This blog is devoted to the exposition and analysis of the post-religious and pure theistic path of wisdom and harmony (சமரச சுத்த சன்மார்க்கம்) envisioned by the Indian-Tamilian mystic, poet, and philosopher Chidambaram Ramalingam (1823 – 1874). Note: Jivakarunya Ozhukkam or "The Ethic Of Compassion For Sentient Beings", Arutperunjothi Agaval or "OmniLight Invocations", and the tetralogy of "Suddha Sanmarga Vinappams" or "The Petitions Of Suddha Sanmargam", constitute the authentic central writings of the later Ramalingam. In this blog, I will adhere to the principle that only the views expressed in these writings are representative of Ramalingam's Samarasa Suddha Sanmargam teachings. (C) All Rights Reserved By Blog Author: Thill Raghu, Ph.D. E-mail: traghu1874@gmail.com
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 is not a Hindu temple and ought not to be considered one. It has no anthropomorphic idols or images.A reconstructed portrait of Chidambaram Ramalingam
Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 509
அருணிலை பெற்றனை யருள்வடி வுற்றனை
அருளர சியற்றுகென் றருளிய சிவமே!
“You
Have
Attained
The
Eternal
Life
Illuminated
By
Arul,
The
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion.
You
Have
Obtained
The
Immortal
Body
Suffused
With
Arul,
The
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion.
Govern,
Henceforth,
The
Reign
Of
Divine
Compassion!”
Graciously
Blessed
Omnibenevolent OmniLight Intelligence!
Note: In this final couplet of this series of verses on Arul or the Light of Divine Compassion, Ramalingam reports that the OmniLight blessed his enlightenment and empowered him to direct the Reign Of Divine Compassion. The emergence and development of the values and practices of the path of Samarasa Suddha Sanmargam (The True and Pure Path of Wisdom and Harmony) is a cardinal aspect of the Reign of Divine Compassion as it pertains to human existence and development.
The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.
The Arutperunjothi Agaval is Ramalingam’s magnum opus of spiritual enlightenment poetry composed in 798 couplets in 1872.In later posts, I will offer commentaries on these couplets.
Symbol of Divine Light in the சத்திய ஞான சபை (Sathiya Gnana Sabhai) or The Great Hall of Truth-Knowledge, a place of special manifestation of OmniLight
My recent English renderings of selected couplets from Ramalingam’s magnum opus Arutperunjothi Agaval (OmniLight Invocations) show that the path of Samarasa Suddha Sanmargam (The True and Pure Path Of Wisdom and Harmony) is essentially the path to the realization of the Light Of Divine Compassion. The relevant couplets, which are masterpieces of Tamil poetry, report that the Supreme OmniLight itself has revealed that the inherent illumination, manifestation, or expression of its essential nature is this Light Of Divine Compassion.
Ramalingam’s great unfinished essay on the ethic of compassion (ஜீவகாருண்ய ஒழுக்கம் – Jeevakarunya Ozhukkam) offers some insightful observations on the attributes of this Light Of Divine Compassion:
“எல்லாத் தேகங்களையும், எல்லாக் கரணங்களையும், எல்லாப் புவனங்களையும், எல்லாப் போகங்களையும், தமது பூரண இயற்கை விளக்கமாகிய அருட்சத்தியின் சந்நிதி விசேடத்தால் தோன்றி விளங்க விளக்கஞ் செய்விக்கின்ற பூரண இயற்கை உண்மை வடிவினராகிய கடவுள்…”
Translation: “All bodies, forms of outer and inner senses, worlds, sites, enjoyments and their objects, are brought into existence, illuminated, and developed by the unique presence and power of Arul, the Light of Divine Compassion, which is the complete inherent illumination of the OmniLight, the ultimate reality and truth…”
Commentary: This observation evidently implies that Arul, or the Light of Divine Compassion, is omnipresent and omnipotent.
