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: 157

தாபத் துயரந் தவிர்த்துல குறுமெலா

ஆபத்தும் நீக்கிய வருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி

Craving’s

Calamities,

Taṇhā’s

Tribulations,

Mundane

Misfortunes,

Dread

Dangers

Of

Worlds,

Awful

Adversities,

Averted

Absolutely,

Ceased

Consummately,

By the Supreme Compassion of OmniLight!

Note: This autobiographical couplet testifies to the supreme liberation and protection bestowed by the OmniLight on Ramalingam.

In his own words, this was the result of intense, one-pointed aspiration for the OmniLight, sustained inner austerity of renunciation of distracting worldly desires, and the development of compassion for living beings.

The Arutperunjothi Agaval is Ramalingam’s magnum opus of enlightenment poetry composed in 798 couplets in 1872. 

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