The Marital Garland of Letters

There could be no better proof that the path of devotion is compatible with Knowledge than Bhagavan's 'Marital Garland of Letters to Sri Arunachala'. He composed it while he was still a young man living in a cave on Arunachala before his Ashram was founded. Some of his disciples used to go into town daily to beg their food and asked him for a song to sing as they went. He replied at first that there were plenty of songs left by the classical Tamil poetsaints that could be used, but they persisted. Some days later he walked round Arunachala, composing the 'Marital Garland' as he went. It is said that tears of ecstatic ardour streamed down his face as he composed it. Certainly it is one of the supreme symbolical love poems of all ages and all religions. It has always remained the emotional treasure of his devotees. as the 'Forty Verses' is their doctrinal foundation. Spontaneously they burst into the singing of it at the last moment when breath was leaving his body, so that it was the last earthly sound he heard.

INVOCATION

Gracious Ganapati!¹ with Thy (loving) hand bless me, that I may make this a marital garland of letters worthy of Sri Arunachala, the Bridegroom!
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1 - Another name for Lord Ganesha.

Refrain

Arunachala Shiva! Arunachala Shiva!
Arunachala Shiva! Arunachala!
Arunachala Shiva! Arunachala Shiva!
Arunachala Shiva! Arunachala!

1. Arunachala! Thou dost root out the ego of those who meditate on Thee in the heart, Oh Arunachala!

2. May Thou and I be one and inseparable like Alagu and Sundara,² Oh Arunachala!
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2 - The Tamil word alagu and Sanskrit word sundara have the same meaning: 'beauty'. Alagu and Sundara were also the names of Sri Ramana's mother and father.

3. Entering (my) home and luring me (to Thine) why didst Thou keep me prisoner in Thy heart's cavern. Oh Arunachala?

4. Was it for Thy pleasure or for my sake Thou didst win me? If now Thou turn me away, the world will blame Thee, Oh Arunachala!

5. Escape this blame! Why didst Thou then recall Thyself to me? How can I leave Thee now, Oh Arunachala!

6. Kinder far art Thou than one's own mother. Is this then Thy allkindness, Oh Arunachala?

7. Sit firmly in my mind lest it elude Thee, Oh Arunachala!

8. Display Thy beauty, for the fickle mind to see Thee for ever and to rest (in peace), Oh Arunachala!

9. After abducting me if now Thou dost not embrace me, where is Thy chivalry, Oh Arunachala?

10. Does it become Thee thus to sleep when I am outraged by others, Oh Arunachala?

11. Even when the thieves of the five senses break in upon me, art Thou not still in my heart, Oh Arunachala!

12. One art Thou without a second; who then could dare elude Thee and come in? This is only Thy jugglery, Oh Arunachala!

13. Significance of OM unrivalled — unsurpassed! Who can comprehend Thee, Oh Arunachala?

14. As (Universal) Mother, it is Thy duty to dispense Thy Grace and save me, Oh Arunachala!

15. Who can ever find Thee? The Eye of the eye art Thou, and without eyes Thou seest, Oh Arunachala!

16. As a lodestone attracts iron, magnetising it and holding it fast, so do Thou to me, Oh Arunachala!

17. (Unmoving) Hill, melting into a Sea of Grace, have mercy (on me) I pray, Oh Arunachala!

