OmniLight Invocations 365

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: 13

ஔவிய மாதியோ ராறுந் தவிர்த்தபேர்

அவ்வியல் வழுத்து மருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Those

Who

Have

Purged

Themselves

Of

The

Six

Ancient

Defilements

Of

Envy,

Anger,

Greed,

Lust,

Arrogance,

And

Egoism,

Are

Extolled

And

Blessed

By

OmniLight Of Supreme Compassion!

Notes:

This couplet affirms the stringent requirement of purging and transcending the six ancient and habitual defilements or impurities of envy, anger, greed, lust, arrogance, and egoism, for the reception of the OmniLight of Supreme Compassion whose essential nature is not tainted by these defilements.

This couplet assumes that these adverse qualities are not intrinsic to, or constitutive of, the soul or conscious being. If they were intrinsic to, or constitutive of, the soul or conscious being, they cannot be eliminated or transcended. It would make no sense to affirm the stringent requirement of purging them from one’s nature.

Indeed, liberation (a prerequisite to Adepthood) on the path of Suddha Sanmargam (The Pure and True path of Wisdom and Harmony) consists of purging one’s nature of these six ancient and habitual defilements.

Further, rather than address these defilements piecemeal, an effective approach goes to their very root, namely, egoism and its self-aggrandizing presumptions. If this root is pulled out, then the whole tree of defilement with its many branches collapses.

Therefore, self-inquiry which probes this egoism and its self-aggrandizing presumptions is required. It must be accompanied by a growing submission or surrender to the OmniLight and its ways.

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.