Arul (அருள்) Or The Light Of Divine Compassion (1)

Symbol of Divine Light in the சத்திய ஞான சபை (Sathiya Gnana Sabhai) or The Great Hall of Truth-Knowledge, a place of special manifestation of OmniLight

My recent English renderings of selected couplets from Ramalingam’s magnum opus Arutperunjothi Agaval (OmniLight Invocations) show that the path of Samarasa Suddha Sanmargam (The True and Pure Path Of Wisdom and Harmony) is essentially the path to the realization of the Light Of Divine Compassion. The relevant couplets, which are masterpieces of Tamil poetry, report that the Supreme OmniLight itself has revealed that the inherent illumination, manifestation, or expression of its essential nature is this Light Of Divine Compassion.

Ramalingam’s great unfinished essay on the ethic of compassion (ஜீவகாருண்ய ஒழுக்கம் – Jeevakarunya Ozhukkam) offers some insightful observations on the attributes of this Light Of Divine Compassion:

“எல்லாத் தேகங்களையும், எல்லாக் கரணங்களையும், எல்லாப் புவனங்களையும், எல்லாப் போகங்களையும், தமது பூரண இயற்கை விளக்கமாகிய அருட்சத்தியின் சந்நிதி விசேடத்தால் தோன்றி விளங்க விளக்கஞ் செய்விக்கின்ற பூரண இயற்கை உண்மை வடிவினராகிய கடவுள்…”

Translation: “All bodies, forms of outer and inner senses, worlds, sites, enjoyments and their objects, are brought into existence, illuminated, and developed by the unique presence and power of Arul, the Light of Divine Compassion, which is the complete inherent illumination of the OmniLight, the ultimate and complete reality and truth…”

Commentary: This observation evidently implies that Arul, or the Light of Divine Compassion, is omnipresent and omnipotent.

“கடவுளின் இயற்கைவிளக்கமாகிய அருள் எந்த வண்ணத்தை உடையது என்றறியவேண்டில்:- சொல்லுவார் சொல்லும் வண்ணங்களும், நினைப்பார் நினைக்கும் வண்ணங்களும், அறிவார் அறியும் வண்ணங்களும், அனுபவிப்பார் அனுபவிக்கும் வண்ணங்களும் ஆகிய சர்வசத்தி வண்ணங்களும் தனது ஏகதேச வண்ணங்களாக விளங்க விளக்கி விளங்குகின்ற பூரண விளக்க வண்ணத்தை யுடையது என்று அறிய வேண்டும்.”

Translation: “What is the nature of Arul or the Light of Divine Compassion? It has the attributes of all utterances of speakers, all thoughts of thinkers, all cognitions of knowers, and all experiences of experiencers. Its nature is to possess and illuminate all these attributes as merely the partial aspects of its totality or complete reality.”

Commentary: Arul, or the Light of Divine Compassion, is omnipresent and omnipotent, but Ramalingam is pointing out that it is especially manifesting in and illuminating conscious acts, experiences, events, and their objects. It is the enabler of all conscious acts, experiences, and events. The attributes of all conscious acts, experiences, and events, including the features of their objects, are merely partial aspects of the immense reality of the OmniLight.

Arul, or the Light Of Divine Compassion, is the sole explanation for why we have any illumination of conscious experience at all while we are adrift in a dark sea of unconsciousness or ignorance.

“அந்த அருள் எவ்விடத்து விளங்குகின்றதென்று அறியவேண்டில்:- நோக்குவார் நோக்குமிடம் நோக்கப்படுமிடம், கேட்பார் கேட்குமிடம், கேட்கப்படுமிடம், சுவைப்பார் சுவைக்குமிடம் சுவைக்கப்படுமிடம், முகர்வார் முகருமிடம் முகரப்படுமிடம், பொருந்துவார் பொருந்துமிடம், பொருந்தப்படுமிடம், பேசுவார் பேசுமிடம், பேசப்படுமிடம், செய்வார் செய்யுமிடம் செய்யப்படுமிடம், நடப்பார் நடக்குமிடம் நடக்கப்படுமிடம், விடுவார் விடுமிடம் விடுக்கப்படுமிடம், நினைப்பார் நினைக்குமிடம் நினைக்கப்படுமிடம், விசாரிப்பார் விசாரிக்குமிடம், விசாரிக்கப்படுமிடம், துணிவார் துணியுமிடம் துணியப்படுமிடம், தூண்டுவார் தூண்டுமிடம் தூண்டப்படுமிடம், அறிவார் அறியுமிடம், அறியப்படுமிடம், அனுபவிப்பார் அனுபவிக்குமிடம் அனுபவிக்கப்படுமிடம் முதலிய எவ்விடங்களிலும் எக்காலத்தும் விளங்குகின்றதென்று அறியவேண்டும்.”

Translation: “Where is this Arul or Light of Compassion manifested? It manifests and illuminates the site at which the perceiver perceives and will be perceiving, the site at which the hearer hears and will be hearing, the site at which the taster tastes and will be tasting, the site at which the smeller smells and will be smelling, the site at which the uniting person unites and will be uniting, the site at which the speaker speaks and will be speaking, the site at which the doer does and will be doing, the site at which the walker walks and will be walking, the site at which the releaser releases and will be releasing, the site at which the thinker thinks and will be thinking, the site at which the investigator investigates and will be investigating, the site at which the daring person dares and will dare, the site at which the instigator instigates and will instigate, the site at which the knower knows and will know, the site at which the experiencer has experience and will have experience. Arul or the Light of Compassion is present in all these and other sites at all times.”

