Sri Ramanashram

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The Holy Arunachala Hill is mentioned in the Brahmandapuranam as the heart of the earth. And it was here on these slopes of the hill that Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi established various ashrams.

The Holy Arunachala Hill is mentioned in the Brahmandapuranam as the heart of the earth. It was known as Pavizha Malai or the Coral Hill and was said to be fiery in appearance, but later changed into a shade of emerald green. In the initial stages, Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi, the saint of Thiruvannamalai, established various ashrams on the slopes of the Arunachala Hill, his abode.

Despite the fact that the sage severed all filial connections after his enlightenment, his mother remained with him serving his devotees during the final six years of her life. Bhagwan Ramana was living at Skandashram at that time. When the devout lady attained moksha or the 'Supreme Peace of Liberation', a shrine was built over her samadhi, which is now known as Sri Mathrubhootheswara Temple. Sri Ramana Maharshi used to come down to this holy spot daily. One day, he decided to stay on there permanently. "It is the same shakti that brought me to Thiruvannamalai, which has now ordained that I should stay here," he told his devotees. Today, this is the ashram situated on one side of the Holy Panchamukha Arunachala Hill, about two kilometres away from the Arunachaleswarar Koil.

This change of abode marked a new phase in the saint's life. Strangely enough, it was from that day that his spiritual teachings started spreading even more rapidly all over the world. It was as if the Female Energy or Shakti offered by his mother supplemented the Maharshi's powers.

The Ashram
The terms of the will that Bhagwan Ramana Maharshi approved of prior to his Mahanirvana stipulated that the ashram should be maintained as a spiritual centre even after he ceased to exist physically. The ashram expanded at a rapid pace and a number of permanent structures were added as the years rolled by. Cottages were built for the devotees who wished to stay on permanently, while guesthouses were constructed for those who visited on temporary basis. Some noted personalities who had the fortune to visit the ashram and get darshan from the saint while he was physically alive included former Presidents of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Dr. Radhakrishnan as well as businessmen like Jamnalal Bajaj.

After the Maharshi's Mahasamadhi, his brother Niranjanananda Swamy became the sarvadhikari. At present, this post is held by Sri V S Ramanan, but only for administrative purposes. Though there is a head priest, there has never been any guru other than Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi. No one was ever deputed as his successor.

How to reach the ashram
Thiruvannamalai,the seat of Sri Ramanashram is about 250 kilometres away from Chennai, the nearest metro and airport. The ashram is accessible by both, road and rail, but there is no direct rail service from Chennai. There is a direct bus service from Chennai, which takes around four hours to reach Thiruvannamalai and costs Rs 45 one way. From the Thiruvannamalai bus depot, one can avail of a taxi or auto rickshaw to reach the ashram, which is about two and a half kilometres away. This town is abuzz with activity, but only until 8.30 pm. In case anyone reaches late at night, it is advisable to take a room in a hotel at Thiruvannamalai. There are quite a number of good hotels offering decent accommodation in the town.

There is no uniform or special dress code that visitors and inmates have to adhere to. Anything sober and decent is allowed. Absolute silence is to be observed.

A day at the Ashram begins with the devotees sitting in silent meditation at 5 am after they have baths. At 6.30 am, there is palabhishekam or bathing of the samadhis of both the saint and his mother with milk. This holy milk is distributed as prasadam (remnants of the temple offering) to the devotees standing in queue. Breakfast is at 7 am. At 8 am, Vedaparayanam starts. It is followed by lunch at 11.30 am. The kitchen, dining hall and the rest of the premises are kept spick and span. After lunch, the devotees can rest or go around the vast campus that includes a Vedapadhasala, a library, a cowshed, amongst others. Deeparadhana or aarti is conducted at 6.30 in the evening followed by Parayanam (reading) of Bhagwan Raman's works. Abhishekam is also conducted later. Dinner is served at 7.30 pm, after which the devotees can either retire for the night or stroll around the campus or circumambulate the Holy Hill.

Circumambulating the 14-kilometre hill on a full moon night is considered very auspicious. Sure enough, on these nights the whole place is swarming with people who converge here from all over. Now that there are so many devotees, on full moon days, the nine entry points to the Hillside supposed to represent the nine orifices of the human body, are closed and devotees have to trek the distance to the hill by foot.

Bhagwan Ramana's birthday, Aradhana Day or the day he shed his mortal coils, and the ten-day long Karthika Deepam festival in December are celebrated on a grand scale. A deepam (holy lamp) is lit on the topmost peak of the Holy Hill on the concluding day of the Karthika Deepam festival. Interestingly, at the moment of the Bhagwan's Mahasamadhi, when his soul returned to God, a star was seen trailing slowly across the sky to the peak of Arunachala.

Quite a few cassettes and books on Bhagwan Raman and his teachings in various languages (even Russian!) have been brought out by the Ashram. They are available at the Ashram bookshop. (Read more about Sri Ramana in our Guru Section.)

The Thiruvannamalai Ashram address is :
Shri Ramanashram,
Tiruvannamalai - 606 603,
Tamil Nadu
India.
Tel: 04175 - 23292.

For more information one can visit the Ramanashram website at http://www.ramana-maharshi.org

There are Ramana Kendras all over India in major metros as well as at places like Madurai, Hyderabad and Guruvayoor. At Chennai, 50 years ago, soon after Bhagwan Ramana's Mahanirvana, some of his devotees decided to establish a Satsangam initially held at various devotees' houses. Later, an ardent devotee, Professor Ananthaswamy, sold all his property and donated Rs 66 lakh to construct the present shrine in Chennai. It is a three-storied structure, the ground floor of which accommodates the shrine. The first and the second floors have been divided into flats and let out. Their rent is used to meet the daily puja expenses and management of the shrine.

Sri Ramana Maharshi did not come into this world to establish any new religion. He came to open a path for those who seek the realisation of the Self. "By incessantly looking within yourself and asking the question 'Who am I?' you will know your true Self and thereby attain salvation," preached the Maharshi. His words hold true to this very day.