“During the early years of Sri Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi’s abode at Virupaksha, Palaniswami and
Tears of ecstasy streamed down his face as he wrote, sometimes blinding his eyes and choking his voice. The poem became the great devotional inspiration of the devotees. All the pain of longing and all the bliss of fulfillment are mirrored in its glowing symbolism. The perfection of Knowledge is combined with the ecstasy of devotion. And yet this most heartfelt of poems was composed from the standpoint of the devotee, of one who is still seeking. It is also an acrostic, its hundred and eight verses beginning with the successive letters of the Tamil alphabet. Nevertheless, no poem could be more spontaneous. Some devotees asked Sri Bhagavan the interpretation of some of the verses and he replied: "You think it out and I will too. I didn't think while I was composing it; I just wrote as it came."
The Tamil explanation was written by a close devotee of the sage named Muruganar. He used to have discussions about his understanding with Ramana Maharshi. This translation is based on this Tamil exposition.
“Arunachala” literally means “Mountain of the colour of the purple sun.”. This mountain is situated in Thiruvannamalai of Tamil Nadu. Devotees consider the mountain itself as a form of Lord Shiva. “Arunachala” can also refer to Lord Shiva who is consecrated in the temple near “Arunachala.”
Prayer to Lord Ganapathi
Arunachalavarketha Akshara malai chatha,
Karunakara Ganapathiye Karamaruli kaapaye.
Oh merciful Ganapathi, give a hand and help me,
To make a garland of letters suitable for Lord Arunachala.
Refrain ( this refrain has to be chanted after each verse)
Akshara Mana Malai
Arunachala Siva, Arunachala Siva, Arunachala Siva, Arunachala Siva, Arunachala Siva, Arunachala Siva, Arunachala Siva, Arunachala Siva.
Arunachalamena agame ninaippavar,
Agathai aruppai arunachalane.., 1
Oh Arunachala, cut of the pride in the minds,
Of those who meditate on Arunachala.
Azhagu sundaram pol agavum neeyum uttha
Binnamay iruppom arunachalaa.., 2
Oh Arunachala, like the words Azhagu in Tamil,
And Sundaram in Sanskrit mean the same beauty,
Let our mind and you be not different and be same.
Agam pugum theerthu, unnaka guhai chirayai,
Amarvithathen kolo arunachalaa.., 3
Oh Arunachala, why did you enter in my mind,
Drew me, made me imprisoned in your mind?
Aarum kavenai yandanai yagathidil,
Akhilam pazhithidum arunachalam.., 4
Oh Arunachala, after having drawn the useless me,
If you remove me later, the world would find fault with you.
Ippazhi thappunai yeninai pitha,
Yini yaar viduvaar arunachalam.., 5
Oh Arunachala, get rid of this bad name,
Oh Mad one, who would leave you now.
Yeendridum annayir peritharul purivo,
Yidhuvo unadharul Aunachala.., 6
Oh Arunachala who is kinder than my mother,
This is indeed your great grace.
Unaye mathi odathulathin mel,
Uruthiyayiruppai Arunachala.., 7
Oh Arunachala, please change yourself,
And sit firmly on my changing mind.
Oor chuthu ulam vidathu unnai tatangida,
Un azhagai kattu Arunachala.., 8
Oh Arunachala, show me your beauty,
So that my mind,which wanders round becomes firm.
Yenai azhithippo yenai kalava vidil,
Ithuvo vanmai Arunachala.., 9
Oh Arunachala, Are you man enough,
So that you destroy my ego,
And merge me with yourself?
Yen inda urakkam yenai pirar izhukka,
Ithu unakku azhago, Arunachala.., 10
Oh Arunachala, Is it pretty for you,
To be asleep when others drag me to things bad?
Iympula kalvar agathinir pugum pothu,
Agathu nee ilayo, Arunachala.., 11
Oh Arunachala, Are you not within me,
When the thief of five senses enters within me?
Oruvanaam unnai olithavar varuvaar,
Un chootheyidhu, Arunachala.., 12
Oh Arunachala, If the one who hides you,
Appear before me, it is only your deceit, Oh God
Omgara porul oppu uyar villoy,
Unai yaar arivaar, Arunachala.., 13
Oh Arunachala, who is great and incomparable,
Who can claim ever to know you?
