Ramana Maharshi - Biographical notes

"Love itself is the actual form of God. One who knows the secret of that love finds the world itself full of universal love. Only if one knows the truth of love, which is the real nature of Self, will the strong entangled knot of life be untied. Only if one attains the height of love will liberation be attained. Such is the heart of all religions."



Introductory Notes

Sri Ramana Maharshi was probably the most renowned sage of the twentieth century from India. He was renowned for his saintly life, for being fully realized, and for the powerful energy transmissions that often occurred to visitors in his presence. At the age of 16 he had an experience which changed his life forever and because of which he realized spontaneously that he was the Self seated in the hearts of all beings.

This experience of non-duality never left him. Some time after this experience he ran away to Arunachala, one of India's traditional holy sites, where he stayed for the rest of his life. So many people came to see him there that an ashram was built around him. Many of his close devotees were regarded by their peers as self-realized.

Ramana Maharshi always maintained that his most important teaching was done in silence. He meant that when people were in his physical presence, their minds were affected by the silent emanation of power flowing from him. In some cases the effects were astonishingly strong.

His position on monism (the identity of the individual soul and the creator of souls) and maya (illusion) paralleled that of Shankara. His original contribution to yogic philosophy was the technique of vichara (self-pondering inquiry).

Early Life

When Ramana Maharshi was a child he received the name Venkataraman and was later known as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. As the child was being born, a lady with poor eye-sight exclaimed that the new born was enveloped in light. Venkataraman’s early childhood was quite normal. He joined others of his age in fun and frolic. When he was a little older, Venkataraman read mystical and devotional literature, particularly the lives of South Indian Shaivite saints and the life of Kabir, the medieval mystical poet. The boy started to find the stories of devotees depicted in the "Periya Puranam" very interesting and gradually started expressing keen interest in reading more about spirituality and religion.

Death Experience

After the death of his father, Venkataraman continued his higher education by staying in his uncle's house. However, he showed no interest in his studies. One day, in July 1896, while he was sitting alone in the house, he had an exceptional fear of death come over him even though he was healthy at that time. His upper body, hands and limbs went numb and still. He felt that he had to solve the problem himself, then and there. He did not try to call for help, instead he let the feeling engulf himself

In later years, he said: "The shock of the fear of death drove my mind inwards and I said to myself mentally, without actually framing the words: ‘Now death has come; what does it mean? What is it that is dying? This body dies.’ And I at once dramatized the occurrence of death. I lay with my limbs stretched out stiff as though rigor mortis had set in and imitated a corpse so as to give greater reality to the enquiry. I held my breath and kept my lips tightly closed so that no sound could escape, so that neither the word ‘I’ or any other word could be uttered, ‘Well then,’ I said to myself, ‘this body is dead. It will be carried stiff to the burning ground and there burnt and reduced to ashes. But with the death of this body am I dead? Is the body ‘I’? It is silent and inert but I feel the full force of my personality and even the voice of the ‘I’ within me, apart from it. So I am Spirit transcending the body. The body dies but the Spirit that transcends it cannot be touched by death. This means I am the deathless Spirit.’ All this was not dull thought; it flashed through me vividly as living truth which I perceived directly, almost without thought-process."

"One of the features of my new state was my changed attitude to the Meenakshi Temple. Formerly I used to go there occasionally with friends to look at the images and put the sacred ash and vermillion on my brow and would return home almost unmoved. But after the awakening I went there almost every evening. I used to go alone and stand motionless for a long time before an image of Siva or Meenakshi or Nataraja and the sixty-three saints, and as I stood there waves of emotion overwhelmed me. Later on, Sri Ramana Maharshi recalled this incident and said, “since this experience of death, I had no interest in studies at all! I felt distanced from my loved ones…I would open and hold a book, as if I am reading it, but immersed myself in the thoughts of God. I noticed that the sense of peace, equality and reverence started growing in me day after day. I spent most of my time meditating"

Running Away to Arunachala

Venkataraman's disinterest in his scholastic studies increased over time that got him into troubles with his teachers, leading to more homework and punishments. One day out of sheer boredom, he put away his books, and started to meditate. Seeing him meditate, his brother remarked that he should not have accepted such work if he was not going to fulfill it.. Ramana agreed with his brother and thought: "What work do I have in this house?" Determining to run away to Arunachala, his father, he got up from his meditation seat and told his brother that he has a special class on Electricity and he is heading out to the school. His brother replied, “if you are going to school, help me pay my school fees…you can take 5 Rupees from the box downstairs…”

Venkataramanan quickly had his food, looked through an old map and studied the way to mount Arunachala through Tindivanam (about 120 Kilometers southwest from Chennai) and took just enough money for his travel. He kept the remaining 3 Rupees and a note informing his brother: “I am leaving this place to seek out my father as he commanded. This is a virtuous thing, so please do not grieve over me. Please do not also spend any money to trace me out. I am taking 2 Rupees and the remaining money is enclosed herewith” and left the house and headed out to the railway station. Thus the boy left Madurai forever in 1896 Aug 29.

