OmniLight Invocations

Symbol of OmniLight in the சத்திய ஞான சபை (Sathiya Gnana Sabhai) or The Great Hall of Truth-Knowledge, a place of special manifestation of OmniLight.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 149

எல்லாம் வல்லசித் தெனக்களித் தெனக்குனை
அல்லா திலைஎனும் அருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Commentary:

In the first line of this couplet, Ramalingam affirms that the OmniLight conferred the all-accomplishing intelligence-power on him. In the second line, he reports that the OmniLight blessed him with an inseparable union with itself.  

The expression  “எல்லாம் வல்லசித்து” means “all-accomplishing intelligence”.  It is a misunderstanding to think that it refers to சித்தி (siddhi or “occult power”). Of course, this divine “சித்து” or intelligence is also imbued with omnipotent power.

OmniLight Invocations

Entrance to the site of the radiant symbol (Jothi or orb of light) of OmniLight in the Sathiya Gnana Sabhai (1872), or Hall Of Truth-Knowledge, designed by Ramalingam.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 148

வாய்தற் குரித்தெனும் மறை ஆகமங்களால்

ஆய்தற் கரிய அருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!    

Commentary: This couplet affirms that the nature of the OmniLight cannot be grasped even by the collections of revelatory Hindu scriptures such as the Vedas (Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda) and the Agamas (the sacred works of Saivism, Vaishnavism, and Shakta/Tantra).

It implies a rejection of scriptural fundamentalism, or the view that a set of scriptures provides complete knowledge of ultimate reality, and constitutes the final arbiter of competing claims about it.

Since the OmniLight is an Infinite Being with inexhaustible attributes or qualities, no scripture or set of scriptures can provide a complete description and knowledge of its nature and activity.

OmniLight Invocations

சத்திய ஞான சபை (Sathiya Gnana Sabhai) or The Great Hall of Truth-Knowledge, and place of special manifestation of OmniLight, designed by Ramalingam without any formal training in architecture. It was constructed in 1871 and opened to the public in January 1872. It has no anthropomorphic idols or images.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet:147

சமயங் குலமுதற் சார்பெலாம் விடுத்த

அமயந் தோன்றிய வருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Commentary: The word “சமயம்” (samayam) refers to religious sect and creed. “குலம்” (kulam) refers to communal identity based on caste, family lineage, class, ethnicity, tribe, race, nationality, etc. The word “சார்பு” (saarbu) means “attachment, partiality, bias”.

This remarkable couplet affirms that the OmniLight revealed itself to Ramalingam when he renounced all attachment to religious sect, creed, communal identity, and the concomitant partiality.

The implication is that a universality of outlook is a necessary condition of the revelation of the OmniLight.

Notice that it is a necessary, but not sufficient condition (guarantee by itself). Nothing is a sufficient condition for the self-revelation of the OmniLight other than its own will to reveal itself.

OmniLight Invocations

An old photo of Sathiya Dharuma Saalai (The Home of True Charity) in Vadalur, Tamilnadu, South India – It was opened by Ramalingam on May 23, 1867, and has fed the poor and hungry to this day.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 146:

பற்றுக ளனைத்தையும் பற்றறத் தவிர்த்தென

தற்றமு நீக்கிய வருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Commentary: This couplet celebrates the OmniLight’s removal of all attachments by their roots in Ramalingam’s soul, and, consequently, the abolition of his afflictions.

Tamil philosophical thought identifies two types of attachment: inner and outer. அகப்பற்று (akappatru), or inner attachment, pertains to self-love and its manifestations. புறப்பற்று (purappatru), or outer attachment, pertains to attachment to wealth, property, persons, objects of enjoyment, etc.

Couplet 146 implies that these two types of attachments were removed at their roots in Ramalingam’s soul by the OmniLight.

OmniLight Invocations

An old photo of Siddhi Valaagam (சித்தி வளாகம்) or “Abode of Adepthood”, Mettukuppam, Vadalur, Tamilnadu, India. It was Ramalingam’s final residence and venue of his last talk in October 1873.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 145

மாண்டுழ லாவகை வந்திளங் காலையே

ஆண்டுகொண் டருளிய வருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Commentary: The import of this couplet is that the OmniLight revealed itself one early morning, established its reign over Ramalingam, and removed his subjection to the cycle of death and rebirth and its sufferings.

