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: 749

துன்புறு தத்துவத் துரிசெலா நீக்கிநல்

லின்புற வென்னுளத் தேற்றிய விளக்கே!

The

Lamp

Of

Divine

Light

Lit

In

My

Heart,

Which

Removed

The

Defects

Of

The

Tattuwam

Or

Elements

Productive

Of

Suffering,

And

Generated

Goodness

And

Bliss,

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Notes:

The Tamil phrase “துன்புறு தத்துவத் துரிசு” refers to the defects or deficiencies of the constitutive elements and components of this embodied existence which are productive of suffering.

In this couplet, Ramalingam testifies that the OmniLight has removed all these defects or deficiencies and the resulting afflictions. This could only mean that it has facilitated his ascent to the supernal life based on the body of pure elements (சுத்த தேகம் – Suddha Deham) bereft of decay, disintegration, and their attendant afflictions endemic to embodiment in impure elements.

This couplet continues a new series which uses the metaphor of lamp to describe the illuminative or enlightening powers of the OmniLight.

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.