What is with this mantra Arutperunjothi that we are asked to chant it ever so often? What is the "Agaval" that Ramalinga Adigal composed that spans some 1596 lines? We come to understand that the saint documented his spiritual journey in these songs that came to be compiled as the "TiruArutpa" and in other writings of his too.
Swami Saravanananda has given a beautiful English rendering of the original in Tamil of Ramalinga Adigal's "Arutperunjhoti Agaval", published by the Ramalinga Mission, Madras. He reveals the inner meaning of the Arutpa. (All definitions of words are from Oxford Languages)
1‐12, Deals with the attributes of the effulgence (jothi).
13‐26, Deals with the various boons conferred on Ramalingam:
- zeal or great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective,
- discernment or the ability to judge well,
- radiant body,
- prosperity,
- liberated from countless births,
- freed from religious bigotry,
- removed doubt and misconception,
- freed from the clutches of religious scriptures, and
- made him pure.
27‐56, Deals with the various voids or spaces or spiritual planes which a soul has to pass through before attaining godhead.
57‐110, He brings the truth that the various voids are not external to our being and can be realized within ourselves. I guess this is what he sings about in his song "ஆணிப்பொன்னம்பலக் காட்சி" too.
111‐336, Deals with the attributes of the effulgence (jothi) that abides in the inmost void. Whenever he comes and initiates us, something happens within that is beyond our senses and control. It seems like he is working on another sheath of our body. For our thoughts go on, we are witness to everything external, but something else is moving within too that is initiated by them. Could he be working on the Anandamaya Kosa?
337‐366, Praises to the effulgence (jothi) as the source of all elements. Ramalingam now a primordial being is provided with penetrating radiant vision to pry into the secrets and mysteries of nature. Thus equipped he beholds the evolution of the universe in all its aspects all of which are recorded in these verses.
337‐402, Deals with the various aspects of the nature of the earth.
403‐430, Deals with the various aspects of the nature of the water.
431‐460, Deals with the various aspects of the nature of the fire.
461‐492, Deals with the various aspects of the nature of the air.
493‐512, Deals with the various aspects of the nature of space.
513‐544, Deals with the process of the creation of the human body, the acme of the entire evolutionary process. Ramalingam describes how each and every organ and its system is evolved and placed in the human frame; provides a step-by-step process of the evolution of the human body.
545‐554, Deals with how space yields the other elements.
555‐580, Deals with the various partial spaces or voids.
581‐620, Deals with the various forces that activate the universe and the human body.
621‐628, Deals with creation from the One.
629‐646, Deals with the seed.
647‐682, Deals with the dual or polar nature of manifestation.
683‐690, Deals with the tattvas and the primordial elements.
691‐702, Deals with the modes of the birth of organisms.
703‐716, Deals with the male and female characteristics of the human being.
717‐782, Deals with the protection and sustenance of organisms.
783‐812, Deals with the repression and control of all impure tendencies by the effulgence.
813‐832, Deals with the various kinds of curtains or veils that surround the soul and prevent it from having a clear vision of the great effulgence. With the removal of the last screen, the self stands face to face with the resplendence merging in the effulgence to become part and parcel of it and perform all the functions of the effulgence to make other-selves realize the same level.
833‐852, Deals with the removal of the screens one after another as and when the entity rises up from one plane of consciousness to the next higher plane. By thus removing the veils the effulgence enlightens the beings of human and celestial origin and also deities high above the celestial origin.
853‐874, Narrates how the effulgence pervades through all the functions of the dynamic powers.
875‐880, Deals with the uniqueness of the supreme beings.
881‐920, Deals with the omnipresent aspect of the effulgence.
921‐930, Deals with the cosmic self which manifests everywhere.
931‐940, Deals further with the attributes of the effulgence.
941‐976, Deals further with the cosmic self.
977‐1018, Deals with the manifold manifestations and activities of compassion.
1019‐1038, Deals with the boons that are bestowed on Ramalingam.
1039‐1070, The narration of how the effulgence as the guru has taught Ramalingam all the knowledge and wisdom.
1071‐1114, Deals with the motherly aspect of the effulgence.
1115‐1164, Deals with the paternal aspect of the effulgence.
1165‐1176, Deals with the attributes of the companionship of the effulgence.
1177‐1192, Deals with the friendly attitude of the effulgence.
1193‐1200, Deals with the attributes of the kinship of the effulgence.
1201‐1213, Deals with the eternal (sat) aspect of the effulgence.
1214‐1238, Deals with the knowledge (chit) aspect of the effulgence.
1239‐1254, Deals with the blissful (ananda) aspect of the effulgence.
1255‐1290, Deals with the attributes of the effulgence further.
1291‐1310, Deals with the wish-fulfilling attribute of the effulgence. This I am beginning to see in simple things in life that he brings to fulfill the moment the thought arises, as in my wish to go to Kallar, See my mother, and even a tiny wish to anoint the chandana on my forehead.
1311‐1320, Deals with the gem, the mantra, and the medicine which confers everlasting siddhis.
1321‐1336, Deals with the ambrosial effect of the effulgence.
1337‐1366, Deals with the sterling qualities of the effulgence.
1367‐1380, Deals with the munificence of the effulgence.
1381‐1386, Deals with the effulgence of a mountain with divine attributes.
1387‐1448, Deals with the effulgence of the sea and its shores with divine attributes.
1449‐1494, Deals with the changes that take place when the divine descends on the human frame. This is the most esoteric and sublimest part of this work.
1495‐1510, Deals with the intense love that transmutes itself into light becoming the guiding factor of all souls.
1511‐1518, The light is compared to that of the full moon.
1519‐1528, Deals with the effulgence of rain that removes all dross from the heart and mind.
1529‐1538, Deals with the effulgence of the sun that removes the darkness of ignorance.
1539‐1548, Deals with the brilliance of the effulgence of the sun.
1549‐1554, Deals with the glow of the flame of the effulgence.
1555‐1596, Sums up all the boons that Ramalingam received through the grace of the effulgence. Ramalingam offers his thanks.