18. Fiery Gem, shining in all directions, do Thou burn up my dross, Oh Arunachala!

19. Shine as my Guru, making me free from faults and worthy of Thy Grace, Oh Arunachala!

20. Save me from the cruel snares of fascinating women and honour me with union with Thyself, Oh Arunachala!

21. Though I beg, Thou art callous and dost not condescend. I pray Thee! say to me 'Fear not' Oh Arunachala!

22. Unasked Thou givest; this is Thy imperishable fame. Do not belie Thy name, Oh Arunachala!

23. Sweet fruit within my hands, let me be mad with ecstasy, drunk with the Bliss of Thy Essence, Oh Arunachala!

24. Blazoned as the Devourer of Thy votaries, how can I survive who have embraced Thee, Oh Arunachala?

25. Thou, unruffled by anger! What crime has marked me off (for Thy wrath); Oh Arunachala?

26. Glorious Mountain of Love, celebrated by Gautama,³ rule me with Thy gracious glance, Oh Arunachala!
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3 - The Gautama here referred to is not the Buddha but a Hindu Sage of that name who dwelt at Arunachala, for mention of whom see 'The Mythology of Arunachala' by T. K. S. in our issue of July 1964. P. 143.

27. Dazzling Sun that swallowest up all the universe in Thy rays, by Thy Light open the lotus of my heart I pray, Oh Arunachala!

28. I came to feed on Thee, but Thou hast fed on me; now there is Peace, Oh Arunachala!

29. O Moon of Grace, with Thy (cool) rays as hands, open (within me) the ambrosial orifice and let my heart rejoice, Oh Arunachala!

30. Tear off these robes, expose me naked, then robe me with Thy Love, Oh Arunachala!

31. There (in the heart) rest quiet! Let the sea of joy surge, speech and feeling cease, Oh Arunachala!

32. Do not continue to deceive and prove me; disclose instead Thy Transcendental Self, Oh Arunachala!

33. Vouchsafe the knowledge of Eternal Life that I may learn the glorious Primal Wisdom, and shun the delusion of this world, Oh Arunachala!

34. Unless Thou embrace me, I shall melt away in tears of anguish, Oh Arunachala!

35. If spurned by Thee, alas! what rests for me but the torment of my prarabdha?⁴ What hope is left for me, Oh Arunachala?
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4 - Prarabdha is the part of destiny due to past actions (karmas) which bears fruit in the present birth.

36. In silence Thou saidst, 'Stay silent!' and Thyself stood silent, O Arunachala!⁵
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5 - Silence is the highest and most perfect form of instruction which the Guru can give, for by its nature it is closest to the essential object of such instruction, which is the realization by the disciple of the incommunicable and inexpressible Absolute.

37. Happiness lies in peaceful repose enjoyed when resting in the Self. Beyond speech indeed is Thy prowess resting in the Self. Beyond speech indeed is This my State, Oh Arunachala!

38. Sun! Thou didst sally forth and illusion was ended. Then didst Thou shine motionless (alone), Oh Arunachala!

39. (A dog can scent out its master), am I then worse than a dog? Steadfastly will I seek Thee and regain Thee, Oh Arunachala!

40. Grant me wisdom, I beseech Thee, so that I may not pine for love of Thee in ignorance, Oh Arunachala!

41. (In sunlight the lotus blossoms), how then couldst Thou, the Sun of suns, hover before me like a flower bee, saying 'Thou are not yet in blossom,' Oh Arunachala?

42. 'Thou hast realized the Self even without knowing that it was the Truth. It is the Truth Itself!' Speak (thus if it be so), Oh Arunachala!

43. Reveal Thyself! Thou only art Reality, Oh Arunachala!

44. 'Look within, ever seeking the Self with the inner eye, then will, (It) be found.' Thus didst Thou direct me, beloved Arunachala!

45. Weak though my effort was, by Thy Grace I gained the Self, Oh Arunachala!

46. What value has this birth without Knowledge born of realization? It is not even worth speaking about, Oh Arunachala!

47. I, by Thy Grace, am sunk in Thy Self, wherein merge only those divested of their minds and thus made pure, Oh Arunachala!

