Author: T M P Mahadevan
Translator(s)/ Editors(s): T M P Mahadevan
Publisher: Ramana Maharshi Centre for Learning
Year: 2014
Language: English
Pages: 126
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8188018512
Description
Most of Bhagavan Sri Ramana’s Works were composed in response to requires of devotees. While at the Virupaksha cave on Arunachala, Devotees like Palaniswami and Ayyaswami requested Sri Bhagavan to Compose a songs for them to sing whilst begging for alms in town.
This they felt would help the townsfolk identify them as his devotees. But there was no response from Sri Bhagavan, Subsequently, however, when he was walking round the Hill one day, with devotees following him, the litany, Sri Arunachala Aksharamanamalai, being divinely inspired, welled forth from him spontaneously.
Before the Pradakshina (Circumambulation) Ended, Sri Bhagavan had strung together a garland of 108 verses for his beloved Arunachala. As he wrote the poem in a state of ecstatic devotion, tears streamed down his face and his voice was choked. In later years Sri Bhagavan used to remark jocularly that this hymn had fed them for many years.
A few minutes before his Brahma Nirvana on 14 April 1950, devotees began to spontaneously chant this hymn in front of the room where he lay. Tears trickled down his cheeks as the crowds joined in chorus repeating the refrain, ‘Arunachala Siva, Arunachala Siva, Arunachala Siva, Arunachala.’
Aksharamanamalai is the most well known among the hymns composed by Maharshi. Arthur Osborne Says, “It tells in Glowing symbolism of the love and union between the human soul and God, and is among the most profound and moving poems in any language.”
The commentary of Dr. T.M.P. Mahadevan is of immense help in understanding the texts of Aksharamanamalai and Arunachala Pancharatnam (Five Verses).
Contents
1. Dedication
2. Preface
3. Arunachala Aksharamanamalai
4. Arunachala Pancharatnam
5. The Sage of Arunachala