A picture of Sundaram Iyer, and Azhagamma – Bhagavan Sri Ramana’s parents, in Sundara Mandiram, the house where Bhagavan was born, in December.30 1879, at Tiruchuzhi (Tiruchuli) about 52 km south of Madurai.
ॐ
O Arunachala!
Like (the words) Azhagu (Tamil for ‘beauty’)
and Sundara (Sanskrit for 'beauty’)
let me and Thou be completely nondifferent!
~ Hymn: Arunachala Aksharamanamalai, v.2 The bridal garland of letters to the Lord Arunachala, by Sri Ramana Maharshi
Non-difference is the goal of bhakti. The so called jiva and Isvara are one in reality. The oneness of the two, however, is not as endowed with adjuncts, but as free from them. The jiva’s ignorance makes for the difference; when the ignorance is removed, the oneness is realized. Arunachala and the bhakta, God and soul, are not two, sub specie aeternitatis (*). An example of apparent difference and essential nondifference is given. The Tamil word azhagu, means ‘beauty’. The Sanskrit word sundara also means the same. One who knows either language alone may imagine that the two words have different meanings. Most language controversies arise out of ignorance. When one realizes the identical connotation of the two words, one would know that it is evil to be misled by difference in expression.
Note: Azhagu and Sundara were the names, respectively, of Sri Ramana’s mother and father.
(*) In its essential or universal form or nature.
Complete Set of: “The Life Of Sri Ramana Maharshi”