GLORY OF ARUNACHALAM

Book excerpt: The Glory of Arunachala pays an ecstatic homage to the rare liberated souls that wandered through the hallowed region of Thiruvannamalai, who showed the ignorant mankind wherein lay the truth of existence. The peregrination of such souls sanctified the places they visited or stayed and lifted up the people from the mire of samsara. The chronicling of the paths traversed by Seshadri Swamigal and his younger fellow- sojourner Bhagawan Ramana creates a veritable galaxy of spiritual luminaries such as Poondi Samiyar, Vallimalai Swamigal, Mouna Swamigal and others. The impassioned account of Ramana’s life from Thiruchuzhi to Thiruvannamalai, is, undoubtedly, the Cereus in the constellation of Orion peopled by countless liberated souls. The textuality of this complex of hagiographies traverses through puranas, sthalapuranas, legends and lore, chronicling the author’s efforts to find testimony and corroboration for them. He is eager to prove that such siddhas truly walked this earth and held a light to Reality for posterity to get enlightened. That is his answer to the question, ‘why do we need hagiographies at all?’ The lofty spirit and style are meant to reiterate the immense possibility for transformation of consciousness that beckons us from the life and teachings of the countless siddhapurushas and jivanmuktas narrated here.