श्रीः
ॐ नमो भगवते श्रीरमणाय
கருணார்ணவமாய் கருத கதிநல்கும் அருணாசல சிவமீதாம்
This is the ocean of grace, Arunachala, who grants liberation to those who think of it. (Translated by Sri Bhagavan from Skanda Puranam).
The moment I recollect my real nature, I am free. The moment I realise that the real Arunachala svarupam is "I", I am free. Arunachala is Para Brahman - taken as a mountain for upasana and for sadhana, as an anchor. In the jnana marga, it shows up in the heart as my true self on self-enquiry.
Skanda Puranam says दर्शनादभ्रसदसि जननात् कमलालये काश्यां तु मरणात् मुक्तिः स्मरणादरुणाचलम् - Moksha is attained by seeing Chidambaram (Abhrasadas), by being born in Tiruvarur (Kamalalaya), by dying in Kashi and by remembering Arunachalam.
In Day by Day, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi explains this verse as follows -
Kashi itself means light, and it represents knowledge, which burns away body-identification. This bodylessness is moksha.
Chidambaram represents the chidakasha in which the aatma dances as I. When the aatma is experienced in the hridaya guha, moksha is attached by darshanam.
Tiruvarur is called Kamalayala - being born in the hridaya guha. It represents aatma vichara as to who I am. When the true I is realised, it signifies real birth, which is not followed by rebirth.
Ramana maharshi is the best example of Smaranaat Arunachalam. When he heard the name Arunachala, he experienced great joy and freedom, attributing it to the akhanda vastu, which is our own nature.
Sri Arunachala Tattvam
புத்தி அஹங்காரம் புலம்பு எய்து ஓங்கும்
மத்தி இதயம் தான் மறையவனும் மாலும்
நத்த அறியாது நலம் குலைய அன்னார்
மத்தி ஒளிர் அண்ணாமலையினது மெய்யே (Sri Muruganar)
Meaning:
- மத்தி இதயம் தான் - (it) is indeed the heart center.
- புத்தி அஹங்காரம் புலம்பு எய்து ஓங்கும் - which expands and shines when our intellect and ego lament in grief, due to our inability to know (the reality).
- மறையவனும் மாலும் நத்த அறியாது நலம் குலைய அன்னார் மத்தி ஒளிர் - the light which shone forth between Brahma and Vishnu when their pride was subdued due to their not realising (they being unable to know)
- அண்ணாமலையுனது மெய்யே - (this) indeed, is the truth of Annamalai.
The real meaning / tattvam of Arunachala who shone forth between Brahma and Vishnu and subdued their pride, is indeed the heart, which rises and shines while our intellect and ego are unable to comprehend the reality.
In the legend, while the names of Vishnu and Brahma appear, the real meaning is what they represent - Vishnu represents the intellect and all forms of material wealth and Brahma represents the ego, while Siva is Paramatma. Sadhana has to be performed until the ego is exhausted and is ready to surrender. When the ego is surrendered, it is true prapatti.
Kathopanishad says - पराञ्चि खानि व्यतृणत् स्वयम्भुः तस्मात् पराङ् पश्यति नान्तरात्मन्। कश्चिद्धीरः प्रत्यगात्मानमैक्षत् आवृत्तचक्षुः अमृतत्वमिच्छन् ॥ (2.4.1)
Brahma the creator, created the senses with outgoing tendencies, therefore man always sees the external universe and not the internal self. But the wise man who seeks immortality, with his eyes turned within and away from sense objects, sees the aatma within.
The intellect and mind, while they are instruments of worldly knowledge, do not succeed during self-enquiry. They are focused outward, and cannot be used to do self-enquiry, which needs an inward-focused mind.
The word Annamalai itself means that which cannot be touched / approached. The truth can be attained only when the ego (wrong identification with body, mind, intellect) is dropped and the real self is allowed to shine through.
Deepa Darshana Tattvam
இத்தனுவே நானாம் எனும் மதியை நீத்த (அப்)
புத்தி இதயத்தே பொருந்தி; அஹநோக்கால்
அத்விதமாம் மெய்யஹச்சுடர் காண்கை; பூ
மத்தியெனும் அண்ணாமலைச்சுடர்காண் மெய்யே (Sri Bhagavan)
Meaning:
- அத்விதமாம் மெய்யஹச்சுடர் காண்கை - seeing the nondual real light of the self
- அஹநோக்கால் - by turning inwards
- இத்தனுவே நானாம் எனும் மதியை நீத்த - having rejected the notion that the body is the real "I
- அப்புத்தி இதயத்தே பொருந்தி - having established the mind in the heart
- பூ மத்தியெனும் அண்ணாமலைச்சுடர்காண் மெய்யே - is the real significance of seeing the light on Arunachala, which is at the center of the world
Seeing (experiencing) the nondual light of the self by turning inwards, having rejected the notion that the body is the real "I" and having established the mind in the heart, is the real significance of seeing the light on Arunachala, which is at the center of the world.
The real Karthikai deepam is lit when ahankara (wrong identification with the non-self) is shed and the mind turns inwards, and experiences the self-luminous aatma.
The Buddha said आत्मदीपो भव - 'aatmadeepo bhava' be a light unto yourself. The light of the self is the only real light, which removes darkness of the non-self.
Bhagavan Sri Krishna says in the Gita -
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता।
योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः॥ (6.19)
The yogi whose mind is under control, and who is engaged in concentration on the Self, is like a lamp kept in a windless place which does not flicker. A mind without ripples in the form of thoughts is a powerful medium to unearth the hidden treasure within.
The apparently dualistic action of 'seeing' the light shining on top of the Arunachala hill on Kartikai deepam, has a deeper significance - it signifies the nondual experience of the self, the real I, the sat-cit-ananda svarupam, the real light of the self.
सर्वं श्रीकृष्णार्पणमस्तु
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