Ouai pol, yenakku un arulai thandu yenai,
Aluvathu un kadan, Arunachala.., 14
Oh Arunachala, It is your bounden duty,
To control me after giving your grace, just like my mother.
Kannukku kaanai kannindri kanunai,
Kanuvathu yevar paar, Arunachala.., 15
Oh Arunachala, you watch over me yourself,
To help me see you with the eye of the eyes,
When I am trying to see you with my eyes.
Kandham irumb pol kavarndu yennai vidamal,
Kalandhu yennodu iruppai, Arunachala.., 16
Oh Arunachala, be always with me,
Like the magnet attracting a piece of steel,
And be always merge with me never leaving me.
Giri uruvagiya kirubai kadale,
Krubai koorndu arulvay, Arunachala.., 17
Oh Arunachala who is the ocean of mercy,
With the looks of a mountain, please bless me with your grace.
Keezh melengum kilar oli mani yen,
Keezhmayayai paaz chey, Arunachala.., 18
Oh Arunachala, Who shines like a gem,
In the minds of the great as well as the base ones,
Destroy this quality of baseness within me.
Kutham uthu aruthennai gunamay paninthal,
Guru uruvay olir, Arunachala.., 19
Oh Arunachala, destroy all the crimes that I have committed,
And make me pure, through the mouth of the teacher.
Koor vaat kanniyar kodumayir padathu arul,
Koorndu yennai Cherndhu arul, Arunachala.., 20
Oh Arunachala, Be merciful with me and bless me,
So that I do not fall in the hooks of the bad ones, with sharp swords.
Kenjiyum vanjiyay konjam irangilai,
Anjel yendru arul, Arunachala.., 21
Oh Arunachala, like a deceiver you have not shown pity on me,
In spite of my begging, Please tell me, not to be afraid.
Kelathu alikkum un kedil pugazhai,
Kedu cheyyathu arul, Arunachala.., 22
Oh Arunachala, do not spoil your fame,
Of giving without asking, by not giving to me.
Kaiyinir kaniyul mey rasam kondu uvagai,
Veri kola varurl, Arunachala.., 23
Oh Arunachala, bless me with the exuberance of happiness,
By using the juice of the truth of the fruit in my hand,
Kodiyittu adiyarai kollunai kkatti,
Kondu engan vazhven, Arunachala.., 24
Oh Arunachala, how will I Ever live,
As a slave to you who kills,
Without killing his devotees?
Kopamil gunathoy, kuriyay yenai kola,
Kuray yen cheythen, Arunachala.., 25
Oh Arunachala, who is never angry,
What great did I ever do, to make you,
Choose me to receive your grace?
Kowthamar pothum karunai maa malaye,
Kadai kanithu aalvay, Arunachala.., 26
Oh Arunachala, who is the mountain of mercy,
Which is being worshipped by sage Gowthama,
Please see me with your side long glance and bless me.
Chakalamum vizhungum kadir oli ina mana,
Salasa malarthi yidu, Arunachala.., 27
Oh Arunachala, who is the light that swallows all,
Please make the lotus of my mind open fully.
Chappadu unnai charndhuna vaayaan,
Santhamay pavan Arunachala.., 28
Oh Arunachala, when I approached you for food,
You made me your food and made me peaceful.
Chitham kulira kkathir atham vaitha amudha,
Vaayai thira varun mathi, Arunachala.., 29
Oh Arunachala, with a view to cool my mind,
Open the nectar like mouth of the bud of my mind.
Cheerai azhithu nirvanamai cheythu arut,
Cheerai alitharul, Arunachala.., 30
Oh Arunachala, Remove the cloth that covers my mind,
Make me nude and again grace me with your cloth of grace.
Chuka kadal ponga chollunar adanga,
Chumma porunthidanga Arunachala.., 31
Oh Arunachala, to make my mind ebb with pleasure,
And to make my senses under control, you occupy my mind.
