FIVE HYMNS TO ARUNACHALA:-The hymns in Sri Arunchala Stuti Panchakam are among the earliest compositions of Bhagavn. They were written around 1914 when Bhagavan was living on the hill at Virupaksha Cave. Arunachala Mahatmyam:-the short hymn that introduces Sri Arunachala Stuti Panchakam is taken from the Skanda Purana & was translated by Bhagavan into Tamil. Included in this prelude are verses on the significance of Arunachala written by Muruganar & a verse by Bhagavan on the significance of the beacon flame atop Arunachala on Deepam Day. Akshara Mana Malai :-Among his devotees at the time of composing this hymn wre several sadhus who used to go to town each day to beg for alms. It so happened that other sadhus in town would try & give their benefactors the impression that they too were connected with the Maharshi in order to improve their chances of receiving alms. Bhagavan’s devotees requested Bhagavan to compose a song that they could sing while on their round for bhiksha, both as a way of benefiting their patrons with Bhagavan’s wisdom & also to distinguish themselves as his devotees. Initially Bhagavan refused, saying that there were already plenty of songs by the Saivite saints. But they continued to press him, & in the end, he relented, composing this Marital Garland of Letters. Sri Arunachala Nava Mani Malai, Padikam & Ashtakam:- The second, third & fourth hymns were written at about the same time. Whereas later poems of the Maharshi are teaching oriented, these hymns are emotional, inspiring & devotional. Sri Arunachala Nava Mani Malai, like Akshara Mana Malai, tells of the wonder of Arunachala. Of the Sri Arunachala Padikam & Sri Arunachala Ashtakam Bhagavan said: The only poems that came to me spontaneously & compelled me, as it were, to write them without anyone urging me to do so are Sri Arunachala Padikam & Sri Arunachala Ashtakam. The opening worda of Sri Arunachala Padikam came to me one morning & even though I tried to suppress them, saying, “ what have I to do with these words?” they would not be suppressed till I composed a song bringing them in; & all the words flowed easily, without any effort. In the same way the second stanza was made the next day & the succeeding ones the following days, one each day. Only the tenth & eleventh were composed the same day,”