Written around the year 450CE, the Tirukkal consists of three books on virtue, wealth and love, and is considered a classic masterpiece in Tamil literature and one of the great works on ethics and morality of ancient India.
The yogic diet in its current form is a synthesis of ancient writings, different theories and the experiential knowledge of individuals. It is from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, a neighbouring state to Kerala, and its earliest origins come from the Tamil classic text the Tirukkural(திருக்குறள், literally Sacred Verses, known also as the Kural), by the sage Thiruvalluvar. Written around the year 450CE, the Tirukkal consists of three books on virtue, wealth and love, and is considered a classic masterpiece in Tamil literature and one of the great works on ethics and morality of ancient India. The Tirukkal states ‘…let water be your diet and you need no medicine’ (v.942). Although there is no further explanation of this term, it is aligned with the ancient legends of yogis who live on very little, a tradition that lives on in many parts of India today, though most of these happen in ordinary life and are not famous documented (or scientifically-proven) cases.