Ramana Maharshi

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Tiruchuli Thirumeni nathar temple

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Sri Ramana Maharshi in 1902

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Thiruvannamalai, Arunachalesvara Temple, India

A view of Thiruvanamalai Mountain.

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Sri-Ramana-Sramam

Ramana Mahanirvana Place in Thiruvanamalai

Ramana Maharshi (30 December 1879 – 14 April 1950) was an Indian sage and jivanmukta (liberated being). He was born Venkataraman Iyer, but is most commonly known by the name Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. He was born in Tiruchuli, Tamil Nadu, India, and at the age of sixteen experienced a spontaneous Self-realization. After this event, he left his home and traveled to the holy mountain of Arunachala, in Tiruvannamalai, where he lived for the rest of his life. Ramana Maharshi's teachings focused on the practice of self-inquiry (Atma Vichara), through the question "Who am I?", to bring about direct realization of the Self. He has been regarded as one of the most important spiritual teachers of the 20th century.

Biography

Early Life

Ramana Maharshi was born on 30 December 1879 in Tiruchuli, Tamil Nadu, to a Tamil Brahmin family. His father was Sundaram Iyer, and his mother was Alagammal. He attended school in Madurai, where he excelled in his studies. However, his life took a spiritual turn in 1896, when he experienced a profound, spontaneous awakening to his true nature. This realization occurred after a sudden fear of death led him to introspect deeply about the nature of the 'I' that dies. He concluded that the 'I' was not the body or the mind but something eternal.

Arunachala and Final Years

After this awakening, Ramana Maharshi left his family home and traveled to the sacred mountain of Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai, which he had heard of in his youth and felt a deep connection with. He lived there for the rest of his life, spending many years in silence and meditation. Over time, seekers from all over the world began to visit him for spiritual guidance. Despite his growing fame, he remained a simple and humble person, living in a small hut and later in the Sri Ramanasramam ashram that grew around him.

Teachings

Ramana Maharshi's teachings were simple yet profound. He advocated for the direct path to Self-realization through the inquiry into the nature of the self. He encouraged asking oneself "Who am I?" to peel away the layers of the ego and reveal the true Self underneath. He emphasized that true knowledge is the direct awareness of the Self as the only existing reality. His teachings have been compiled in several books, including "Talks with Ramana Maharshi", "Who Am I?", and "The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi".

Legacy

Ramana Maharshi's influence extends beyond the borders of India and has inspired millions around the world. His ashram, Sri Ramanasramam, continues to be a place of pilgrimage for those seeking spiritual guidance. His teachings have been embraced by both Eastern and Western seekers and have influenced the teachings of many contemporary spiritual teachers.

See Also

• Advaita Vedanta
• Self-realization
• Meditation
• Spiritual practice