Ramana Nool Thirattu Urai - Guru's writing

aksharamana malai 73

30/11/2020

Podiyaan mayakki yen bodhathai parithu un
Bodhathai kaatinai Arunachala

Meaning
Arunachala! Like a black magician who uses special powder (podi) to cast a spell to hypnotise and attract his victims, you also attracted me with the powder of your pure grace, and removed my body consciousness (knowledge limited to bodily senses) and blessed me with siva bodham (knowledge of Siva).

[Note: ‘podi podudhal’ is a term in local use, certain unsavoury characters are believed to have the power to cast a spell on their victims and bring them under their control by sprinkling a special powder. ]

Explanation
Siva bodham and jiva bodham (body/ego consciousness and Self knowledge) cannot exist at the same time. When one is present, the other will be hidden. Siva bodham will shine forth in the compete absence of jiva bodham. Former is real, latter is illusory.

I was so hardened by the cover of my ego-consciousness that you had to use this special means (of casting a spell with ‘podi’) to remove my false identity and make my real self shine forth, says Bhagavan. The fact that both the states of being cannot co-exist is explained beautifully in a Tirumandiram verse (by the saint Tirumular):

maraththai maRaiththathu mAmatha yAnai
maraththin maRain^thathu mAmatha yAnai
paraththai maRaiththathu pAr muthal bUtham
paraththin maRain^thathu pAr muthal bUthamE.
thirucciRRambalam

Meaning (the verse is about a wooden elephant and its metaphysical meaning):
The wood was hidden by the great elephant
The wood in it contained the great elephant
The Supreme was hidden by the play of five elements
The Supreme is hidden in the play of elements

Explanation: If you see the elephant wood, the elephant is hidden, if you see the elephant, the wood from which it’s made is hidden.

aksharamana malai 72

28/11/2020

paiyngodiya naan patridindri vaadamal
Patrukodai ka Arunachala

Meaning
Arunachala! I’m like a young creeper looking for a strong branch to hold on to and grow. Please make sure that I don’t wilt away without any grip, and offer me a strong pole to support me and protect me.

Explanation
Bhagavan imagines himself to be a young girl with no means of support by likening the condition to a young creeper plant looking for the branch of a tree to spread itself on. Likening himself to a helpless lass deluded by the illusory nature of the material world with its snares and traps, he is pleading with Arunachala to support and protect him as a rightful groom (who would stand by the side of his bride). To remove the stain of ego resulting from its mistaken identity with the body (as I), Bhagavan is pleading for the light of wisdom from Arunachala, he expresses a similar sentiment in another place (verse 79 meegaman illamal …).

aksharamana malai 71

27/11/2020

paeythanam vida vidaa paeyai pidhithenai
Paeyanakkinai en Arunachala

Meaning
Arunachala! From time immemorial, the ghost of the ego was possessing me. To chase that demon away, you possessed me as Brahma- paei (brahma ghost) even more strongly, thus making me a ghost, what a great wonder is that? How great is your power/strength?

[Note: Paei means ghost, demon, apparition, other-worldly force usually malefic, that possesses human beings.]

Explanation
The ego consciousness that makes one think of the body as self is referred to as ‘paei’ that is ghost or ghostly force. And the pure Self form that shines as ‘I’ or Brahman is called ‘vidaa paei’ (vidaa is not letting go, and paei is ghost, so the ghost that doesn’t let go of its grip). Since the ego has no form of its own, it attaches itself to other forms and lives, and is called ego-ghost or agandhai paei.

To help me escape from the powerful shackles of this ego ghost, you possessed me as brahma-paei (Self/Brahman ghost) without leaving me even for a second, and thus transformed me into a ‘paeyan’ (ghostly person). What a wonder, marvels Bhagavan.

Your immeasurable grace chased away my ego-ghost and took over as brahman-ghost and made me very much like it, which Bhagavan says ‘paeyan’.

aksharamana malai 70

27/11/2020

peyar ninaithidave pidith izhuthanai
Un perumai yaar arivaar Arunachala

Meaning
Arunachala! The moment I thought of you, you tied me with the rope of your grace and brought me here towards you. Who can comprehend the measure of your grace that defies reason and definition?

Explanation
Unless you yourself explain the reason for your grace that draws people towards you, it cannot be understood. You are the hill of magnet that immediately attracts souls that think of you. Who can understand your grace and power?

Bhagavan says that the immeasurable grace of Arunachala is the sole reason for drawing him towards the Hill, it was as if Arunachala was waiting for Bhagavan to think of Him so He could pull him towards Him. He also refers to this in his padhigam. Bhagavan wonders how Arunachala drew him towards Him (with his single-minded thought on Him) like a magnet draws iron.

aksharamana malai 69

26/11/2020

Bhu maNam mamanam poorana maNamKoLa
pooraNa maNamarul Arunchala

Meaning

My mind/heart is tainted with the vasanas (tendencies) of this material world, please wipe them out completely Arunachala, and bless it with pure brahma vasana, so it can merge (be wed with) with the whole/complete Brahman. (maNam in Tamil means both fragrance and wedding/state of being wed.)

Explanation

Brahmanubhavam which is the experience of Brahman will not be attained unless one is merged with Brahman. So Bhagavan says ‘pooraNa maNang koLa pooraNa maNam aruL’. It is implied that the ‘akshara maNa malai’ part of this song, merges/weds with the indestructible (akshara) form of Arunachala.