48. When I took shelter under Thee as my One God, Thou didst destroy me altogether, Oh Arunachala!

49. Treasure of benign and holy Grace found without seeking, steady my wandering mind, Oh Arunachala!

50. On seeking Thy Real Self with courage, my raft capsized and the waters came over me. Have mercy on me Arunachala!

51. Enfold me body to body, limb to limb, or I am lost, Oh Arunachala!

52. Oh Undefiled, abide Thou in my heart so that there may be everlasting joy, Arunachala!

53. Mock me not, who seek Thy protection! Adorn me with Thy Grace and then regard me, Oh Arunachala!

54. Does it not shame Thee to stand there like a post, (leaving me) to find Thee by myself, Oh Arunachala?

55. Rain Thy Mercy on me ere Thy Knowledge burn me to ashes, Oh Arunachala!

56. Unite with me to destroy (our separate identities as) Thou and me, and bless me with the state of ever-vibrant joy, Oh Arunachala!

57. When will waves of thought cease to rise? When shall I reach Thee, subtler than the subtle ether, Oh Arunachala!

58. I am a simpleton devoid of learning. Do Thou dispel illusion, Oh Arunachala!

59. When I melted away and entered Thee, my Refuge, (I found) Thee standing naked, Oh Arunachala!

60. In my unloving self Thou didst create a passion for Thee, therefore forsake me not, Oh Arunachala!

61. Fruit shrivelled and spoilt is worthless, take and enjoy it ripe, Oh Arunachala!

62. Hast Thou not bartered cunningly Thyself for me? Oh, Thou art death to me, Arunachala!

63. Regard me! Take thought of me, Touch me!⁶ Mature me! Make me one with Thee, Oh Arunachala!
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6 - Regard me! Take thought of me! Touch me! refer respectively to the three modes of initiation, by look, by thought, and by touch.

64. Grant me Thy Grace ere the poison of delusion grips me and, rising to my head, kills me, Oh Arunachala!

65. Thyself regard me and dispel illusion! Unless Thou do so who can intercede with Grace Itself made manifest Oh Arunachala!

66. With madness for Thee hast Thou freed me of madness (for the world); grant me now the cure of all madness, Oh Arunachala!

67. Fearless I seek Thee, Fearlessness Itself! How canst Thou fear to take me, Oh Arunachala!

68. Where is (my) ignorance or (Thy) Wisdom, if I am blessed with union to Thee, Oh Arunachala!

69. Espouse me, I beseech Thee, and let this mind, now wedded to the world, be wedded to Perfection, Oh Arunachala!

70. Mere thought of Thee has drawn me to Thee, and who can gauge Thy Glory (in Itself), Oh, Arunachala?

71. Thou hast possessed me, unexorcizable Spirit! and made me mad (for Thee), that I may cease to be a ghost (wandering the world), Oh Arunachala!

72. Be Thou my stay and my support lest I droop helpless like a tender creeper, Oh Arunachala!

73. Thou didst benumb (my faculties) with stupefying powder,⁷ then rob me of my understanding and reveal the Knowledge of Thy Self, Oh Arunachala!
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7 - This verse alludes to the wandering ascetics who spirit away children for disciples, stupefying them with a pinch of powder, such as sacred ashes.

74. Show me the warfare of Thy Grace, in the Open Field where there is no coming and going, Oh Arunachala!

75. Unattached to the physical frame composed of the (five) elements, let me for ever repose happy in the sight of Thy Splendour, Oh Arunachala!

76. Thou hast administered the medicine of confusion to me, so must I be confounded! Shine Thou as Grace, the cure of all confusion, Oh Arunachala!

77. Shine Thou selfless, sapping the pride of those who boast of their freewill, Oh Arunachala!

78. I am a fool who prays only when overwhelmed (by misery), yet disappoint me not, Oh Arunachala!

79. Guard me lest I flounder storm-tossed like a ship without helmsman, Oh Arunachala!

80. Thou hast cut the knot which bid the vision of Thy Head and Foot (the limitless Self). Mother-like, shouldst Thou not complete Thy task, Oh Arunachala!⁸
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8 - The cutting of the knot which binds man to illusion implies the attainment of nirvikalpa samadhi; completion of the task refers to the state of sahaja samadhi.

