Majestic, Deep and High, of Vast Vertical Dimension

The 108 Names of Sri Bhagavan (Ramana Ashtothara 44-51) Original Sanskrit by Sri Viswanatha Swami and English Translation & Commentary by Professor K. Swaminathan

44. Gambhirah: Majestic, deep and high, of vast vertical dimension.

[Jnana gambhirya is ‘the stillness at the depth of the ocean whose surface may be ruffled by waves’, the firmness of a huge mountain unmoved by the winds that blow around].

Om Gambhiraya namaha.

45.     Paramacharyah: Supreme Teacher.

[Teacher of supreme reality, jnana guru, teacher of teachers].

Om Paramacharyaya namah.

46.     Suprasannah: One whose presence is pure grace.

[One who embodies grace, the visible manifestation of Siva. Siva’s grace takes form as the Sadguru].

Om Suprasannaya namah.

47.     Abhayapradah: Giver of freedom from fear.

[Fear comes from the presence of ‘another’. When the sense of duality is destroyed, when identity with all creatures, the unity of all beings, is realized, who is to fear whom?]

Om Abhayapradaya namaha.

48.     Dakshinasya nibhah: The equal of Dakshinamurti.

[A modern avatar of Dakshinamurti, Bhagavan was a master of mounopadesa who could teach the profoundest wisdom through silence].

Om Dakshinasya nibhaya namah.

49.     Dhirah: Intrepid, imperturbable one.

[Dhiratva corresponds to the Tamil word uran, inner strength. Pure, still, firm awareness knows no change, no disturbance, no movement. Such unshakeable firmness, unclouded clarity, heroic self-reliance marked Bhagavan].

Om Dhiraya namaha.

50.     Dakshinabhimukhah: One facing south.

[By accident perhaps, on most occasions Bhagavan sat facing south, as He does now in the shrine in Ramana Kendra, Delhi. Dakshina means the right side, and hence skillful, active, powerful. The spiritual heart in the right side is the home of God, Guru and Self. As the Master faces south and the disciple faces north, the two hearts meet, the flow of Grace is quickened and time and space dissolve in non-dual bliss].

Om Dakshinabhimukhaya namah.

51.     Svarat: Autonomous, self-luminous one.

[He is the sole Being, hence emperor of the realm of Being. Swaraj is self-reliance, self-awareness, self-control, the inner or organic self-rule the Vedas proclaim as the human ideal and which Gandhiji pleads for in his ‘Hind Swaraj‘. It is not mere freedom from control by others or freedom to control others. It is freedom from the sense of duality].