IN PRAISE OF BHAGAVAN

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> IN PRAISE OF SRI BHAGAVAN RAMANA

> MAHARSHI

>

> Bliss has flooded the Heart of our beautiful Mother Earth,

> A Sage has come as Ramana to save us; taking human birth.

>

> Because the Lord of Mercy whose days on Arunachala Hill

> Leads a life of glory that ever shines and clears away all

> ill,

> By his Great Realisation of that Everlasting Truth,

> Revealed by Lord Krishna in his Bhagavad Gita forsooth:

> Like Dakshinamurti in Samahdi was shown by Shiva,

> As an emblem of silence, and revealed to Great Sage

> Sanaka.

>

> He's the revered Enlightened Master and gracious guide

> Of all learned scholars with me, Sri Ganapati at his side.

> He's possessed of all the highest virtues known to man,

> His brilliant effulgence is neatly clad in body's plan

> Of physical sheaths, when added together make five in sum.

> Behind dark worldly clouds he shines, a radiant blazing

> Sun!

>

> He`s perfect as the ruler over the five senses so

> unruly,

> He always sees only merits in others, clearly and truly,

> He ever abides in the blessed blissfulness of peace,

> In his Being, pernicious poison passion has long ceased.

> He lives only on the free offerings of caring devotees,

> He dwells as an ascetic on hill slopes, ever there to

> please.

>

> His Heart is proof against sharp arrows of carnal desire,

> He's the living embodiment of God Agni's sacred fire!

> He's devoted his days to teaching Knowledge of Jnana,

> He's crossed the stormy ocean of dreaded Samsara.

> He uses his hands soft as a lotus to serve as a bowl,

> Fear ends for all who take refuge to make themselves

> whole.

>

> At his feet, by his intensive and most powerful gaze

> His auspicious presence is felt as a fierce fiery blaze.

> He crushes the load of devotee's dark misery to dust,

> And scatters it along with their latent tendencies of

> lust.

> He's a safe haven of protection, security and peace,

> His brightness of light chases away sorrow with ease.

>

> His virtues are mirrored in rocks, streams and leaves,

> His sweet, truthful words calm anyone who grieves.

> He's never over elated by praise nor depressed by blame.

> He's foremost among all the Sages, world famous his

> name!

> He has relentlessly cut off the despicable ego-mind,

> He's overthrown all inner enemies that mankind finds,

>

> Like greed, anger, pride, jealousy and infatuation.

> He's immersed in a flood of blissful sublimation.

> He's climbed the peak of mountainous transcendental

> height,

> Through his own vision he's known Divinity's dazzling

> light,

> Well-nigh impossible for poor suffering ignorant others,

> He's free from arrogance; he sees all men as brothers.

>

> In ancient times he pierced Krauncha Hill like Skanda,

> To forego joys of being fondled by his mother Uma,

> That he might be reborn in human form as Sri Ramana,

> To shatter dense spiritual darkness of Earth's samsara.

> As an ascetic wearing only a clean loin cloth of white,

> He rode on the back of a Celestial Peacock so bright.

>

> He's now descended as a humble soul on planet earth,

> To reign over the world, a Master unique in human birth.

> Salutations to that One who transcends all attributes,

> The celibate, with human skill and talent most astute.

> The master and slayer of the diabolical Taraka,

> An emblem of man's dark ignorance, that avid Asura.

>

> There's no divine peacock that can bear one of his ilk,

> No Ganges he can bathe in, no nectar of mother's milk

> From the breasts of Goddess Parvati, no celestial choir

> Of vina players to sing and gently wile away each hour.

> Oh great pounder of Krauncha Hill! how do you still abide

> On sacred heights of Arunachala, evermore to reside?

>

> He's a God divine but wears only a single face,

> He left his fond Mother Parvati's sacred place.

> He doesn't wield a silver spear in his nimble hand,

> He takes human form to deceive this sleeping land,

> He hasn't celestial armies marching for him there.

> Enough of this mask by which you bewitch the unaware!

>

> But how will you escape your brother Ganapati's sight?

> Some worship you as best among Realised Rishi's bright,

> Some as a Jnani, Great Guru of Gurus, beyond compare,

> Others as an humble ascetic, so wise, comely and fair.

> But all of them prostrate before your sacred lotus feet,

> Yet only two or three see you as Skanda, a God complete.

>

> You explained the significance of Aum to Great Lord

> Brahma,

> You spoke to tell the Truth to your father, sacred Lord

> Shiva.

> You've kindly become the teacher of your elder brother

> Sri Ganapati, to whom you're as dear as his own mother.

> Subrahmanya you've outstripped your elders by much

> merit,

> For generations to come, such sage wisdom they'll

> inherit!

>

> The seat of honour reserved for those of most worth,

> Once enjoyed by Great Sage Vyasa of high noble birth,

> Later by dispeller of darkness Great Lord Shankara,

> Now awaits you, the Master Sage, dear Lord Ramana!

> Commander in Chief of the Celestial Army's plan,

> You've now come to planet Earth embodied as a man.