81. Be not (like) a mirror held to a noseless man, but raise me (from my lowness) and embrace me, Oh Arunachala!

82. Let us embrace upon the bed of tender flowers, which is the mind, within the room of the body (or the Ultimate Truth), Oh Arunachala!

83. How is it that Thou hast become famous from Thy constant union with the poor and humble, Oh Arunachala?

84. Thou hast removed the blindness of ignorance with the unguent of Thy Grace, and made me truly Thine, Oh Arunachala!

85. Thou didst shave clean my head (and I was lost to the world),⁹ then Thou didst (show Thyself) dancing in Transcendent Space, Oh Arunachala!
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9 - The parenthesis is not a mere addition to explain the implication of shaving the head, for by an alternative reading, involving the change of a single letter, these words become explicit in the text.

86. Though Thou hast loosed me from the mists of error and made me mad for Thee, why hast Thou not yet freed me from illusion; Oh Arunachala!

87. Is it true Silence to rest like a stone, inert and unexpansive, Oh Arunachala?

88. Who was it that threw mud to me for food¹⁰ and robbed me of my livelihood, Oh Arunachala?
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10 - Literally, 'Threw mud in my mouth', an expression meaning 'caused my ruin'. The deeper meaning of this verse is: 'Who was it that individualized me and robbed me of my Perfect Being?'

89. Unknown to all, stupefying me, Who was it that ravished my soul, Oh Arunachala?

90. I spoke thus to Thee, because Thou art my Lord; be not offended but come and give me happiness, Oh Arunachala!

91. Let us enjoy one another in the House of Open Space, where there is neither night nor day, Oh Arunachala!¹¹
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11 - The allusion is to the 'cavity of the Heart' which is beyond time and space.

92. Thou didst take aim (at me) with darts of Love and then devoured me alive, Oh Arunachala!

93. Thou art the Primal Being, whereas I count not in this nor the other world. What didst Thou gain thus by my worthless self, Oh Arunachala!

94. Dist Thou not call me in? I have come in. Now measure out for me, (my maintenance is now Thy burden). Hard is Thy lot, Oh Arunachala!

95. The moment Thou didst welcome me, didst enter into me and grant me Thy divine life, I lost my individuality, Oh Arunachala!

96. Bless me that I may die without losing hold of Thee, or miserable is (my fate), Oh Arunachala!

97. From my home Thou didst entice me, then stealing into my heart didst draw me gently into Thine, (such is) Thy Grace, Oh Arunachala!

98. I have betrayed Thy (secret) workings. Be not offended! Show me Thy Grace now openly and save me, Oh Arunachala!

99. Grant me the essence of the Vedas, which shine in the Vedanta, One without a second, Oh Arunachala!

100. Even my slanders, treat as praise and guard me for ever as Thine own, I pray, Oh Arunachala!

101. As snow in water, let me melt, as Love in Thee, Who art Love itself, Oh Arunachala!

102. I had but thought of Thee as Aruna, and lo! I was caught in the trap of Thy Grace! Can the net of Thy Grace ever fail, Oh Arunachala!

103. Watching like a spider to trap (me in the web of Thy) Grace, Thou didst entwine me and when imprisoned feed upon me, Oh Arunachala!

104. Let me be the votary of the votaries of those who hear Thy name with love, Oh Arunachala!

105. Shine Thou for ever as the loving Saviour of helpless suppliants like myself, Oh Arunachala!

106. Familiar to Thine ears are the sweet songs of votaries who melt to the very bones with love for Thee, yet let my poor strains also be acceptable, Oh Arunachala!

107. Hill of Patience, bear with my foolish words, (regarding them) as hymns of joy or as Thou please, Oh Arunachala!

108. Oh Arunachala! my Loving Lord, Throw Thy garland (about my shoulders) wearing Thyself this one (strung) by me, Arunachala!

Blessed be Arunachala! blessed be His devotees!
Blessed be this Marital Garland of Letters!