The Holy Beacon - Suri Nagamma Letters - Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi

When the Holy Beacon is lit on Arunachala, it is a sight well worth seeing. In the Ashram, in Bhagavan’s presence, a small deepam is also simultaneously lit, sacramental offerings (prasadam) are distributed and “Akshara Mana Malai” and other hymns are sung.

This year in particular, as there was no rain, the function went off very well. In the afternoon, from 3 o’clock onwards, the devotees started making preparations for the festival at the Ashram. In the Jubilee Hall, the floor was decorated with lime and rice powder floral designs, while hanging from the roof all round, were mango leaf festoons. On such occasions, the crowds which come to town for this Dipotsavam (Festival of Lights) usually visit the Ashram in the morning as they go round the hill; whereas in the evenings, it is mostly the Asramites who are present at the Ashram celebrations, and there is no crowd.

On this evening, when Bhagavan went out to the cowshed, the attendants placed his couch in the open space facing the summit of the hill, spread the bedding on it and put a stool with all the things on it that Bhagavan usually has by him. Opposite the couch a large shallow iron pan was placed on a high stool, ghee poured into it and a wick placed in the centre; flowers and garlands were strewn around it. Just as these preparations were nearing completion, Bhagavan came from the cowshed with his attendants, and it was as though it were actually Lord Siva Himself arriving on the scene. Spontaneously those gathered there rose; Bhagavan seated himself on the couch and all prostrated before him. We then sat in rows, the men on Bhagavan’s

right, the women on his left, along the steps leading to the Hill. The space in front of Bhagavan was filled, not only with baskets of fruits brought by the devotees, but also with vessels of all sorts full of sweetmeats and other preparations. When the ghee brought by devotees was poured into the pan, it was overflowing. Camphor was then placed on the wick. The fragrance from the lighted incense sticks spread on all sides and created a holy atmosphere.

Bhagavan sat lovingly looking at all the devotees and related to those near him the significance of the Festival of Lights. He also pointed out the exact place where the deepam was to be lit on the hilltop. After that, Veda Parayana began.

By the time the parayana was over, the sun had set. Soon, little lights in earthenware saucers were lit all round the hall and garlands of electric lights of many colours were switched on. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the lighting of the sacred beacon on the hilltop and the attendants had handed to Bhagavan a binocular with which he, too, was eagerly scanning the hill. While his gaze was concentrated on the summit of the hill, ours was concentrated on his Divine face, for it was just a reflection of Arunachala.

With the firing of crackers at the Temple, the light on the hilltop appeared. Immediately, the ‘akhanda jyoti’ (uninterrupted) light, opposite Bhagavan was lighted. The Brahmins rose and chanted the mantra, ‘na karmana naprajaya dhanena’, and lit the camphor; kumkum and vibhuti were distributed and then all the devotees sat down. After Bhagavan had partaken of a little fruit and some sweetmeats, the rest were distributed amongst the devotees. Immediately after that, the devotees divided themselves into two parties, one singing the hymns in the “Akshara Mana Malai”, and the other taking up the refrain ‘Arunachala Siva’. After that, the five stanzas beginning with ‘Karunapurnasudhabhde’ in Sanskrit and its equivalent in Tamil were recited.

Bhagavan sat resting his cheek on his hand, slightly reclining on the pillow — his characteristic pose. His face appeared as though mirroring his Self-illumination, with his silence and his profound thought reflected on it. The moon rose in the east and cast its light on him as though seeking its light from him. I sat there, facing east, with my back against the almond tree. If I looked west, I had the light of the Arunachala Hill; if I looked ahead I had the brilliant light of the moon; and if I looked to the right, I had the glowing light emanating from Bhagavan’s face. What a sight it was, and how lucky I felt that I had the three-faced Light around me that night! I felt an inexplicable bliss and involuntarily closed my eyes.

On hearing the sound of the dinner bell, I opened my eyes. Bhagavan was looking steadily at me, and that look was more than I could stand; involuntarily my head hung down. Bhagavan smiled and entered the dining room, the devotees following him.

After the meal, with Bhagavan’s permission, we, the devotees, started for the walk round the hill. I shall write to you about it some time later.