Sorupa Saram - I : The Essence of One’s Own True Nature - Sorupananda

Sorupa Saram (also known as Swarupa Saram when it is spelt in the Sanskrit way) is a Tamil advaitic work that was composed by Sorupananda, a distinguished Tamil saint and Guru who lived near Virai, a Tamil town, probably around the end of the sixteenth century. He is associated historically with Tattvarayar, an eminent scholar who was also his sister’s son. The following biographical information about them has been taken from a Tamil introduction to Sorupa Saram:¹

Sorupananda and Tattvarayar were fluent in Sanskrit and Tamil, and both were learned in all the sastras. However, the true realization dawned upon them that the profit to be gained from this limited knowledge, however praiseworthy, did not have the power to grant freedom from birth in the way that true knowledge does. They realized that it showed a lack of judgement on their part to devote their time any longer to the acquisition of this limited knowledge, which confers advantages in this life only. By doing so, they would waste a human birth, something that is very hard to attain. Since they were both overcome by a desire to free themselves from worldly attachments, they devoted themselves to the task of seeking out a Sadguru who could bestow jnana.

Having made this resolution, the two of them, before leaving their dwelling-place, made an agreement with one another: "Whichever of us is first to obtain the fortune of a Guru’s darshan, he shall assume the position of Guru to the other."

They then set out on a pilgrimage, Sorupananda to the South, and Tattvarayar to the North. Upon the banks of the Kaveri, in a holy place called Govattam, Sorupananda had a miraculous experience in which he attained a tranquility of mind that had thus far eluded him.

"This occurrence is due to the presence here of some great mahatma," he decided.

Upon consulting the learned people in that place, he discovered that a great being called Sri Sivaprakasa Swami dwelt there in a patch of rushes, immersed in perpetual samadhi. However, he ascertained that on a few occasions he had been known to come outside in the morning time.

Going immediately to the holy presence of that Sadguru, he waited until Sivaprakasa Swami emerged from his state of absorption and came outside. Making obeisance in the proper manner, he beseeched him to accept him as his devotee. When he had received the Guru’s grace, Sorupananda waited for Tattvarayar’s return.

Tattvarayar had traveled to the North, but he had not obtained the darshan of any Guru. When he lost all hope of doing so, he gave up his search and returned to the South. On his way, he had the good fortune to meet Sorupananda, who by that time had realized the Self. Tattvarayar then received the grace of his uncle.

to be continued.....

© Permission granted by "The Mountain Path (Jayanti, 2004). Copyright David Godman. Translation by Dr. Venkatasubramaniam and Robert Butler. Edited by David Godman. Website: www.ramana-maharshi.org.

1 Sorupa Saram, pub. Kasyapa Nagarajan, 1971.

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