Hey guys. On the auspicious day of 137th Jayanthi (birthday) of Sri Ramana Maharishi (January 12, 2017), I’m giving you guys the history and background of Akshara Mana Maalai. It’s the first composition of Sri Ramana Maharishi. It consists of 108 beautiful verses and dwells on the highest principles of reality. It’s called Akshara Mana Maalai because each verse is alphabetically arranged. Mana Maalai means wedding garland. The verses are in the form of the dialogue between the bride (Ramana Maharishi) and the groom (Lord Arunachala).
This is yet another work of my dad, but I'm working on an interesting article that I'll be posting tomorrow. The words are all in English, not Tamil. Below is the history of the Akshara Mana Maalai. Tune in for more content like this.
Sri Arunachala Akshara Manamaalai
(The Wedding Garland of Arunachala)
All the verses composed by Sri Bhagavan are
consequent to the appeal of his devotees to him. There is a history and
background behind each and every verse Sri Bhagavan composed. Sri
Arunachala Akshara Manamaaalai, is the first composition of Sri Bhagavan.
He did this, as his devotees ardently appealed to him. Let us see the
history of this composition.
Bhagavan Ramana was staying in Virupaksha
cave. The fellow devotees requested Sri Bhagavan to compose a song so
they can sing it while going out for begging their alms.
Sri Bhagavan, as he was always in an exalted
state of universal consciousness and Mounam, without any Vaak or Mano
Vichaaram, said: "Why do we need new one? We already have excellent
songs such as Thevaram and Thiruvachagam."
But, the devotees persisted. "We
want a song from your Vaak (speech). We, the devotees of the Brahmana
Swami, who stays in the Annamalai Hills, can sing that song while we go for
begging", - they said. But, Sri Bhagavan had no thoughts on it and
he kept his Mounam.
One day Bhagavan started for Girivalam.
One of the devotees, carried with him a paper and pencil, with some optimism
that Sri Bhagavan could accede to their request and compose a song, and
followed Bhagavan in the Girivalam.
Divine Will was materializing. The time
to execute the Prayers of the Devotees was approaching. Bhagavan started
the composition with the word 'ARUNACHALA'. This sound 'Arunachala' was always
rining in the heart of Bhagavan since childhood. Words came gushing out
of Bhagavan's mouth. The Devotee reverentially noted them down in the
paper.
In the tranquil hillside of Annamalai, in a
serene and quiet environ, in all solitude, Bhagavan was having a transaction of
'Prema Bhakti', of Devotion & Love, between him and Lord Arunachala. Sri
Bhagavan verbalized his divine Romance with Arunachala, in the form of Akshara
Manamaalai.
Tears of Love and Ananda (Bliss) was gushing
out from the eyes of the devotee who was writing it down and soaked the
paper. He could not contain the Love, neither could he see and write on
the paper, due to tears of Joy. Bhagavan was wondering, where these Tears of
Joy come from.
During the Girivalam, Bhagavan rested then and
there, and dictated the verses as they were born from His deepest levels of
consciousness. When the Girivalam was done, a beautiful composition,
'Arunachala Akshara Manamaalai' with 108 verses were born. They convey
the highest principles of Truth.
Devotees requested Bhagavan to explain the
meaning of the verses. Bhagavan smilingly replied: "The Verses were
spontaneous outpourings that came out without any thoughts. They were not
composed based on any imagination or thinking". Bhagavan smiled and kept
quiet.
So, Lord ARUNACHALA SIVA Himself composed this
song on Himself. This is the proof of Akshara Mana Maalai. Devotees
entreated Bhagavan several times to explain the meaning of Akashara Mana
Maalai. Bhagavan emphatically said: The meaning of Akshara Mana
Maalai is just chanting it, that is, to do Paaraayanam of it.
Om Sri Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya
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