RAMANA PURANAM

[Guest guest]

prof laxmi narain (prof_narain)

 

Source and courtesy: Sri Ramana Kendram, Hyderabad

This article was published in Sri Ramana Jyothi,

monthly magazine of the Kendram

 

RAMANA PURANAM

 

Ramana Puranam is a single verse of 540 lines. Sri Ramana himself

was involved in the completion of this work.

 

In 1920s and early 1930s Muruganar composed a series of poems that

were published in 1933 under the title Sri Ramana Sannidhi Muari.

Though the structure of this work parallels the Tiruvachakam of the

great Tamil saint Manikkavachakar, its contents primarily praise

Bhagavan rather than Siva. In the first poem of Tiruvachakam, which

is entitled `Siva Puranam', Manikkavachakar praises Siva in the most

effusive and devotional manner. Since the initial published version

of Sri Ramana Sannidhi Muari had no introductory poem that

corresponded to `Siva Puranam', Muruganar decided that he ought to

compose one for the next edition of the book. After writing 200 lines

of it in Bhagavan's presence, sometime in 1938, a doubt arose in him

about what he should call this particular poem. His initial idea was

to entitle it `Ramana Puranam', but he was not fully convinced

whether this was appropriate. Deciding to postpone his decision on

this matter, he put aside his papers and went for a walk.When he

returned , he was astonished to discover that Bhagavan had gone

through the papers and written `Ramana Puranam' at the top of every

single page. Not only that, Bhagavan himself had personally completed

the poem by adding more than 300 lines of his own.

 

When the next edition of the book was being prepared for the press,

Muruganar inserted a footnote that indicated which lines were

composed by him and which by Bhagavan. After correcting the proofs,

Muruganar handed over the copy to Bhagavan and requested him to check

it. Bhagavan, who noticed the footnote, at once turned to

Muruganar and said, " So! Only this portion is Bhagavan's, is it?

These words had a shattering effect on Muruganar. He fell at

Bhagavan's feet and sobbed, " Bhagavan! What a grave mistake I have

made! Please forgive me. I have not done anything at all. It is all

your work. Every single line of poetry owes its existence to your

infinite grace. " And the footnote was removed.

 

The more-than-three hundred lines that Bhagavan composed for this

work comprise a body of work that is longer than any of his poetical

compositions. In this Puranam, Muruganar praises Bhagavan and tells

us how Bhagavan bestowed his grace on him. A small sample from this

540- line poem is produced below:

 

He removed the defects of the wandering ego-mind

Shaped me into a comely form

Through the purification of my consciousness

Kindled the flame of jnana for my salvation's sake

Bathed me in his blissful gaze

And became my Lord and Master.

 

Victory to the holy feet

Of the Divine Player

Who lovingly made me his own

Destroying my age-old vasanas

So that their powerful hold was abolished.

 

You [bhagavan] concealed yourself within me

Like the oil within a sesame seed

So that your presence within me

Could not be clearly discerned.

 

The King, who is my very life

Through his grace that is the truth

Free of the feelings of rejoicing and aversion

Appeared as a unique sage

In the city of Arunai

To save me from death

 

This world is a moving picture show

Of sights and sounds.

It is like an insubstantial mirage

That appears as a pool of water

To those who suffer

Tormented by their desire for water.

 

You are the Supreme Being

The perpetually radiating sun of the Self

Which is the true reality

Impossible to reject or deny

Shinning out in the darkness of ignorance

As the light of jnana

The `I am' of even he

Who denies your existence.

(Source: The Mountain Path – July-Oct. 2006 and Cherished Memories

by T.R.Kanakammal. The book is available at the Kendram's

bookstall.)