Although he arrived late at the station the train was also late. He bought a ticket to Tindivanam which seemed to be the nearest place to Tiruvannamalai. During the journey an aged Moulvi engaged him in conversation and told him that it was easier to go to Tiruvannamalai from Villupuram. At about three in the morning, the train arrived at Villupuram. Deciding to walk the rest of the way to Tiruvannamalai, the boy got off the train. He was feeling hungry and exhausted so he decided to go to a hotel for refreshment. In the hotel he was asked to wait for the mid-day meal. The manager of the hotel looked interestedly at the boy, and noticed his fair complexion, long jet-black locks, golden ear-rings, a face beaming with intelligence and having no luggage or possessions of his own. He felt attracted to the lad. After Venkataramana had finished his meal, he offered two annas, which the hotel manager did not accept. Ramana, refreshed from his meal, immediately left for the railway station. He boarded a train to Mambalapattu, which was as far as his meagre funds would allow him to purchase a ticket to.

Arriving at Mambalapattu, he set out on foot for Tiruvannamalai and by evening reached Tirukoilur. He went into the nearby temple of Arayaninallur where he had a vision of dazzling light encompassing the whole region. Ramana looked for the source ofthe light within the temple shrine, but realized that the temple shrine was not the source ofthe light. Soon the light disappeared.

Ramana sat in a mood of deep meditation in the temple, when the temple authorities asked him to leave. He went to another temple and plunged into deep meditation again. After their work in the temple was over, the temple priests disturbed Ramana again and refused his request for food. The temple drummer intervened and offered to share his allotment of food with Ramana. After the meal, Ramana asked for some water. The priests asked him to go to s psrticular house for it. On the way to the house, Ramana fainted and fell to the ground. He became conscious some time later to discover that a small crowd had formed around him and were regarding him curiously. He drank some water, ate some food, and then lay down and slept.

When he woke up the next morning he noticed that therewas a crowd of people surounding him. It was Sri Krishna Jayanthi (Krishna’s Birthday) and he realized that he still had to walk a long way to reach Arunachala. Since he had no money to buy train tickets he ended up selling away his earrings for 4 Rupees and used that money to buy train tickets to Tiruvannamalai! He reached Arunachala on 1 September 1986! Ramana was extremely happy and joyous on reaching Arunachala.

His heart throbbing with excitement, Ramana hastened straight to the sanctum of the temple. As if to welcome His favorite child, all the gates and the doors of the temple, even that of the inner shrine, stood open and there was no one else inside! Standing before his Father Arunachala, the boy started praying, “I have come at your call, sacrificing everything I had. Oh Lord, please accept me and do with me as you will...”

Life at Arunachala

Ramana first stayed at the great temple in Tiruvannamalai, remaining for a few weeks in the thousand-pillared hall. But he soon had to shift to the underground vault, Patala-lingam because he was troubled by urchins who pelted stones at him as he sat in meditation. Undisturbed he spent several days in deep absorption. Without moving he sat in samadhi, unaware of ants and other insects biting at his flesh. But the mischievous boys soon discovered the retreat and indulged in their pastime of throwing potsherds at the young Swami.

At that time in Tiruvannamalai there was a senior Swami of the name of Seshadri. Those who did not know him took him for a madman. He sometimes stood guard over the young Swami, and drove away the urchins. Finally, after consultation with each other,the devotees removed him from the pit, without his being aware of it, and deposited him in the vicinity of a shrine of Subrahmanya. From then on there was some one or the other to take care of Ramana. The seat of residence had to be changed frequently. The Swami himself never spoke. Not that he took any vow of silence; he simply had no inclination to talk.

A little less than six months after his arrival at Tiruvannamalai Ramana shifted his residence to a shrine called Gurumurtam at the earnest request of its keeper. As days passed and as Ramana’s fame spread, increasing numbers of pilgrims and sight-seers came to visit him out of curiosity. After about a year’s stay at Gurumurtam, Ramana moved to a neighbouring mango orchard. It was here that one of his uncles, Nelliyappa Aiyar traced him out. Having learnt from a friend that Venkataraman was then a revered Sadhu at Tiruvannamalai, he went there to visit him. He tried his best to convince Ramana to go with him to Manamadurai, but the young sage showed no sign of interest in the visitor. So, Nelliyappa Aiyar went back disappointed to Manamadurai. However, he informed Alagammal, Ramana’s mother of her son's whereabouts.

Mother's Entreaties to take back Ramana with her

The mother went to Tiruvannamalai to search for Ramana accompanied by her eldest son. Ramana was then living at Pavalakkunru, one of the eastern spurs of Arunachala. With a tear-stained face, Alagammal entreated Ramana to go back with her. But, for Ramana there was no going back. Nothing moved him — not even the wailings and weepings of his mother. He kept silent giving no reply to his mother's entreaties. A devotee who had been observing the struggle of the mother for several days requested Ramana to write out at least something. The sage wrote on a piece of paper:

“The Ordainer controls the fate of souls in accordance with their past deeds. Whatever is destined not to happen will not happen, try how hard you may. Whatever is destined to happen will happen, do what you may to stop it. This is certain. The best course, therefore, is to remain silent.”

