Arunachala Aksharamanamalai

This book is a translation of Muruganar’s vritti urai – extended commentary on Sri Ramana’s Akshara Manamalai – The Marital Garland of letters. Sri Muruganar was himself highly spiritually evolved, a jnani himself according to many; he was an accomplished poet, and was deeply versed in the literature of Tamil, especially that of the bhakti tradition of Tevaram and Manikkavacagar. Moreover he had the opportunity over many years to ascertain from Bhagavan himself the often elusive inner meanings of many of the verses. These qualities combine to make of this Commentary a rare jewel in the Ramana literature, elucidating as it does the true Advaitic import of a work hitherto regarded as purely a devotional work.

Published in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the composition of Akshara Manamalai, this translation is designed as a companion volume to the existing Tamil edition, replicating it closely not only in content but also in style and format. It is hoped that, coming 71 years after the publication of the original Tamil work, this translation will finally bring Muruganar’s vritti urai to the wider audience it so richly deserves.