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Arunachala Mahatmyam

Collected Works

Ch.4 – Poems

The Glory of Arunachala [1]

Nandi said:

விருத்தம்.
அகத்தாமரை மலர்மீதுறை யருணாசல ரமணன்
நகைத்தானுற விழித்தானறச் செகுத்தானென துயிரை
மிகத்தானருள் சுரந்தானென முகவாபுரி முருகன்
செகத்தாருய வகுத்தான்முறை திருவாசக நிகரே
	
viruttam.
agattāmarai malarmīduṟai aruṇāchala ramaṇaṉ
nagaittāṉuṟa vizhittāṉaṟac-cheguttāneṉa duyirai
migattāṉaruḷ surandāṉeṉa mugavāpuri murugaṉ
segattāruya vaguttāṉmuṟai tiruvāsaga nigarē
	

1. That is the holy place! Of all Arunachala is the most sacred! It is the heart of the world! Know it to be the secret and sacred Heart-centre of Siva! In that place he always abides as the glorious Aruna Hill

	
	

2. That day on which the ancient and wonderful linga of Arunachala took shape is the asterism of Ardra in the month of Mrigasira. And the day on which Vishnu and the other devas worshipped the Lord who emerged from the effulgence is the day of Maha Sivaratri.


Siva said

:
	
	

3. Though in fact fiery, my lacklustre appearance as a hill on this spot is an act of grace and loving solicitude for the maintenance of the world. Here I always abide as the Great One (Siddha). Remember that in the interior of my Heart is transcendental glory with all the enjoyments of the world also.

	
	

4. Because they bind the beings of the worlds, know that relentless karmas become the bondage for jivas. The effulgent Arunachala is this (mountain), the mere sight of which causes them to become nonexistent.

	
	

5. By seeing Chidambaram, by being born, in Tiruvarur, by dying in Kasi, or by merely thinking of Arunachala, one will surely attain Liberation.

What cannot be acquired without endless pains — the true import of Vedanta — is easily attained by all who can either directly sight this hill or even mentally think of it from afar.

	
	

6. I ordain that residence within a radius of three yojanas 3 of this hill shall by itself suffice to burn off all defects and effect union with the Supreme even in the absence of initiation.

Devi said:

	
	

7. This is always the abode of pious devotees. Those who do evil to others here will, after suffering ills, be destroyed. Wicked persons will be completely bereft of their powers to do evil here in the twinkling of an eye. Do not fall into the burning fire of the anger of Lord Arunachala who has assumed the form of a hill of fire.


[1] Verses that Sri Bhagavan selected from The Skanda Purana and translated into Tamiḷ.

mentioned in Letters, a href="/docs/letters-fsr/ch-214">Ch.214 – Acceptance of Diksha, pg,496
and Recollections of Sri Ramanasrama, Ch.15 – Arunachala Mahatmyam, p.605

[2] Nandi is the foremost devotee of Siva, always remaining in front of him.