Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Yoga / Hindu : Shaivite (Shiva) 12th Century	About Allama Prabhu Timeline (12th Century)
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English version by A. K. Ramanujan Original Language Kannada	Looking for your light,
Commentary by Ivan M. Granger Themes   Dawn   Light   Sun       Recommended Books Speaking of Siva, by A K Ramanujan	Looking for your light, I went out:      it was like the sudden dawn      of a million million suns,      a ganglion of lightnings      for my wonder.      O Lord of Caves,      if you are light,      there can be no metaphor.     -- from Speaking of Siva, by A K Ramanujan Amazon.com
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

Light is one of the primary images in sacred poetry, suggesting the Divine not framed within a mental concept. But for genuine mystics, this light is not a mere concept; it is directly experienced -- which is clearly what Allama Prabhu is describing with this verse.

This sense of light is more than a brightness one might experience on a sunny afternoon. This light is perceived as being a living radiance that permeates everything, everywhere, always. It is a radiance that outshines everything "like the sudden dawn / of a million million suns." This light is immediately understood to be the true source of all things, the foundation on which the physicality of the material world is built.

The sense of boundaries and separation, long taken for granted by the mind as the fundamental nature of existence, suddenly seems illusory, for this light shines through all people and things. It has no edges, and the light of one is the light of another.

This light is recognized as your own Self, while simultaneously being the Self of all others. Since this light is you and, at the same time, it radiates within all, the question arises: How can there be separation? conflict? loss?

Seeing this light, "there can be no metaphor." Nothing can be compared to anything else, for everything is recognized as being that light. In this divine light, it is all one already.

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.
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