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: 146

பற்றுகள் அனைத்தையும் பற்றறத் தவிர்த்தெனது

அற்றமும் நீக்கிய அருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி

Adhesive

Of

Attachment

To

Worldly

Objects,

Experiences,

Persons,

Relations,

Annihilated,

Accompanying

Anguish

Abolished,

Inner

Indigence

Obliterated,

Consummately

By OmniLight of Supreme Compassion!

Note: This autobiographical couplet testifies to Ramalingam’s annihilation of worldly attachments, and their accompanying anguish, by the supreme compassion of OmniLight. It also affirms the removal of the inner poverty and emptiness, from which the self is constantly taking flight, by the supreme compassion of the 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.