Arunachala Shiva

Tonight the Deepam festival, the moon

On Arunachalam casts its glow

On pilgrims called by the Maharshi's peace.

They walk in silence round the sacred hill.

I stood before the room wherein he lay

And took his final breath upon our soil.

A peace descended, vast, unshakeable,

Down through the head and through the silent heart

Resting at the navel's lotus base.

Two years before I heard an aged man

With toothless mouth intone a silver chant,

'Arunachala Shiva'. And as he sang

He left this human field and for awhile

Merged with the One to whom he offered his song.

A companion behind his frail body sat

And rarely have I seen such love as hers

With steadfast eyes on one whom she adored.

It was she who sat by Ramana and gave

The final sips of water to her Lord.

Maniswamy has departed now,

I do not know if she has followed him

But this I know that this sweet soul of love,

His adoration offered and his life

To one Sri Aurobindo recognized

As a 'spiritual Hercules' is with him now,

And I forever blessed heard once his song.