TRK says this sloka is one of the three most important slokas in aksharamana malai. First is the phrase ‘Arunachala vararku’, in kappu cheyyul in the beginning, then this ‘Bhu maNam maamaNam’ and in the end ‘maalayai aLiththu’ . These phrases form the reason for the name ‘akshara maNa maalai’.

aksharamana malai 68

24/11/2020

pullarivedhurai nallarivedhurai
Pullidave aruL Arunachala

Meaning
Arunachala, which is the lowly knowledge and which is the highest knowledge, please help me discriminate between the two, and shower your grace and mercy on me so I can merge with the truth as one.

Explanation
Lowly knowledge (pullarivu) refers to knowledge of the senses, ego-consciousness etc. High knowledge (nallarivu = literally good knowledge) refers to brahma gnanam, knowledge of the Self etc.
That knowledge which is based on mental imagination and is responsible for the bonds of samsara (material life consisting of life and death cycles) is called lowly knowledge. That knowledge which is beyond the reach of the mind and its imaginations is the high knowledge. Only this true knowledge helps one cross the ocean of sorrow that is our life to the shores of bliss and liberation. Even though knowledge is one, when it is attached to and about the body, it. Is called false and when it is about the Self it becomes real knowledge.
This is what scriptures of Vedanta refer to as ‘dhegogam’ bhavanai and ‘sivogam’ bhavanai where bhavanai is attitude, dhegam is body and siva is Siva.
When the ego dissolves in the real self and merges there as one without a second like an ice crystal in water, this stage is called ‘pulludhal’ . To be established in this brahma gnanam is brahma nishtai (nishtai is a meditative state).

aksharamana malai 67

23/11/2020

beedhiyil unaichaar beedhyil enaichaer
Beedhiyun thanakken Arunachala

Meaning
Arunachala, you are the fearless one that protects all those scared souls who come to you . I too came to you to get rid of my fear, but for some reason you are scared to merge with me, why don’t you have the courage to do that?

Explanation
Sine Arunachala didn’t come to him the moment Bhagavan thought of him, he attributes the lord with the fear of merging with Bhagavan. I am fearless in becoming one with you, and you are fearlessness manifested, then why be afraid now? asks Bhagavan.

Arunachala is gnana swarupam hence fearless. He is the refuge of all forms of life who approach him, then why be afraid, asks Bhagavan.

Another meaning when we split it as ‘beedhiyil unnai char ennai’: Scared by the material world and its illusoriness, I came to you as the sole refuge, then why be afraid to take me?

aksharamana malai 66

20/11/2020

piththu vittunai naer piththanaakinai aruL
piththam theLi marundharuL Arunachala

Meaning
Arunachala! To destroy (and remove) my crazed obsession for material things due to ignorance, you uprooted my ego and made me crazy for you who are free of attributes. Please remove this madness as well.

Explanation
Arunachala, while you replaced my crazed obsession for material tings with equally passionate craze for you, it’s still a from of obsession/madness. Please administer the greatest medicine so I can be cured of that madness(for you) as well and bless me with your real pure form, asks Bhagavan.

With the sole exception of gnanis whose minds are destroyed and are in self-realised blissful state, everyone else is gripped with some form of insanity and obsessive craze for something or the other in this material world. To cure this craze/madness, only he who created this in us can help for only he has the precious medicine, which Bhagavan refers to as ‘piththam theLi marundh aruL’ which literally means ‘madness, cure, rare medicine. TRK says malai marundhu which is mountain medicine. Since Arunachala’s grace can dispel our ignorance, it is the medicine for our ailment.

aksharamana malai 65

20/11/2020

paartharuN mallara paarthilai yeninaruL
Paarunkaar solvar Arunachala

Meaning
Arunachala! Caught in this material world and struggling in its illusory web, I am floundering, awed by the deluded mind. Please bestow your side long glance and save me with your grace, because if you don’t save me, who else will put in a good word for me?

Explanation
Since the rays of the pure wisdom sun (sutha gnana surian) that is Arunachala is capable of dispelling the darkness of ignorance born of illusion with one glance Bhagavan says ‘paartharuN maal ara meaning look of grace that dispels ignorance stemming from illusion - maya).

If you, my father and mother, don’t root out my ignorance, who else will? If you, the protective lord, don’t do your job, who will put in a word on my case? (Parindhurai is to recommend/put in a good word).

aksharamana malai 64

18/11/2020

patrimaal vidanthalai utriru munamaruL
patrida aruL puri Arunachala

Meaning
Arunachala, bitten by the poisonous snake of this illusory material world, the poison is racing to my head. Before it does so and destroys me, bless me with your grace so I can remain in the everlasting bliss of your grace.

Explanation
If I die in the illusory world, deluded in its material desires, without thinking of you in my last days, it will be only to born again in this world. Please make sure such a death does not happen, and help me hold onto you in my heart to your true form while I am still alive, so the jiva leaves the body holding on to you.

When poison reaches the head and a person dies, no one can help prevent it. So bestow your grace before that stage occurs. When bodily organs and their functions weaken and fail in the final stages of life, I may not be able to think of you, so bless me with your grace before such a situation occurs, pleads Bhagavan.

Note: Same sentiments are reflected in an Azwar pasuram - ‘appodhaikku ippodhe solli vaithen’ meaning I’m putting in a word now when I am in charge of my faculties in case I happen to be incoherent and unable in the final stages’. Adi Shankara makes a similar plea in Subhramnya bhujangam.

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