“கடவுளின் இயற்கைவிளக்கமாகிய அருள் எந்த வண்ணத்தை உடையது என்றறியவேண்டில்:- சொல்லுவார் சொல்லும் வண்ணங்களும், நினைப்பார் நினைக்கும் வண்ணங்களும், அறிவார் அறியும் வண்ணங்களும், அனுபவிப்பார் அனுபவிக்கும் வண்ணங்களும் ஆகிய சர்வசத்தி வண்ணங்களும் தனது ஏகதேச வண்ணங்களாக விளங்க விளக்கி விளங்குகின்ற பூரண விளக்க வண்ணத்தை யுடையது என்று அறிய வேண்டும்.”
Translation: “What is the nature of Arul or the Light of Divine Compassion? It has the attributes of all utterances of speakers, all thoughts of thinkers, all cognitions of knowers, and all experiences of experiencers. Its nature is to possess and illuminate all these attributes as merely the partial aspects of its totality or complete reality.”
Commentary: Arul, or the Light of Divine Compassion, is omnipresent and omnipotent, but Ramalingam is pointing out that it is especially manifesting in and illuminating conscious acts, experiences, events, and their objects.It is the enabler of all conscious acts, experiences, and events.The attributes of all conscious acts, experiences, and events, including the features of their objects, are merely partial aspects of the immense reality of the OmniLight.
Arul, or the Light Of Divine Compassion, is the sole explanation for why we have any illumination of conscious experience at all while we are adrift in a dark sea of unconsciousness or ignorance.
Translation: “Where is this Arul or Light of Compassion manifested? It manifests and illuminates the site at which the perceiver perceives and will be perceiving, the site at which the hearer hears and will be hearing, the site at which the taster tastes and will be tasting, the site at which the smeller smells and will be smelling, the site at which the uniting person unites and will be uniting, the site at which the speaker speaks and will be speaking, the site at which the doer does and will be doing, the site at which the walker walks and will be walking, the site at which the releaser releases and will be releasing, the site at which the thinker thinks and will be thinking, the site at which the investigator investigates and will be investigating, the site at which the daring person dares and will dare, the site at which the instigator instigates and will instigate, the site at which the knower knows and will know, the site at which the experiencer has experience and will have experience. Arul or the Light of Compassion is present in all these and other sites at all times.”
Commentary: This eloquent passage again makes it clear that the sites of various forms of conscious experiences and their objects are special places of the manifestation and illumination of Arul or the Light Of Divine Compassion. It underscores my exegesis that Arul, or the Light Of Divine Compassion, is the sole explanation for why we have any illumination of conscious experience at all while we are adrift in a dark sea of unconsciousness or ignorance.
Symbol of Divine Light 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:508
அருளொளி யடைந்தனை யருளமு துண்டனை
அருண்மதி வாழ்கவென் றருளிய சிவமே!
“You
Have
Attained
Arul,
The
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion,
And
Partaken
Of
Its
Ambrosia.
May
Your
Intelligence
Illuminated
By
Arul,
The
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion,
Flourish!”
Graciously
Blessed
Boundless OmniLight Intelligence!
Note: In this couplet, Ramalingam reports that the OmniLight blessed his enlightenment, or attainment of Arul or The Light Of Divine Compassion.
The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.
The Arutperunjothi Agaval is Ramalingam’s magnum opus of spiritual enlightenment poetry composed in 798 couplets in 1872.In later posts, I will offer commentaries on these couplets.
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 is not a Hindu temple and ought not to be considered one. It has no anthropomorphic idols or images.
Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet:507
அருளே நஞ்சுக மருளே நம்பெயர்
அருளே நாமறி வாயென்ற சிவமே!
“Arul,
The
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion,
Is
My
Form
Of
Bliss.
Arul
Is
My
Name.
Verily,
Know
That
I
Am
Arul
Or
The
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion!”
Veraciously
Declared
Veritable OmniLight Intelligence!
Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.
The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.