>

> Now when righteousness and religion seem at an end,

> When all worlds are driven mad around sanity's bend,

> And wretched scholars have lost sight of Ultimate Truth,

> Disputing polemics; when even God's Existence forsooth

> Is disputed, who else can be our safe haven and refuge?

> Oh Skanda born on Earth as man, save us from such deluge!

>

> Though dispassion's crucial, can you withhold your grace

> replete?

> Though effortlessness is desired, must worship of God's

> holy Feet

> Be condemned? Though desire's wholly contemptible for

> you,

> Would that cause you to cease from guarding your Sadhaks

> true?

> Oh Skanda hidden in a comely body with a human mask,

> Why do you still bide your time? I most respectfully ask.

>

> Away with empty dispute, discourse and discussion vain,

> Righteousness! no longer need you limp or feel so maim,

> Bewilderment and confusion will be wiped from the world,

> Good shall flourish everywhere and Truth be unfurled!

> Because our Lord, foremost of Guru's, son of Parvati

> Is now incarnate on Earth with his brother Ganapati.

>

> Oh mankind, revere this brother of Ganapati, the Master

> Who's come In bodily form for now and for ever after.

> The Self, pervading the microcosm and the macroscosm,

> Who is behind the souls of all, model of perfect altruism.

> Source of the ego in which all differences are lost,

> Who aids his children to Moksha regardless of cost.

>

> Hail Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, Universal Master!

> Dispeller of misery from this sad world ever after,

> Who chases away darkness from his dear devotees

> As that Eternal Consciousness ever ready to please,

> Abiding in the Heart, blazing bright within and without,

> Bereft of the least trace of ignorance, none to impart

>

> Self's the transcendental Truth that's underlying

> The world and beyond, there can be no denying.

> Oh Ramana, pray turn your gracious glance my way,

> So that I may be eternally blest, forever on this day.

> Oh Bhagavan, you're the natural Guru of all mankind,

> Your boundless Heart knows no differences, so we find.

>

> Troubled world, egotism and God are now all

> observed,

> As one transcendental Reality by virtue of your word.

> The recalcitrant mischievous ego has fallen down to die,

> I now exist as that One Reality which isn't apart from

> `I'.

> By your Grace our Hearts readily realise the Divine Self,

> Hidden within the perverted ego, that vile demonic elf.

>

> Blessedness isn't a virtue for you, oh Chief of Sages!

> Its natural in your shining Heart you've known for ages,

> Oh Spotless Being your form blazes with effulgent light,

> Infinite is your penetrating gaze, so brilliant and

> bright.

> Oh Lord your egotistic mind has vanished in your Heart

> You dwell in Eternal Sat Chit Ananda, never to depart.

>

> You're the acknowledged chief among ascetics severe,

> You've been deputed to roast Souls for the Lord so near,

> Cut off their egos and well season them for tasty food.

> I worship and revere you, who does every deed for good.

> You pierce through our ignorance dwelling in the heart,

> By virtue of your Grace, and piercing glance you find to

> impart.

>

> You're beatific, but your poor devotees are of little

> worth,

> Thrown headlong into an ocean of certain death and birth,

> Being drowned in their worldly desires without respite,

> And falling endlessly exhausted every noon and night.

> They reach up for the two lotus flowers afloat in mid-

> sea,

> And clutch for safety at your holy feet most earnestly.

>

> Merciful Lord, grant the poor refugees your gaze to save;

> You're so fearless, all powerful, both wise and brave.

> If unsuckled by its mother, what's a babe's sad fate?

> Where's safety for sheep when their shepherd's irate?

> Where's help for the sad soul pitched against God's

> wrath?

> How will ignorant ones conquer mind, like a flame is

> to moth?

>

> Master! Why not relieve the devotees pining at your feet?

> Perfect peace spreads when you shower nectar so sweet,

> By the lucid lunar-like gentle smile that shines on your

> face,

> Your steady gazing eyes grant incomparable grace,

> Ramana, your pearl of silence is a gift of priceless

> worth?

> It's unparalleled , oh Lord, on this poor planet Earth.

>

> The light of Parvati shines through your penetrating eyes,

> Dispelling ignorant darkness that clouds the mind's

> skies.

> Your face gleams with the grace and brilliance of Lakshmi,

> Your words contain the secret lore of Goddess Saraswati,

> Preceptor of the worlds, Sri Bhagavan Ramana the Great,

> How can a mere mortal sing the glory of your Realised

> state.

> I am now far away from your lotus feet in the

> heart's cave,

> My faith in your might keeps me quiet waiting to be saved.

>

> Good fortune visited the Red Mountain Arunachala,

> For having sheltered Great Sages in the past, oh Ramana,

> But now has grown unique because you've chosen this

> hill,

> Among many sacred places here for your mission to fulfil.

> Bliss has flooded the Heart of our beautiful Mother Earth,

> A Sage has come as Ramana to save us, taking human birth.

>

>

> -oOo-

> *A free versification of the prose translation from the

> Sanskrit, of `The Forty Verses in Praise of Sri Ramana' by

> Ganapati Muni.

>

>