This blog is devoted to the exposition and analysis of the post-religious and pure theistic path of wisdom and harmony (சமரச சுத்த சன்மார்க்கம்) envisioned by the Indian-Tamilian mystic, poet, and philosopher Chidambaram Ramalingam (1823 – 1874). Note: Jivakarunya Ozhukkam or "The Ethic Of Compassion For Sentient Beings", Arutperunjothi Agaval or "OmniLight Invocations", and the tetralogy of "Suddha Sanmarga Vinappams" or "The Petitions Of Suddha Sanmargam", constitute the authentic central writings of the later Ramalingam. In this blog, I will adhere to the principle that only the views expressed in these writings are representative of Ramalingam's Samarasa Suddha Sanmargam teachings. (C) All Rights Reserved By Blog Author: Thill Raghu, Ph.D. E-mail: traghu1874@gmail.com
Symbol of OmniLight in the சத்திய ஞான சபை (Sathiya Gnana Sabhai) or The Great Hall of Truth-Knowledge, a place of special manifestation of OmniLight.
Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet:685
ஊழிதோ றுழி யுலப்புறா தோங்கி
வாழியென் றெனக்கு வாய்த்த நன்னிதியே!
Inexhaustible
Treasure-Chest,
Which
Became
My
Indubitable
Gain,
Never
Depleted,
Deficient,
Nor
Destroyed
Even
With
The
Passing
Of
Aeons,
OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!
Notes:
This series of couplets invokes the symbol of an inexhaustible treasure chest (Tamil: நிதி or Nidhi) to convey the maximal excellence of the nature of 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.
Entrance to the site of the radiant symbol (Jothi or orb of light) of OmniLight in the Sathiya Gnana Sabhai (1872), or Hall Of Truth-Knowledge, designed by Ramalingam.
Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet:684
எண்ணிய படியெலா மியற்றுக வென்றெனைப்
புண்ணிய பலத்தாற் பொருந்திய நிதியே!
Inexhaustible
Treasure-Chest,
Which
Became
My
Intimate
Possession,
As
A
Result
Of
My
Accrued
Moral
Merit,
And
Empowered
Me
To
Create
And
Enact
As
I
Wish,
OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!
Notes:
This series of couplets invokes the symbol of an inexhaustible treasure chest (Tamil: நிதி or Nidhi) to convey the maximal excellence of the nature of 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.
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:683
எழுவகை நெறியினு மியற்றுக வெனவே
முழுவகை காட்டி முயங்கிய பொன்னே!
Resplendent
Gold
Treasure,
Which
Directed
Me
To
Create
In
The
Seven
Modes,
And,
Abiding
In
Unity,
Revealed
Their
Diverse
Natures,
OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!
Notes:
The term “எழுவகை நெறி” (ezhuvagai neri) or seven modes or forms has been interpreted as a reference to the seven modes or forms of life identified by Ramalingam in his great incomplete essay on “The Ethic Of Compassion For Living Beings“: தேவர் (Devar or celestials or supra-human beings), மனிதர் (Manidar or humans), நரகர் (Narakar or inhabitants of infernal realms), மிருகம் (animals), பறவை (flying creatures), ஊர்வன (crawling creatures), and தாவரம் (sessile or stationary forms of life such as plants and trees). Ramalingam affirms that these seven forms of life have innumerable variants.
This couplet continues the series of couplets on the maximal excellence of the nature of OmniLight. These couplets also invoke gold and its aspects to convey this maximal excellence of the nature of OmniLight. The imperishable and immaculate nature of the OmniLight Gold is also contrasted with the perishable and imperfect nature of mundane gold.
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.
An old photo of Siddhi Valaagam (சித்தி வளாகம்) or “Abode of Adepthood”, Mettukuppam, Vadalur, Tamilnadu, India. It was Ramalingam’s final residence and venue of his last talk in October 1873.
Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 682
நால்வகை நெறியினு நாட்டுக வெனவே
பால்வகை முழுதும் பணித்தபைம் பொன்னே!
Resplendent
Gold
Treasure,
Which
Directed
Me
To
Govern
Development
In
The
Four
Types
Of
Paths,
And
Empowered
Me
To
Do
So
In
Their
Different
States,
Conditions,
And
Qualities,
OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!
Notes:
This is a cryptic couplet because of the ambiguity of the terms “நால்வகை” (naalvagai) or “four types” and “பால்வகை” (paalvagai) “types of natures” or “types of qualities”.
What do they refer to in the context of this couplet?
The suffix “நெறி” (neri) gives us a clue. It refers to a path, way, and form of discipline of attitude and action. The Tamil spiritual classic Tirumandiram (6th – 10th century CE), which Ramalingam was familiar with, describes the four ways or paths of spiritual discipline:
சன்மார்க்கம் (sanmaargam) or the path of integral knowledge and realization (Jnana) Source: Tirumandiram quatrains 1477 – 1487
சகமார்க்கம் (sagamaargam) or the path of yoga (Raja yoga or Kundalini yoga)Source: Tirumandiram quatrains 1488 – 1494)
சற்புத்திர மார்க்கம் (satputra maargam) or the path of internal devotion (Bhakti) Source: Tirumandiram quatrains 1495 – 1501)
தாச மார்க்கம் (daasa maargam) or the path of external ritual worship and temple service (External worship and service) Source: Tirumandiram quatrains 1502 – 1506
It is noteworthy that the Tirumandiram ranks Sanmaargam or the path of integral knowledge and realization as the highest path.
