Sage of Arunachala · 1879 – 1950
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi
Biography
A life lived in silence.
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi was born Venkataraman Iyer on 30 December 1879 in Tirucchi, Tamil Nadu. At the age of sixteen, a sudden experience of death — reading a passage on how the body is laid out — opened for him the direct awareness of the deathless Self.
He left home, journeyed to the sacred hill of Arunachala, and remained there for the rest of his life. Through his presence, his silence, and his gentle words to seekers, he pointed always to the same direct path: “Who am I?”.
Arunachala
1879 — 1950
Silence · Self · Sun
Life Timeline
Major events.
1879
Born Venkataraman Iyer in Tirucchi, Tamil Nadu.
1896
Spontaneous experience of death; leaves home for Arunachala.
1899
Settles permanently at the foot of Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai.
1907
First devotees gather around him; Virupaksha Cave years.
1922
Moves to what becomes Sri Ramanasramam.
1936 – 50
Spoken teachings, transcribed in Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi and other works.
1950
Mahasamadhi — the great departure. The samadhi shrine remains.
Teachings
The four cardinal points.
Self-enquiry (Atma-vichara)
The direct method. Ask “Who am I?” and trace every thought back to the source.
Surrender (Bhakti)
Leave the outcome to the Higher. Resign the sense of doership.
Silence (Mauna)
Abide in the source of speech. The highest teaching.
Investigation (Vichara)
Discriminate the real from the unreal; the Self alone is real.
Quotes
A few of his words.
Your own Self-Realisation is the greatest service you can render the world.
Silence is the highest teaching. The tongue is silenced. The mind is silenced. The heart is still.
Be as you are.
Books
Authored and transcribed.
Ramanalayam Press
Who am I? (Nan Yar?)
Sri Ramana Maharshi
The foundational text of Self-enquiry.
Ramanalayam Press
Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
Recorded by devotees
Verbatim record of conversations.
Ramanalayam Press
The Collected Works
Sri Ramana Maharshi
Essays, verses, and prose.
Ramanalayam Press
Beads of Grace
Sri Ramana Maharshi
Powerful short verses.
Related Ashrams
A small network of silence.
Sri Ramanasramam
Tiruvannamalai, India
The principal Ashram, on the slopes of Arunachala.
Ramana Maharshi Centre
Bangalore, India
Quiet centre in the city, with regular satsangs.
Arunachala Ashram
South Africa
Retreat house on the Highveld.
Ramanalayam
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Our Ashram — this one.