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!

Christian mythology: Divinity and Doubt: Portrait of the resurrected Jesus and the doubting Thomas by Caravaggio (Source: Wikipedia)

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 10

ஐயமுந் திரிபு மறுத்தென துடம்பினுள்

ஐயமு நீக்கிய வருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி

Doubt,

Distortion,

Deformation,

Deviancy,

Perversity,

Paralyzing

Phlegmata

Of

Understanding,

Undone!

Clogging

Mucus

Plugs

Of

Mind,

Body,

Purified,

Cleared,

Consummately

By the Supreme Compassion of OmniLight!

Note: This autobiographical couplet testifies to Ramalingam’s overcoming of the inveterate tendencies of suspicion or irrational doubt, distortion, perversity or willful adoption of falsehood, etc., of the impure human understanding or intellect. According to this couplet, not only was his understanding purified of these phlegmata, but also the deleterious phlegm clogging the vital functions of his body was cleared consummately by the supreme compassion of OmniLight.

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.