OmniLight Invocations

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:147

சமயங் குலமுதற் சார்பெலாம் விடுத்த

அமயந் தோன்றிய வருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Commentary: The word “சமயம்” (samayam) refers to religious sect and creed. “குலம்” (kulam) refers to communal identity based on caste, family lineage, class, ethnicity, tribe, race, nationality, etc. The word “சார்பு” (saarbu) means “attachment, partiality, bias”.

This remarkable couplet affirms that the OmniLight revealed itself to Ramalingam when he renounced all attachment to religious sect, creed, communal identity, and the concomitant partiality.

The implication is that a universality of outlook is a necessary condition of the revelation of the OmniLight.

Notice that it is a necessary, but not sufficient condition (guarantee by itself). Nothing is a sufficient condition for the self-revelation of the OmniLight other than its own will to reveal itself.

OmniLight Invocations

An old photo of Sathiya Dharuma Saalai (The Home of True Charity) in Vadalur, Tamilnadu, South India – It was opened by Ramalingam on May 23, 1867, and has fed the poor and hungry to this day.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 146:

பற்றுக ளனைத்தையும் பற்றறத் தவிர்த்தென

தற்றமு நீக்கிய வருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Commentary: This couplet celebrates the OmniLight’s removal of all attachments by their roots in Ramalingam’s soul, and, consequently, the abolition of his afflictions.

Tamil philosophical thought identifies two types of attachment: inner and outer. அகப்பற்று (akappatru), or inner attachment, pertains to self-love and its manifestations. புறப்பற்று (purappatru), or outer attachment, pertains to attachment to wealth, property, persons, objects of enjoyment, etc.

Couplet 146 implies that these two types of attachments were removed at their roots in Ramalingam’s soul by the OmniLight.

OmniLight Invocations

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: 145

மாண்டுழ லாவகை வந்திளங் காலையே

ஆண்டுகொண் டருளிய வருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Commentary: The import of this couplet is that the OmniLight revealed itself one early morning, established its reign over Ramalingam, and removed his subjection to the cycle of death and rebirth and its sufferings.

OmniLight Invocations

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 144:

எஞ்சே லுலகினில் யாதொன்று பற்றியும்

அஞ்சே லென்றரு ளருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி!

Commentary: The Tamil word “எஞ்சல்” (Enjal) refers to deficiency, debility, and destruction. It is coupled in this couplet with the word “அஞ்சல்” (anjal) which variously means “defeat”, “sloth”, and “wariness”.

In essence, this couplet affirms the OmniLight’s assurance to Ramalingam that he will overcome both “எஞ்சல்” and “அஞ்சல்”, or deficiency, debility, defeat, and destruction. It conveys the OmniLight’s exhortation to Ramalingam that he should not be depressed, or overcome by fear, due to anything in the world.