Commentary: This eloquent passage again makes it clear that the sites of various forms of conscious actions, experiences, and their objects, are special places of the manifestation and illumination of Arul or the Light Of Divine Compassion. It underscores my exegesis that Arul, or the Light Of Divine Compassion, is the sole explanation for why we have any illumination of conscious experience at all while we are adrift in a dark sea of unconsciousness or ignorance.

OmniLight Invocations 365

Symbol of Divine Light 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: 508

அருளொளி யடைந்தனை யருளமு துண்டனை

அருண்மதி வாழ்கவென் றருளிய சிவமே!

“You

Have

Attained

Arul,

The

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion,

And

Partaken

Of

Its

Ambrosia.

May

Your

Intelligence

Illuminated

By

Arul,

The

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion,

Flourish!”

Graciously

Blessed

Boundless OmniLight Intelligence!

Note: In this couplet, Ramalingam reports that the OmniLight blessed his enlightenment, or attainment of Arul or The Light Of Divine Compassion.

The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.

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.

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 is not a Hindu temple and ought not to be considered one. It has no anthropomorphic idols or images.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 507

அருளே நஞ்சுக மருளே நம்பெயர்

அருளே நாமறி வாயென்ற சிவமே!

“Arul,

The

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion,

Is

My

Form

Of

Bliss.

Arul

Is

My

Name.

Verily,

Know

That

I

Am

Arul

Or

The

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion!”

Veraciously

Declared

Veritable OmniLight Intelligence!

Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.

The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.

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.

OmniLight Invocations 365

Symbol of Divine Light 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: 506

அருளே நங்குல மருளே நம்மினம்

அருளே நாமறி வாயென்ற சிவமே!

“Arul,

The

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion,

Is

My

Lineage

And

Kind.

Verily,

Know

That

I

Am

This

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion!”

Veraciously

Declared

Divine OmniLight Intelligence!

Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.

The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.

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.

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 is not a Hindu temple and ought not to be considered one. It has no anthropomorphic idols or images.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 505

அருளே நம்பொரு ளருளே நம்மொளி

அருளே நாமறி வாயென்ற சிவமே!

“Arul,

The

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion,

Is

My

Substance

And

Essence,

My

Illumination.

Verily,

Know

That

I

Am

This

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion!”

Veraciously

Declared

Supreme OmniLight Intelligence!

Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.

The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.

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.

OmniLight Invocations 365

Symbol of Divine Light 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: 504

அருளே நந்துணை யருளே நந்தொழில்

அருளே நம்விருப் பாமென்ற சிவமே!

“Arul,

The

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion,

Is

My

Intrinsic

Support,

Mode

Of

Action,

And

Expression

Of

Desire”

Declared

Eternal OmniLight Intelligence!

Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.

The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.

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.

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 is not a Hindu temple and ought not to be considered one. It has no anthropomorphic idols or images.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 503

அருளே நம்பதி யருளே நம்பதம்

அருளே நம்மிட மாமென்ற சிவமே!

“Arul,

The

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion,

Is

My

Shrine,

State,

And

Site”

Thus

Spoke

Supreme OmniLight Intelligence!

Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.

The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.

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.

OmniLight Invocations 365

Symbol of Divine Light 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: 502

அருளே நம்மறி வருளே நம்மனம்

அருளே நங்குண மாமென்ற சிவமே!

“Arul,

The

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion,

Is

My

Intellect,

Mind,

And

Essential

Attribute”

Avered

Ever-Present OmniLight Intelligence!

Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.

Incidentally, in Ramalingam’s cognitive psychology, மனம் (Manam), or mind, is an inner sense and faculty distinct from அறிவு (intellect). The former is a storehouse of impressions and thoughts. The latter is the faculty of reasoning or inference.

In this couplet, the OmniLight declares that அருள் (Arul), or the Light of Divine Compassion, constitutes its mind and intellect.

The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it in thought, speech, and action.

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.

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 is not a Hindu temple and ought not to be considered one. It has no anthropomorphic idols or images.

Arutperunjothi Agaval: Couplet: 501

அருளே நம்மடி யருளே நம்முடி

அருளே நம்நடு வாமென்ற சிவமே!

“Arul,

The

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion,

Is

My

Base,

Crown,

And

Center”

Declared

Divine OmniLight Intelligence!

Note: In these eloquent and sublime couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.

The Light of Divine Compassion, with its supreme force, is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it.

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 verses.

OmniLight Invocations 365

Symbol of Divine Light 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: 500

அருளே நம்மிய லருளே நம்முரு

அருளே நம்வடி வாமென்ற சிவமே!

“Arul,

The

Light

Of

Divine

Compassion,

Is

My

Nature,

Form,

And

Body”

Declared

Omnibenevolent OmniLight Intelligence!

Note: In these sublime and arresting couplets, Ramalingam reports the self-revelations of OmniLight.

The Light of Divine Compassion is present in all the four levels of existence: inmost (soul), inner (mind), outer (body), and outermost (world). But one must consciously realize and express it.

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 verses.