It is said that Ramana was emotionally moved when he read verses by Thayumanavar to the extent he would not be able to continue further.
" ... when he came to a very moving part he would get so choked with emotion that he could not continue but would lay aside the book."
Just as Lord Muruga came to save Arunagiri from his fall from the temple tower at Thiruvanamalai and subsequently instructed him to be still, "Summa iru", Thayumanavar too was similarly instructed by Arul Nandi Sivachariar.
Thayumanavar,
"... his search for a teacher ultimately led him to a man called Arul Nandi Sivachariar, who was also known as ‘Mauna Guru’. This teacher could trace his lineage back to the famous saint Tirumular, whose book, Tirumantiram, written well over a thousand years ago, became one of the canonical works of Saivism. When Thayumanavar approached him and asked if he could become his disciple, Mauna Guru nodded his head, thereby giving his consent. Thayumanavar then asked if he could follow him wherever he went. Mauna Guru responded by telling him ‘Summa iru,’ which can mean ‘Be still,’ ‘Be quiet,’ and also ‘Remain as you are’. This one phrase apparently brought about a major spiritual transformation in Thayumanavar. In later years, when he began to write ecstatic devotional poetry, he frequently mentioned this event, this phrase, and the effect it had on him. He frequently called it ‘the unique word’ in his verses."
Although the word 'Summa iru' uttered by a Guru can bring "immediate and
liberating impact on those who are in a highly mature state", Ramana says "conscious deliberate effort is required to attain that mauna state or the state of
being quiet", the reason being, "All the age-long vasanas carry the mind
outward and turn it to external objects. All such thoughts have to be given up
and the mind turned inward. For that, effort is necessary for most people."
Ramana adds that the exception is for those who have had placed the necessary effort in their previous life. For them it is possible to "achieve the mauna or supreme state indicated by ‘Summa iru’" at once.
Just as Ramalinga Adigal entered a room in 1874 in Siddhi Valagam and have his devotees lock him in, Thayumanavar too in 1742 withdrew into his hut leaving a message pinned to
the outside of the door. The message read (translated) :
Dear friends, Withdraw the mind from the senses and fix it in meditation. Control the thought-current. Find out the thought-centre and fix yourself there. Then you will be conscious of the divine Self; you will see it dancing in ecstasy. Live in that delight.
That delight-consciousness is the God in you. He is in every heart. You need not go anywhere to find Him. Find your own core and feel Him there. Peace, bliss, felicity, health – everything is in you.
Trust in the divine in you. Entrust yourself to His Grace. Be as you are. Off with past impressions! He who lives from within an ingathered soul is a real sage, even though he may be a householder. He who allows his mind to wander with the senses is an ignoramus, though he is learned.
See as a witness, without the burden of seeing. See the world just as you see a drama. See without attachment. Look within. Look at the inner light unshaken by mental impressions. Then, floods of conscious bliss shall come pouring in and around you from all directions. This is the supreme Knowledge; realise! Aum! AumThis was his final message.
Based on Bhagavan and Thayumanavar by Robert Butler, T. V. Venkatasubramanian and David Godman.