OmniLight Invocations

Symbol of OmniLight in the சத்திய ஞான சபை (Sathiya Gnana Sabhai) or The Great Hall of Truth-Knowledge, a place of special manifestation of OmniLight.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet 144:

எஞ்சே லுலகினில் யாதொன்று பற்றியும்

அஞ்சே லென்றரு ளருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Commentary: The Tamil word “எஞ்சல்” (Enjal) refers to deficiency, debility, and destruction. It is coupled in this couplet with the word “அஞ்சல்” (anjal) which variously means “defeat”, “sloth”, and “wariness”.

In essence, this couplet affirms the OmniLight’s assurance to Ramalingam that he will overcome both “எஞ்சல்” and “அஞ்சல்”, or deficiency, debility, defeat, and destruction. It conveys the OmniLight’s exhortation to Ramalingam that he should not be depressed, or overcome by fear, due to anything in the world.

OmniLight Invocations

Entrance to the site of the radiant symbol (Jothi or orb of light) of OmniLight in the Sathiya Gnana Sabhai (1872), or Hall Of Truth-Knowledge, designed by Ramalingam.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet 143:

பிறிவேது இனி உனைப் பிடித்தனம் உனக்கு நம்

அறிவே வடிவெனும் அருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!             

Commentary: This couplet conveys the OmniLight’s benediction on Ramalingam: “There will be no separation from me. In this union, my intelligence is the very form of your being.”

OmniLight Invocations

சத்திய ஞான சபை (Sathiya Gnana Sabhai) or The Great Hall of Truth-Knowledge, and place of special manifestation of OmniLight, designed by Ramalingam without any formal training in architecture. It was constructed in 1871 and opened to the public in January 1872. It has no anthropomorphic idols or images.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet 142:

சூரிய சந்திர ஜோதியுட்ஜோதி என்று

ஆரியர் புகழ்தரும் அருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!     

Commentary: This couplet points out that the OmniLight is celebrated by the Aryans (ஆரியர் – Ariyar) as the Light within the solar and lunar lights.

In classical Tamil literature, the Aryans were the inhabitants of Indian Himalayan valleys and the Indo-Gangetic plains. Southern Indian Brāhmins who were descended from these groups were also designated by that term. The worship of the Sun and the Moon was an important aspect of their religious practices.

OmniLight Invocations

An old photo of Sathiya Dharuma Saalai (The Home of True Charity) in Vadalur, Tamilnadu, South India – It was opened by Ramalingam on May 23, 1867, and has fed the poor and hungry to this day.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet 141:

ஆரியல் அகம்புறம் அகப்புறம் புறப்புறம்

ஆரமு தெனக்கருள் அருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Commentary: This couplet refers to the four levels of existence characterized by ஆரியல் or beauty and other excellences: அகம் or the Inmost (soul), அகப்புறம் or the Inner (mind as an ensemble of faculties), புறம் or the Outer (body as an ensemble of senses), and புறப்புறம் or the Outermost (the environment).

It also refers to beautiful and divine kinds of ambrosia (ஆரமுது) capable of rejuvenating these levels of existence.

In this couplet, Ramalingam petitions the OmniLight to bestow these divine kinds of ambrosia on him in each of these levels of existence.

OmniLight Invocations

An old photo of Siddhi Valaagam (சித்தி வளாகம்) or “Abode of Adepthood”, Mettukuppam, Vadalur, Tamilnadu, India. It was Ramalingam’s final residence and venue of his last talk in October 1873.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet 140:

வல்லப சத்திகள் வகைஎலாம் அளித்தெனது

அல்லலை நீக்கிய அருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Commentary: The expression “வல்லப சத்திகள்” (vallaba saktigal) refers to mighty powers capable of great tasks and achievements. There are many kinds or varieties of these powers.

This couplet affirms that the OmniLight bestowed a variety of mighty powers on Ramalingam and removed his afflictions.