Choothu cheydu yenni chothiyadini un
Jothi uru kkattu, Arunachala.., 32
Oh Arunachala, from now on, do not test me by deceit,
And show me your form which shines like a flame.
Cheppadi vithai kkathu ippadi mayakku vittu,
Uru ppadu vithai kkattu, Arunachala.., 33
Oh Arunachala, do not show the magical shows
To make me completely confused,
And show me that which would build me.
Cherayenin mey neera yurugi kkan,
Neeral azhiven, Arunachala.., 34
Oh Arunachala, If you do not unite with me,
I would melt like water and be destroyed by tears.
Chaiyena thallin chey vinai chudum amala,
Uy vagai yethu urai, Arunachala.., 35
Oh Arunachala, if you push me away with disdain,
Oh pure one, my actions would burn me,
And so tell me how should I live and win.
Chollathu cholli nee, chollara nillendru,
Chumma yirundhay, Arunachala.., 36
Oh Arunachala, without talking you talked to me,
And told me to stop talking and you kept quite.
Chombiyay chumma sukhamundu urangidir,
Chol very yen gathi, Arunachala.., 37
Oh Arunachala, If I lazily sleep in pleasure,
Tell me, what other way to get away is there for me.
Chowriyam kaattinai, chazha kathathu yendre,
Chaliyathu irunday, Arunachala.., 38
Oh Arunachala, you showed me your prowess
And the darkness in me vanished,
And you remained still motion less.
Gnamaliyir kedaa naan yendru uruthi yay,
Nadi nin urave, Arunachala.., 39
Oh Arunachala, I am worse than a dog,
For when did I ever steadfastly seek you.
Gnanamillathu, un asayar thalar vara,
Gnanam therithu arul, Arunachala.., 40
Oh Arunachala, I sought you without wisdom,
But did only get tired because of my desire,
And so grace me with the wisdom to seek you.
Jnimiru po neeyum malarnthilai yendre,
Ner nindaranai, yen arunachala.., 41
Oh Arunachala, When I as a bee wanted to enter you,
And when I thought that you have not opened like a bud,
To my surprise I found you standing in front of me.
Thattuvam theriya thathanai yuthay,
Thathuvam ithu ven, Arunachala.., 42
Oh my Arunachala, when I did not know the innate philosophy,
You yourself stood before me as the same innate philosophy.
Thane thane thathuvam idanai,
Thane kattuvai Arunachala.., 43
Oh Arunachala, please show and make me realize,
That you,yourself are the innate philosophy.
Thirumbi yagam thannai dina maga kan kaandu,
Yeriyum yendranai, yen Arunachala.., 44
Oh my Arunachala, You told me to turn and see,
Within myself,so that I will know it.
Deeramilakathir thediyum thanayaan,
Thirumba vuthen arul, Arunachala.., 45
Oh Arunachala, by your grace I searched inside,
Without inner courage and got you again.
Thupparivilla ippira ppen bhayan,
Oppidavaye, yen Arunachala.., 46
Oh my Arunachala, what is the use of this birth,
Without the innate knowledge, and then why,
Should I try to compare it with that of others.
Thooy mana mozhiyar thoyu mun meyygam,
Thoyave yarul yen Arunachala.., 47
Oh my Arunachala, please bless me to merge within you,
Before the others with purer mind merge in you.
Dheivam yendru unnai charave, yennai,
Chera vozhithay Arunachala.., 48
Oh Arunachala, when I bent towards you,
Thinking you are my God, you pushed me away.
Thedathu uttha na thiru varu nithi yaga,
Thiyakkam theertharul Arunahala.., 49
Oh Arunachala, You are the divine treasure,
That I got without searching for it,
And bless me with a stable mind.
Dhairiyamodu mun meyyaga nada yaan,
Thattazhithen arul, Arunachala.., 50
Oh Arunachala, when I tried to approach you with courage,
The boat of mine tottered and I fell down and so bless me.
Thottarut kai mey kattidaa yenil,
Yaan attamaven, arul, Arunachala.., 51
Oh Arunachala, If you do not merge in me,
When I extend my hands to touch you,
Then I would become, a useless thing.