Saddened and with a heavy heart, Alagammal went back to Manamadurai. Sometime after his mother went away, Ramana went up the hill Arunachala, and started living in a cave called Virupaksa. Here also the crowds did not leave him alone, and among them were a few earnest seekers. These latter used to put him questions regarding spiritual experience or bring sacred books for having some points explained.

Two years later, Ramana's mother came to meet him again. On this occasion, she fell ill with typhoid. Ramana showed great concern for her health and nursed her lovingly day and night. When the illness did not show signs of abating, he composed a hymn to Arunachala, the first verse of which is as follows:

"Oh Medicine in the form of a Hill that arose to cure the disease of all the births that come in succession like waves! Oh Lord! It is Thy duty to save my mother who regards Thy feet alone as her refuge, by curing her fever." He also prayed that his mother be granted the vision of the divine and be weaned from worldliness. It is needless to say that both the prayers were granted. Alagammal recovered, and went back to Manamadurai.

Mother's Return

In 1916 the mother came, resolved to spend the rest of her life with Ramana, unable to bear the pangs of separation, and attracted to the kind of life that Ramana and his devotees lived. Soon after his mother’s arrival, Ramana moved from Virupaksa cave to Skandasramam, a little higher up the hill. There the mother received intense training in spiritual life. She donned the ochre robe, and took charge of the Ashrama kitchen.

Once as she sat before him he disappeared and she saw instead a column of pure light. Thinking this to mean that he had discarded his human form, she burst into tears, but soon the column of light vanished and he reappeared as before. On another occasion she saw him garlanded and surrounded with serpents like the conventional representations of Siva. She cried to him: “Send them away! I am frightened of them!” After this she begged him to appear to her henceforth only in his human form. By and by, Ramana's mother realized that the form she knew and loved as her son was as illusory as any other he might assume.

Mother's Death

In 1920 the mother grew weak in health and ailments common to old age came to her. Ramana nursed her lovingly and with care and affection, sometimes spending sleepless nights sitting up with her. In silence and meditation, in the presence of the sage, her understanding matured. The end came in 1922 on the festival of Bahula Navami, which fell that year on May 19th. For more than two hours she lay there, her chest heaving and her breath coming in loud gasps, and all this while Sri Bhagavan sat beside her, his right hand on her heart and his left on her head. This time Ramana did not think of praying to prolong her life but only of quieting the mind so that death could be Mahasamadhi, absorption in the Self. At eight o’clock in the evening she was finally released from the body. Sri Bhagavan immediately rose, quite cheerful. “Now we can eat,” he said; “come along, there is no pollution.”

There was deep meaning in this. A Hindu death entails ritualistic pollution calling for purificatory rites, but this had not been a death but a reabsorption. There was no disembodied soul but perfect Union with the Self and therefore no purificatory rites were needed. Describing the process of her death, afterwards, he said: “Innate tendencies and the subtle memory of past experiences leading to future possibilities became very active. Scene after scene rolled before her in the subtle consciousness. The soul was passing through a series of experiences, thus avoiding the need for rebirth and making possible union with the Spirit. The soul was at last divested of the subtle sheaths before it reached the final Destination, the Supreme Peace of Liberation from which there is no return to embodied existence.”

The mother’s body was taken down the hill to be interred. The place chosen for the tomb was at the southernmost point of Arunachala hill. Ramana who continued to remain at Skandasramam visited his mother's tomb every day. After about six months he came to stay there permanently. Thus was founded the Ramanasramam. A temple was raised over the tomb and was consecrated in 1949. As the years rolled by the Ashrama grew steadily, and people came from all over India and the world to see the sage and receive help from him in their spiritual lives.

Last Illness and Death

In 1949 Ramana suffered from an illness that was to end his life. He was detected to have sarcoma in his left arm. In spite of incessant medical care, on April 14, 1950 it became apparent that his physical end was near. In the evening, as the devotees began singing “Arunachala Siva” Ramana’s eyes opened and shone. He gave a brief smile of indescribable tenderness. From the outer corners of his eyes tears of bliss rolled down. He died. At that very moment 8:47 p.m. an enormous star trailed slowly across the sky passing to the north-east towards the peak of Arunachala. Many saw this luminous body in the sky, even as far away as Bombay and struck by its peculiar appearance and behaviour, they ascribed this phenomenon to the passing of their Master.

Stories of devotees

Ramana's devotees have left accounts of their encounter with the sage. Many of these stories have been collected in the book Ramana Periya Puranam (Inner Journey of 75 Old Devotees). Those interested may download the book from here.

Books about Ramana Maharshi and his Teachings

Q&A with Ramana Maharshi