Arunachala Pancharatnam

Introduction by Sri Michael James

Sri Arunachala Pancharatnam, the ‘Five Gems to Sri Arunachala’, is the only song in Sri Arunachala Stuti Panchakam that was not originally composed in Tamil. Sri Ramana composed it first in Sanskrit, and only later in Tamil.

One day in 1917 a devotee asked Sri Ramana to compose a Sanskrit verse in the arya vritta metre, in answer to which he composed the verse ‘karunapurna sudhabdhe …’ in flawless arya vritta. Soon afterwards this verse was shown to Kavyakanta Ganapati Sastri, a Sanskrit poet and scholar, who on seeing it at once requested him to compose another verse in the same metre. Sri Ramana accordingly composed the verse ‘tvayarunachala sarvam …’, on seeing which Ganapati Sastri asked him to compose three more verses on the subject of the four yogas — one on jnana yoga (the path of knowledge), then one on raja yoga (the path of mind-control), and lastly one on karma and bhakti yoga (the paths of unselfish action and devotion) — in order to form a poem of five verses. Accordingly in continuation of the ideas expressed in the first two verses, Sri Ramana wrote the next three verses.

Five years later, in 1922, when a devotee was printing the first four songs of the present Sri Arunachala Stuti Panchakam, someone asked Sri Ramana to translate Sri Arunachala Pancharatnam into Tamil, so he did accordingly.

Arunachala Pancharatnam Commentary by Sri Sadhu Om, translated by Michael James
Verse 1
O Ocean of Amrita (the ambrosia of immortality), which is the fullness of Grace ! O Arunagiri, the Supreme Self (paramatma) who swallow everything (the entire world-appearance) by the spreading rays (of the Light of Self-Knowledge) ! (Graciously) shine as the Sun of Self knowledge which will make (my), mind-lotus which is swelling (with love and ready to blossom), blossom fully. 1

Verse 2
O Red Hill (Arunachala)! All this (world-appearance), which is a picture, rises, stands and subsides only in You. Since You dance eternally (in) the Heart as (the Real Self), they (the Sages or Jnanis) say that Your name itself is Heart, (Hridayam). 2

Note : Just as the appearance and disappearance of a cinema-picture takes place only on the screen, so the rising (creation), the standing (sustenance) and subsidence (destruction) of the entire world-picture takes place only in Arunachala, the Self. However, Arunachala exists eternally without undergoing and without being affected even in the least by these seeming changes of creation, sustenance and destruction, dancing motionlessly in the Heart and as the Heart in the form of the pure, adjunctless consciousness ‘I’. Hence sages refer to Arunachala, the Self or Supreme Reality, by the name Heart.

Verse 3
O Arunachala ! Having scrutinized with that pure mind which is facing Self-wards (ahamukham) “where does this ‘I’ rise ?” and having (thereby) clearly known the form (or real nature) of ‘I’, one ceases to exist (by merging) in You like a river (which merges and loses its form) in the ocean. Know thus. 3

Verse 4
O shining Arunesa, Having given up (attending to) external objects (second and third persons) and having meditated upon You (the Self) in the heart with a mind which has become still by restraining the breath, the Yogi will see the Light (of Self knowledge) and will attain greatness in You (by thus uniting with You, the embodiment of all greatness). Know this. 4

It is also be noted that Sri Bhagavan mentions breath- restraint here only as a means by which (compare verse 16 of Upadesa Undiyar) the mind can make itself still. By itself breath restraint is not a means by which one can see the true light of Self-Knowledge; having become still by breath-restraint, the mind must then attend to Self in order to see the light of Self-Knowledge.

Verse 5
O Arunachala, he who, with a mind surrendered to You and seeing You always, without (a sense of) otherness loves everything as Your form, triumphs having drowned (and lost his individuality) in You (the self), who are the form of bliss. 5

Note : Though, the subject on which Sri Bhagavan was asked to compose this verse was Karma and Bhakti, He has in fact described in this verse only the state of final attainment, for it is only in that state that one can “see You always” (that is ; at all times and in all states, including sleep) and that one can “Love everything without otherness” (that is, without feeling anything to be other than oneself). In verse 10 of Upadesa Undiyar Sri Bhagavan says that to remain subsided in the place of one’s rising (that is, in one’s source, the self) is Karma, Bhakti, Yoga and Jnana. Accordingly in this present verse He teaches that to drown for ever in Arunachala, the Self, is the most perfect form of Karma and Bhakti.

Closing verses
Arunagiri – Ramana happily gave to the world through (these) pleasant Tamil venbas (verses in venba metre) the ‘Five Gems to Arunachala’. (Sri Arunachala Pancharatnam), which are (a revelelation of) the precious import of vedanta and which He (first) composed in sanskrit.

Note : This verse was composed by Sri Bhagavan as a concluding verse to the tamil version of Sri Arunachala Pancharatnam, and was adopted by Him from the concluding verse composed by Daivarata for the sanskrit version.

Arunachalaramana is the Supreme Self (Paramatman) who blissfully exists as consciousness (as the pure adjunctless consciousness “I am”) in the cave of the Heart- lotus of (all) different souls (jivas) beginning with Hari. When the mind melts with love and reaches the cave (of the heart) in which the benign Supreme dwells, the eye of (true) Consciousness will open and you will know (this) Truth, (for) it will (become manifest) reveal itself.