The Arutperunjothi Agaval is Ramalingam’s magnum opus of spiritual enlightenment poetry composed in 798 couplets in 1872.In later posts, I will offer commentaries on these couplets.
Symbol of Divine Light 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:506
அருளே நங்குல மருளே நம்மினம்
அருளே நாமறி வாயென்ற சிவமே!
“Arul,
The
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion,
Is
My
Lineage
And
Kind.
Verily,
Know
That
I
Am
This
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion!”
Veraciously
Declared
Divine OmniLight Intelligence!
Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.
The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.
The Arutperunjothi Agaval is Ramalingam’s magnum opus of spiritual enlightenment poetry composed in 798 couplets in 1872.In later posts, I will offer commentaries on these couplets.
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 is not a Hindu temple and ought not to be considered one. It has no anthropomorphic idols or images.
Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 505
அருளே நம்பொரு ளருளே நம்மொளி
அருளே நாமறி வாயென்ற சிவமே!
“Arul,
The
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion,
Is
My
Substance
And
Essence,
My
Illumination.
Verily,
Know
That
I
Am
This
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion!”
Veraciously
Declared
Supreme OmniLight Intelligence!
Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.
The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.
The Arutperunjothi Agaval is Ramalingam’s magnum opus of spiritual enlightenment poetry composed in 798 couplets in 1872.In later posts, I will offer commentaries on these couplets.
Symbol of Divine Light 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:504
அருளே நந்துணை யருளே நந்தொழில்
அருளே நம்விருப் பாமென்ற சிவமே!
“Arul,
The
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion,
Is
My
Intrinsic
Support,
Mode
Of
Action,
And
Expression
Of
Desire”
Declared
Eternal OmniLight Intelligence!
Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.
The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.
The Arutperunjothi Agaval is Ramalingam’s magnum opus of spiritual enlightenment poetry composed in 798 couplets in 1872.In later posts, I will offer commentaries on these couplets.
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 is not a Hindu temple and ought not to be considered one. It has no anthropomorphic idols or images.
Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet:503
அருளே நம்பதி யருளே நம்பதம்
அருளே நம்மிட மாமென்ற சிவமே!
“Arul,
The
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion,
Is
My
Shrine,
State,
And
Site”
Thus
Spoke
Supreme OmniLight Intelligence!
Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.
The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.
The Arutperunjothi Agaval is Ramalingam’s magnum opus of spiritual enlightenment poetry composed in 798 couplets in 1872.In later posts, I will offer commentaries on these couplets.
Symbol of Divine Light 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: 502
அருளே நம்மறி வருளே நம்மனம்
அருளே நங்குண மாமென்ற சிவமே!
“Arul,
The
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion,
Is
My
Intellect,
Mind,
And
Essential
Attribute”
Avered
Ever-Present OmniLight Intelligence!
Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.
Incidentally, in Ramalingam’s cognitive psychology, மனம் (Manam), or mind, is an inner sense and faculty distinct from அறிவு (intellect). The former is a storehouse of impressions and thoughts. The latter is the faculty of reasoning or inference.
In this couplet, the OmniLight declares that அருள் (Arul), or the Light of Divine Compassion, constitutes its mind and intellect.
The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.
The Arutperunjothi Agaval is Ramalingam’s magnum opus of spiritual enlightenment poetry composed in 798 couplets in 1872.In later posts, I will offer commentaries on these couplets.
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 is not a Hindu temple and ought not to be considered one. It has no anthropomorphic idols or images.
Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 501
அருளே நம்மடி யருளே நம்முடி
அருளே நம்நடு வாமென்ற சிவமே!
“Arul,
The
Light
Of
Divine
Compassion,
Is
My
Base,
Crown,
And
Center”
Declared
Divine OmniLight Intelligence!
Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.
The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it.
The Arutperunjothi Agaval is Ramalingam’s magnum opus of spiritual enlightenment poetry composed in 798 couplets in 1872.In later posts, I will offer commentaries on these verses.
