Photo shows Muruganar with Sadhu Om

Source: Ramana Hridayam

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SUTTARIVU Bhagavan: Though the Atma-swarupa* is one’s true nature, the reason why it appears difficult to attain is because of the powerful illusion wrought through suttarivu. That which exists is only the one consciousness. The many conceptualized varieties of objectified consciousness are only an imaginary notion in that which is. It is foolishness to suffer by desiring and struggling to know the Self in the same way that sense objects are known by suttarivu. It is not possible to see the eye with the eye. [In the same way] it is not possible to see the Self with suttarivu. The experience of the bliss of blemishless, true jnana Samadhi will abide in a heart in which the suttarivu has perished. Knowledge of the reality of the knower terminates mind-consciousness, the suttarivu that knows the non-Self. Confusion, the whirling of the mind that is suttarivu, will not cease except by internal renunciation. The cavorting mind, suttarivu, will not die except by awareness of the truth of the real nature of the thinker. [Padamalai, pp 148-150]

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Suttarivu is a key word in Muruganar’s writings. Arivu means consciousness or true knowledge, and it is often used in Tamil as an equivalent of jnana. ‘Suttu’ means ‘pointed at’. Arivu is the true consciousness, the true knowledge that is aware of nothing other than itself. However, when attention is externalized and ‘pointed at’ phenomena that are assumed to be external, the trinity of seer, seeking and seen arises. This creates the idea of an individual self who sees an external real world, and while this suttarivu process is functioning, the reality of the undivided Self is hidden.

Atma-swarupa: 'Atma' means the Self, and 'swarupa' means 'one's real nature' 

Jnana: Clear and abundant knowledge, which is Self (‘I am’). The power of knowing.