The distinguishing features of these four paths are also given in other verses.
Tirumandiram: 1449: “சரியாதி நான்குந் தருஞான நான்கும்” (“The four ways or paths starting with sariya and their four forms of spiritual knowledge”).
Tirumandiram 1455:
“பத்தன் கிரியைசரியை பயில்வுற்றுச்
சுத்த அருளால் துரிசற்ற யோகத்தில்
உய்த்த நெறியுற் றுணர்கின்ற ஞானத்தாற்
சித்தங் குருவரு ளாற் சிவமாகுமே”
Translation: “The aspirant who is engaged in the practice of Kiriyai and Sariyai attains Yoga by grace and achieves the transmutation of his consciousness into pure intelligence and goodness (Sivam) by Jnana.”
Thus, Sariyai is constitutive of தாச மார்க்கம் (daasa maargam) or the path of external ritual worship and temple service. Kiriyai is constitutive of சற்புத்திர மார்க்கம் (satputra maargam) or the path of internal devotion. Yoga is constitutive of சகமார்க்கம் (sagamaargam) or the path of Raja yoga or Kundalini yoga. And Jnana is constitutive of சன்மார்க்கம் (sanmaargam) or the path of integral knowledge and realization.
It is noteworthy that Ramalingam advocated the path of Suddha Sanmaargam or the pure path of integral knowledge and unity.
This couplet continues the series of couplets on the maximal excellence of the nature of OmniLight. These couplets also invoke gold and its aspects to convey this maximal excellence of the nature of OmniLight. The imperishable and immaculate nature of the OmniLight Gold is also contrasted with the perishable and imperfect nature of mundane gold.
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.
Symbol of OmniLight in the சத்திய ஞான சபை (Sathiya Gnana Sabhai) or The Great Hall of Truth-Knowledge, a place of special manifestation of OmniLight.Cosmic Gold: The collision of neutron stars is the source of heavy metals such as gold.Source: https://morningreporter.in/cosmic-gold-new-discovery-astrophysics/
Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 681
விண்ணியற் றலைவரும் வியந்திட வெனக்குப்
புண்ணியப் பயனாற் பூத்தசெம் பொன்னே!
Resplendent
Gold
Treasure,
Which
Bloomed
In
My
Soul
To
The
Astonishment
Of
Even
The
Cosmic
Governors,
As
A
Result
Of
My
Accrued
Moral
Merit,
OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!
Notes:
The expression “விண்ணியற்தலைவர்” refers to the celestial or cosmic governors. Several couplets in this Agaval affirm their existence. They are classes of governors of processes of creation, protection, regulation (inclusive of apparent destruction), obscuration, and revelation, in all the worlds.
This couplet continues the series of couplets on the maximal excellence of the nature of OmniLight. These couplets also invoke gold and its aspects to convey this maximal excellence of the nature of OmniLight. The imperishable and immaculate nature of the OmniLight Gold is also contrasted with the perishable and imperfect nature of mundane gold.
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.
Entrance to the site of the radiant symbol (Jothi or orb of light) of OmniLight in the Sathiya Gnana Sabhai (1872), or Hall Of Truth-Knowledge, designed by Ramalingam.
Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 680
எண்ணிய வெண்ணியாங் கெய்திட வெனக்குப்
பண்ணிய தவத்தாற் பழுத்தசெம் பொன்னே!
Resplendent
Gold
Treasure,
Which
Emerged
In
My
Soul
In
Brilliance
And
Beauty,
To
Fulfill
All
My
Wishes,
As
A
Result
Of
My
Tapas
Or
Spiritual
Austerity,
OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!
Notes:
This couplet continues the series of couplets on the maximal excellence of the nature of OmniLight. These couplets also invoke gold and its aspects to convey this maximal excellence of the nature of OmniLight. The imperishable and immaculate nature of the OmniLight Gold is also contrasted with the perishable and imperfect nature of mundane gold.
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.
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: 679
நீகேண் மறக்கினு நின்னையாம் விட்டுப்
போகே மெனவெனைப் பொருந்திய பொன்னே!
Resplendent
Gold
Treasure,
Which
Declared
“Even
If
You
Forget
Me,
I
Will
Not
Leave
You”,
And
United
With
My
Soul,
OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!
Notes:
This couplet continues the series of couplets on the maximal excellence of the nature of OmniLight. These couplets also invoke gold and its aspects to convey this maximal excellence of the nature of OmniLight. The imperishable and immaculate nature of the OmniLight Gold is also contrasted with the perishable and imperfect nature of mundane gold.
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.
THE IMMORTALIZING WAY OF OMNILIGHT (அருட்பெருஞ்ஜோதி பெருநெறி) 