaadi nirpar

Most of us from Tamil medium would have learned this kural during school time. Guest will feel sad when they are hosted without happiness in their face by the host.

We understand that time and effort is a concern when every one of us is working and trying to juggle with our day to day life. However, we have our own culture and ethics that needs to be maintained. When we are throwing a party/event at home, it is important that we do everything we can to entertain and serve our guest the best possible. It doesn’t have to be a lavish food or costly environment. The only concern that mattered most is how a guest being served. I am afraid we focus too much on the arrangement until the guest being neglected or left alone to entertain themselves.