OmniLight Invocations 365

A reconstruction of Ramalingam’s appearance based on descriptions by those who knew him. The Tamil words below the image express his sincere wish: May All Beings Attain Bliss and Flourish!

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet 385:

எத்தகை யெவ்வுயி ரெண்ணின வவ்வுயிர்க்

கத்தகை யளித்தரு ளருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி

Bestow the beneficial,

Engender the good,

Embellish the beautiful,

Augment the adaptive,

As required by any living being,

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Note: In these couplets, it is evident that Ramalingam has gone way beyond ordinary human compassion as we understand it and attained the transcendent compassionate intelligence (ஒப்பற்ற பெருந் தயவுடைய பேரறிவு) he mentioned in his last talk (பேருபதேசம் – Perupadesam) in late 1873.

The Arutperunjothi Agaval is Ramalingam’s magnum opus of enlightenment poetry composed in 798 couplets in 1872. The meditative recitation of these prayers helps to develop compassion for living beings.

In later posts, I will offer commentaries on these verses.