Thodamini yagathodu ondri yendrum,
Chandhoda ondirda arul, Arunachala.., 52
Oh Arunachala, You who are without flaws,
Merge with me from the inside and grace me,
To merge with the ever lasting joy, inside you.
Nagaikku ida milai nin nadiya venaiaru,
Nagai Yittu paar nee arunachala.., 53
Oh Arunachala, this is not the time to laugh at me,
Who has sought and approached you but please see me,
After adorning me with your grace.
Nanilai naadita naanayondri nee,
Thanuva niranai arunachala.., 54
Oh Arunachala, without shame you stood like a pillar,
When I came myself, seeking you, instead of helping me.
Ninneri yerithenai neeragidum mun,
Nin arun mazhai pozhi Arunachala.., 55
Oh Arunachala, before I turn to ash due to your burning advice
Rain your nectar like grace on me, please.
Nee naan ara ppuli nithangali mayama,
Nindridu nilay arul Arunachala.., 56
Oh Arunachala, destroy the difference between you and me,
And bless me with the state of ecstasic joy.
Nunn uruvay ninai yaan vinnuru nannida,
Yennalai yirumen ara Arunachala.., 57
Oh Arunachala, please cut off my nets of thought,
That prevent me to see your subtle divine form.
Noolarivu ariya pethaiyan yendran,
Malari varuthu arul, Arunachala.., 58
Oh Arunachala, grace me by cutting off my wrong knowledge,
For I am a simpleton who does not have bookish knowledge.
Nekku nekkurugi yaan pukkida unnai puga,
Nakkaha ninranai, Arunachala.., 59
Oh Arunachala, when melting with emotions, I tried to enter you,
As my refuge but You stood motionless and naked before me.
Nesa mila yenakkun asayai kaati nee,
Mosam cheyyatharul, Arunachala.., 60
Oh Arunachala, Do not forsake me now.
After showing your desire to me,
As I was not interested in you earlier.
Naindazhi kaniya nalanilai padathir,
Nadi ut kol nalam, Arunachala.., 61
Oh Arunachala, Unripe fruits do not lead to good,
Ripen me and merge me with you.
Nondhida thunthanai thandu yenai kondilai,
Yandaka nee yenakku Arunachala.., 62
Oh Arunachala, you are like the God of death me,
As you gave me yourself and painlessly took me within you.
Nokkiye karuthi mey thakkiye pakkuvam
Aakki nee aandarul, Arunachala.., 63
Oh Arunachala, see me touch me and ripen me,
And then take me and then rule over me.
Pathi maal vidanthalai yuthiru munamarul,
Pathida arul puri, Arunachala.., 64
Oh Arunachala, shower your grace and save me,
Before the poison of delusion gets hold of me.
Parthu arun maalara parthilai yenin arul,
Par unakkar cholvar, Arunachala.., 65
Oh Arunachala, If you do not see and dispel my illusion,
Who is there, who can request you to do that.
Pithu vittu unai ner pithanakkinai arul,
Pitham theli marundu Arunachala.., 66
Oh Arunachala, You cured my mad desire for the world,
And made me mad for you and your grace,
And you are the only medicine to cure this madness.
Bheethiyil unai char, bheethiyil unai cher,
Bheethi undanakka yen, Arunachala.., 67
Oh Arunachala, why are you having fear to me joining you,
As I am joining you fearlessly and you are fearless.
Pullari vethurai, nallari vethurai,
Pullidave arul, Arunachala.., 68
Oh Arunachala, please tell me which knowledge is bad,
And which is good and bless me to shed the bad knowledge.
Poo mana mamanam poorana manam kola,
Pooranamarul Arunachala.., 69
Oh Arunachala, Bless me with complete knowledge,
For my mind is beset with the scent of this world.
And not the knowledge of perfection.
Peyar ninaithidave pidithu izhthanai un,
Perumai yaar arivaar Arunachala.., 70
Oh Arunachala, You pulled me towards you,
Even when I just brought your name to my mind,
And who can ever aptly tell your greatness?
Peythanam vida, vidaa peyayi pidithanai,
Peyan akkinai yen Arunachala.., 71
Oh my Arunachala, when the devilishness left me,
You firmly caught hold of me like a devil,
And made me mad for you like a devil.
