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.