Into the Fourth Dimension

“Thirukkural with the Times” explores the timeless wisdom of Thirukkural, a classic Tamil text by Thiruvalluvar that comprises 1,330 couplets on virtue, wealth, and love. Bharathi Bhaskar examines its influence on ethics and morality across various domains. The piece also discusses Einstein’s theory of relativity, explaining the interconnectedness of space and time, and the concept of time travel, drawing parallels with tales from Vishnu Puranam and Tamil literature. The narrative highlights how these ideas of time relativity are reflected in Thirukkural, particularly in a couplet about a woman’s perception of time as she awaits her partner’s return.

“Thirukkural with the Times” delves into the practical wisdom contained in the classic Tamil text, *Thirukkural*. Composed by the Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, the *Kural* consists of 1,330 brief couplets, each containing seven words. It is divided into three sections that focus on virtue, wealth, and love, and is hailed as one of the seminal works on ethics and morality. This text has significantly influenced thinkers and leaders across various social, political, and philosophical domains. Motivational speaker, author, and advocate for diversity Bharathi Bhaskar examines this literary masterpiece.

Einstein famously remarked, “To know where you are, you must know what time it is.” This prompts the question of why understanding time is crucial. The essence of Einstein’s theory of relativity reveals that space and time are interconnected within an endless continuum. Picture four individuals grasping the corners of a blanket; it remains taut until a heavy iron ball is placed on it, causing it to sag and bend. Similarly, the presence of massive objects like the sun distorts the fabric of the universe. With countless suns, the universe exhibits significant curvature, akin to the contours of our roads!

Space serves as a canvas where our past, present, and future intertwine. It can collapse, twist, and ripple like silk, lacking both a definitive beginning and end. Theoretically, if one could achieve the speed of light (300,000 km per second), time would appear to slow down from the perspective of an observer moving at a different velocity.

These concepts have real-world implications, particularly in the functioning of the Global Positioning System (GPS) used in phones and cars, which relies on Einstein’s theories for precision. Thus, time is intrinsically linked to space, making it the fourth dimension.

This raises the question: is it possible to travel through time, just as we traverse space? The notion of time travel has been acknowledged long before Einstein. In the *Vishnu Puranam*, there is a tale about King Raivata, who journeys to heaven with his daughter Revathi. When he consults Brahma about a suitable husband for her, he learns that thousands of years have passed on Earth. Compassionate, Brahma facilitates a match with Balarama, Krishna’s brother, who belongs to the current generation.

In Tamil tradition, Siddhas are believed to possess eight extraordinary powers, one of which, Korakkar, is said to have traveled through time. His verses from the 10th century recount visions of the future, including the rule of the Moguls and the ‘red-faced’ foreigners in India.

In a science fiction narrative by Tamil author Sujatha, the protagonist time-travels and encounters Tholkappiyar, the esteemed author of an ancient Tamil grammar text. After the hero recites a verse from *Thirukkural*, Tholkappiyar is captivated. “Did you compose this verse? It’s wonderful,” he exclaims, to which the hero replies, “No, Thiruvalluvar wrote this. Oh, wait! Thiruvalluvar is yet to be born. He will pen this couplet centuries from now!”

Einstein humorously illustrated the relativity of time by stating, “Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it feels like an hour.

One of Thiruvalluvar’s couplets from the *Book of Love* resonates with this concept of relativity. A woman eagerly awaits her partner’s return from work, anticipating his arrival the following day. Yet, for her, the wait stretches on, feeling like seven interminable days.