Painkodi ya naan pathu indri vaadamar,
Pathu kodaay kaa varunachala.., 72
Oh Arunachala, Please be a staff to support me,
As I am a tender creeper and would wilt, if I do not have a support.
Podiyaan mayaikki yen bodathai parithu un,
Bodathai kattinai Arunachala.., 73
Oh Arunachala, Using the dust to make me loose myself,
And completely steal away my understanding,
You blessed me by showing, your knowledge to me.
Pokkum varavumil podu veli yinil arut,
Porattam kattu, Arunachala.., 74
Oh Arunachala, In my mind which is a public road
Where there is no coming and going of thoughts,
Stage and show the clashes of your divine self.
Poudhikama mudar pathu athu nalum mun,
Pavisu kandu uravu arul, Arunachala.., 75
Oh Arunachala, cut off my physical attachments,
And grace me with the splendorous sight of yours.
Malai marundhida nee malaithidavo varun,
Malai marunday olir, Arunachala.., 76
Oh Arunachala, When you cured me of my disease,
Of confusion about the problems of birth and life,
Why should I bother and so please shine as the mountain of cure.
Manam kondu urubhavar manathai azhitha pin,
Manamillathu olir Arunachala.., 77
Oh Arunachala,you have destroyed the ego,
Of the people who were suffering from ego,
And please shine as something beyond ego.
Minjidir kenjidum konja vari vaniyaan,
Vanchiyathu arul yenai, Arunachala.., 78
Oh Arunachala, I am an ignoramus, who begs,
When some one overwhelms and rules over me,
And so without deceiving me show your grace to me.
Meegaaman illaman maa kathu alai kala,
Magamar katharul, Arunachala.., 79
Oh Arunachala, Protect me from this great illusion,
When I am floundering like a ship without helmsman,
And caught amidst, the wind and storm of a storm.
Mudiyadi kaanaa mudi vidu thanai ner,
Mudi vida kada mnilai arul, Arunachala.., 80
Oh Arunachala, when I am trying to untie,
The knot of ego like the one trying to find your head and feet,
Be like a mother and help me to untie the knot.
Mokilam mun kkattu mukurama kadenai,
THooki anainthu arul, Arunachala.., 81
Oh Arunachala, do not show me a mirror,
To point out my absence of nose,
But raise me and hug me tightly.
Meyyagathin manamen mala ranayinaa,
Mey kalathida varul, Arunachala.., 82
Oh Arunachala, in the flower bed of my mind,
Within my body, permit me to merge with you.
Men mel thazhindhdu melliyar cherndhu nee,
Menmayuthana yenna, Arunachala.., 83
Oh Arunachala, how is it that you became great,
Even after again and again mixing with the poor and humble.
Mai mayanetharun maiyinal unathu,
Unamai vasamakkinai, Arunahala.., 84
Oh Arunachala, after removing the collyrium of ignorant confusion,
By granting me the collyrium of your grace, you made me truly yours.
Mottai yadithennai vetta veliyineel
Nattamadinai yen, Arunachala.., 85
Oh Arunachala, after completely shaving of my ignorant thoughts,
You danced in the empty stadium of my mind.
Moham thavirthun mohama vaithu men,
Moham theeray, yen Arunachala.., 86
Oh Arunachala, you removed my attachment to me,
Put in there attachment to you, and by your grace,
Keep that attachment from not vanishing.
Mouniyai karpon malarathirunthaan,
Monamith aamo, Arunachala.., 87
Oh Arunachala, Is it divine silence,
When one is silent and immobile like a stone?
Yavan yen vaayil maninai yatti,
Yen pizhai pozhuthathu, Arunachala.., 88
Oh Arunachala, who was it,who made me good for nothing,
And robbed me of my livelihood?
Yaarumariyadhen madhiyinai marutti,
Yevar kollai kondathu, Arunachala.., 89
Oh Arunachala, who was it that destroyed
My mind’s confusion and robbed me for himself?
