OmniLight Invocations 365

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 Couplet: 783

சிறுநெறி செல்லாத் திறனளித் தழியா

துறுநெறி யுணர்ச்சிதந் தொளியுறப் புரிந்து!

OmniLight Invocations 365

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: 782

உலகியல் சிறிது முளம்பிடி யாவகை

அலகில்பே ரருளா லறிவது விளக்கிச்!

Extirpating

All

Worldliness

From

My

Soul,

And

Illuminating

By

Its

Immeasurable

Light

My

Intellect,

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Notes:

This couplet continues the series of couplets which describe Ramalingam’s extraordinary realization of the OmniLight. It is unique in the annals of religious or mystical experience. 

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.

OmniLight Invocations 365

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: 781

என்னையும் பொருளென வெண்ணியென் னுளத்தே

அன்னையு மப்பனு மாகி வீற்றிருந்து!

Considering

Even

Me

As

A

Worthy

Being,

And

Presiding

As

Father

And

Mother

In

My

Heart,

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Notes:

This couplet continues the series of couplets which describe Ramalingam’s extraordinary realization of the OmniLight. It is unique in the annals of religious or mystical experience. 

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.

OmniLight Invocations 365

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: 780

வாழிநின் பேரருள் வாழிநின் பெருஞ்சீர்

ஆழியொன் றளித்த வருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Bestowing

On

Me

The

Orb

And

Scepter

Of

Divine

Command,

Eternal

Divine

Light,

Eternal

Maximal

Excellence,

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Notes:

This couplet continues the series of couplets which describe Ramalingam’s extraordinary realization of the OmniLight. It is unique in the annals of religious or mystical experience.

The expression “வாழி” (Vazhi) is used as a blessing for long life and prosperity. In the context of this couplet addressed to the OmniLight, it must be clearly understood as an affirmation of the eternality of its Light Of Compassion and maximal excellence.

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.

OmniLight Invocations 365

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: 779

மருளெலாந் தவிர்த்து வரமெலாங் கொடுத்தே

அருளமு தருத்திய வருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Dispelling

All

Delusion

And

Confusion,

Bestowing

All

Boons

I

Beseeched,

And

Sustaining

Me

With

The

Ambrosia

Of

Arul,

The

Divine

Light,

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Notes:

This couplet continues the series of couplets which describe Ramalingam’s extraordinary realization of the OmniLight. It is unique in the annals of religious or mystical experience.

The expression “அருளமுது” (Arul Amudhu) refers to the ambrosial Divine Light Of Compassion or Grace, the supreme and ultimate energy or force underlying all phenomena.

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.

OmniLight Invocations 365

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: 778

சபையென துளமெனத் தானமர்ந் தெனக்கே

அபய மளித்ததோ ரருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Adopting

My

Heart

As

Its

Sabhai

Or

Sacred

Hall,

And

Granting

Me

Security

And

Succor,

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Notes:

This couplet continues the series of couplets which describe Ramalingam’s extraordinary realization of the OmniLight. It is unique in the annals of religious or mystical experience. 

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.

OmniLight Invocations 365

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: 742

தன்னுளே பொங்கிய தண்ணமு துணவே

என்னுளே பொங்கிய என்றனி யன்பே!

Love

Supreme,

Overflowing

Within

Me,

And

Nourishing

Me

With

Its

Inexhaustible,

Overflowing,

Cooling

Ambrosia,

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Notes:

This couplet continues the series of couplets which describe Ramalingam’s extraordinary realization of the OmniLight. It is unique in the annals of religious or mystical experience. 

After the previous couplets on the physical transformations accompanying Ramalingam’s extraordinary experience and realization, this couplet continues to describe other transformations in his being.

It affirms that all of these transformative experiences pertain to Love Supreme, the OmniLight.

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.

OmniLight Invocations 365

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: 741

தன்வச மாகித் ததும்பிமேற் பொங்கி

என்வசங் கடந்த என்னுடை யன்பே!

Love

Treasure,

Autonomously

Pervading,

Overflowing,

And

Expanding

Beyond

My

Being,

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Notes:

This couplet continues the series of couplets which describe Ramalingam’s extraordinary realization of the OmniLight. It is unique in the annals of religious or mystical experience. 

After the previous couplets on the physical transformations accompanying Ramalingam’s extraordinary experience and realization, this couplet continues to describe other transformations in his being.

It affirms that all of these transformative experiences pertain to the Treasure of Love, the OmniLight.

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.

OmniLight Invocations 365

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: 740

பொன்னுடம் பெனக்குப் பொருந்திடும் பொருட்டா

என்னுளங் கலந்த என்றனி யன்பே!

Love

Supreme,

Uniting

With

My

Being

To

Bestow

A

Brilliant

Golden

Body,

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Notes:

This couplet continues the series of couplets which describe Ramalingam’s extraordinary realization of the OmniLight. It is unique in the annals of religious or mystical experience. 

After the previous couplets on the physical transformations accompanying Ramalingam’s extraordinary experience and realization, this couplet continues to describe other transformations in his being.

It affirms that all his transformative experiences pertain to Love Supreme, the OmniLight. Ramalingam used this expression “Love Supreme” (Tamil: தனி அன்பே – thani anbey) almost a hundred years before John Coltrane‘s use of it in the title of his album “A Love Supreme” released in 1965.

This couplet also affirms that the OmniLight united with Ramalingam’s being to bestow what it describes as “பொன் உடம்பு” (pon udambu), or Golden Body, or body of brilliant golden light.

Part II of his incomplete essay on the ethic of compassion for living beings describes this higher body as follows:

“பொன்வடிவாகத் தோன்றுதல் மாத்திரமேயன்றி ஆகாயம்போல் பரிசிக்கப்படாத சுத்தபூதகாரண பிரணவ தேகத்தையும்…”

Translation: “The pranava body of pure elements which appears in golden form and is otherwise intangible like the sky or space…”

I think that the key term “பிரணவ” (pranava) in this reference to the pranava body is best interpreted in terms of “பிராணன்” (Pranan – Sanskrit: प्राण or prāṇa ) or subtle energies, or “airs” of vitality, or life-force. It is a reference to the transfigured subtle vital body constituted by pure elements and life-energies not subject to deficiency, deformation, and decay. Contrary to my former misconception, I don’t think that it has anything to do with பிரணவம் (praṇavam) or the ōm sound.

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.

OmniLight Invocations 365

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: 740

துன்புள வனைத்துந் தொலைத்தென துருவை

யின்புறு வாக்கிய என்னுடை யன்பே!

Treasure

Of

Love,

Expelling

All

Sources

Of

Suffering,

And

Rendering

My

Form

Replete

With

Rapture,

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Notes:

This couplet continues the series of couplets which describe Ramalingam’s extraordinary realization of the OmniLight. It is unique in the annals of religious or mystical experience. 

After the previous couplets on the physical transformations accompanying Ramalingam’s extraordinary experience and realization, this couplet continues to describe other transformations in his being.

It affirms that all of these transformative experiences pertain to the Treasure of Love, the OmniLight.

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.