Thirukkural- On Virtue- Penance-Kural-261

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To be able to suffer pain and to refrain from inflicting it on other beings,These ideas, between them, form the substance of penance.

Apropos of this, Rajaji observes 'Penance consists of the fortitude, with which the pain that falls to one's lot is borne, and in the avoidance of causing pain to sensient beings'. The Gita (2, 15) speaks of the man who would attain immortality as the man who is the same in pain and pleasure and naturally such a man will not cause pain to others.

Parithiar differs from the generally accepted interpretation when he says that 'Uttranoy noanral would mean 'Pirar novirku irangal' (i.e) sympathizing with the sufferings of others, which is a reasonable explanation.

According to Parimelalagar the commonly accepted forms of penance are

i.Limiting the food,

ii.Being in the sun during summer, and

iii.Being in water during the cold season.

Manakudavar adds a fourth one, of devotional practices to God. Such practices are adopted in order to control the mind, from wandering at the dictates of the senses.

All these notions of self-inflicted pain, are not really necessary in the face of Valluvar's rational and catholic' doctrine of patient suffering. This too, is the idea of Christian penance.

'Sirupanchamoolam' has this to say on the subject conveying a similar import:

Uyir noai seyyaamai urunoai maruththal
Seyir noai pirarkkan seyyaamai-Seyirnoai
Vilaivu vaekuli ivaividuvaanaayin
Izivan rinidhu thavam'

( Sirupanchamoolam)