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: 652

சராசர வுயிர்தொறுஞ் சாற்றிய பொருடொறும்

விராவியுள் விளங்கும் வித்தக மணியே!

Immaculate,

Wondrous

Gem

Of

Supreme

Knowledge

And

Beauty,

Which

Unites

With

And

Innerly

Illuminates

All

Mobile

Or

Immobile,

Sessile,

Forms

Of

Life,

And

Their

Constituents,

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Notes:

The distinction between mobile (Tamil: சரம் or Saram) and immobile (Tamil: அசரம் or Asaram) or sessile forms of life is an essential aspect of Ramalingam’s account of living beings. Allowing for exceptional or extraordinary variants, plants, trees, and corals, belong to the category of immobile or sessile forms of life.

This couplet continues the series of couplets on மணி (Gemstone), மந்திரம் (Mantra), and மருந்து (Medicine). The OmniLight and its revelatory and other powers are described in terms of these three central metaphors of precious gemstone, mantra, and medicine.

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.