Ramanar yendru uraithen, rosam kolathu yenai,
Ramithida cheya vaa, Arunachala.., 90
Oh Arunachala, I told it this way because,
I thought that you are one bewitching my mind,
And so without getting angry, make me happy.
Raa pakalilla veru veli veetil,
Ramithuduvom, vaa, Arunachala.., 91
Oh Arunachala, let us both enjoy this divine happiness,
In this open house where there is no night or day.
Lakshiyamm vaithu arul asthiram vittanai,
Bakshithaay prananodu, Arunachala.., 92
Oh Arunachala, you shot your arrow at me,
Keeping correct aim and ate me away along with my soul.
Labha nee ikha para labham mi lenayuthu,
Labham yennuthanaim, Arunachala.., 93
Oh Arunachala, what is the profit got buy you,
Who is the real profit to those who get you,
By taking me, who does nothing here and hereafter.
Varumbadi cholilai, vanden padiyala,
Varundhidan alai vidhi, Arunachala.., 94
Oh Arunachala, You only called me near you,
And now I have come, look after me and my problems,
And if you feel sad to do it, it is but your fate.
Vaa vendru agam pukkun vaazh varul endre yen,
Vaazh vizhunden arul, Arunachala.., 95
Oh Arunachala, The moment I came in, when you called,
You entered in to me and showered your grace,
But I lost my selfish egoistic life.
Vittidir kattamaam vittida thunai uyir,
Vittida yarul puri, Arunachala.., 96
Oh Arunachala, To leave you is difficult,
So when I leave this world, be with me,
And please bless me to be always with you.
Veedu vitteer thula veedu pukku payya vun,
Veedu kattinai yarul, Arunachala.., 97
Oh Arunachala, you drew me out of my home,
And you entered and occupied the home of my mind,
And showed me, that you are my permanent home.
Veli vitten un cheyal veruthithadathu un arul,
Veli vittu yenai kaa, Arunachala.., 98
Oh Arunachala, I have published your acts now,
But please do not hate me for that,
And show your grace and then protect me.
Vedanthatte verara vilangum,
Veda porul arul Arunachala.., 99
Oh Arunachala, please explain to me that,
Which is the essence of all Vedas,
And which is explained in Vedantha.
Vaidhalai vazhathaa vaitharut kudiya,
Vaithenai vidathu arul, Arunachala.., 100
Oh Arunachala, consider my slanderous words as praise.
And make as an object of grace and look after me always.
Ambuvi laali pola anpuruvu nilay enai,
Anbaa karaitharul, Arunachala.., 101
Oh Arunachala, like the hail stones melting in rain,
Please merge me in your form of love, as your form is love itself.
Arunai yen drannayana arut kanni patten un,
Arul valai thappumo Arunachala.., 102
Oh Arunachala, as soon as I thought of Arunachala,
I was caught in the net of your grace,
For the net of your grace never makes mistakes.
Chindhithu arut pada Chilandhi pol kkatti,
Cirayittu undanai, Arunachala.., 103
Oh Arunachala, after great thought you spun a spider’s web,
Imprisoned me and then took me within you.
Anpodu un namange, anbar tham anbarukku,
Anbanayida varul, Arunachala.., 104
Oh Arunachala, please make me the friend,
Of the friend of a friend of one who chants your name with love.
Yen polum dhenarai yin pura kkathu nee,
Yennalum vazhandharul Arunachala.., 105
Oh Arunachala, you please kindly protect the oppressed ones,
Like me and continue to live forever.
Yenpurukanpar tham yin chorkkal cheviyumen,
Pun mozhi kol varul, Arunachala.., 106
Oh Arunachala, who hears the sweet words,
Of devotees who melt to the chore on singing of him,
Be pleased to accept the poor words of mine too.
Poumayam poo thara pun cholai nan cholap,
Poruthirulishtam pin, Arunachala.., 107
Oh Arunachala who is a mountain of patience,
When I tell poor words about you make them good,
As per your wish and please pardon me.
Malai alitharul Arunachala, Ramana ven,
Malai aninthu arul Arunachala.., 108
Oh Arunachala Ramana, please give me a garland and then
Please wear the garland composed by me.
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