Vasuki

Vasuki was a Tamil woman who lived around the late or post Sangam era (between 1st century BCE and 5th century CE). She was the wife of the Tamil poet-philosopher Valluvar. She is traditionally considered a faithful wife and a model of Tamil womanhood. Biography Very little is known about the life of Vasuki other than her being the wife of Valluvar. According to Maraimalai Adigal, Vasuki was also known as Nagi. She was one of the daughters of Margaseyan (or Margasahayan), a farmer who lived near Kaviripakkam, and his wife Ambujam. It is said that when Margasahayan's crops contracted disease, Valluvar helped with curing them. As a token of gratitude, Margasahayan offered Valluvar his daughter in marriage. Legend has it that Valluvar asked Vasuki to cook a handful of sand in order to test her before taking her in marriage, and Vasuki miraculously turned it to boiled rice and served him a scrumptious meal. She is widely known as a chaste and pious woman and an ideal Tamil housewife. The couple, however, had no children. Traditional, as well as legendary, accounts about her abound, which have been the subject of historical analysis for centuries. Some details about Vasuki, however, are of doubtful historicity. Traditional accounts hold that Valluvar requested Vasuki to place a toothpick and a bowl of water alongside his dinner plate every day. Without any question, Vasuki dutifully obeyed her husband's command till the end of her life. Strangely as it may seem, Valluvar never used either of the two that he requested. This, however, did not deter Vasuki from following what her husband said even once. Toward the end of her life, Vasuki remained sullen about her lack of understanding about her husband's dining behavior. Valluvar, perceiving the trouble that he created for his wife by not revealing the reason behind his dining behavior, apologized and said, "It would be a great sin if a grain of rice that I was eating accidentally fell on to the floor. Using the toothpick, I could pick up the fallen grain, rinse it in the bowl of water and eat it thereafter. It is wrong to let our food go to waste." Vasuki died peacefully upon hearing this. This incident is considered as revealing both the sincerity of Valluvar and the devotedness of Vasuki towards her husband.