About Ramana Maharshi
- Date of Birth – 30 December 1879.
- Place of Birth – Tiruchuli.
- State of Living? (Samadhi or Alive) – Samadhi on 14 April 1950.
Message to the World
Ramana Maharshi’s message was to observe the silence and self-inquiry.
He stressed upon knowing the real “I” behind all the functions and operations in the world.
Ramana Maharshi used to appreciate all the paths and practices. He was never against any of the other approaches.
But he insisted on self-inquiry as it is the direct approach to the truth.
It the principle to remove ignorance and be in self-awareness along with bhakti (devotion) to the one’s own self.
Path of Enlightenment
Path of Knowledge and Path of Devotion. (Self-inquiry comes under the jnana marga, the path of knowledge.)
How did Ramana Maharshi experience Enlightenment?
Through Jnana Yoga (Path of Knowledge) he reached the state of Jivanmukta.
Ramana Maharshi’s Guru Name:
Ramana Maharshi had no God. He used to say the Guru, the God, and the Self is all one and the same.
Ramana Maharshi Guru’s brief introduction
Maharshi accepted and appreciated every other path but stressed upon the direct insight into the truth through self-inquiry.
He used to say on the hill, his father Arunachala was there.
Spiritual Practices Ramana Maharshi Followed
Here Ramana Maharshi answers to his disciple question on choosing the suitable method for one’s realization of the self.
An examination of the ephemeral nature of external phenomena leads to vairagya. Hence enquiry (vichara) is the first and foremost step to be taken. When vichara continues automatically, it results in a contempt for wealth, fame, ease, pleasure, etc. The ‘I’ thought becomes clearer for inspection. The source of ‘I’ is the Heart – the final goal. If, however, the aspirant is not temperamentally suited to Vichara Marga (to the introspective analytical method), he must develop bhakti (devotion) to an ideal – may be God, Guru, humanity in general, ethical laws, or even the idea of beauty. When one of these takes possession of the individual, other attachments grow weaker, i.e., dispassion (vairagya) develops. Attachment for the ideal simultaneously grows and finally holds the field. Thus ekagrata (concentration) grows simultaneously and imperceptibly – with or without visions and direct aids. In the absence of enquiry and devotion, the natural sedative pranayama (breath regulation) may be tried. This is known as Yoga Marga. If life is imperiled the whole interest centers around the one point, the saving of life. If the breath is held the mind cannot afford to (and does not) jump at its pets – external objects. Thus there is rest for the mind so long as the breath is held. All attention being turned on the breath or its regulation, other interests are lost. Again, passions are attended with irregular breathing, whereas calm and happiness are attended with slow and regular breathing. Paroxysm of joy is in fact as painful as one of pain, and both are accompanied by ruffled breaths. Real peace is happiness. Pleasures do not form happiness. The mind improves by practice and becomes finer just as the razor’s edge is sharpened by stropping. The mind is then better able to tackle internal or external problems. If an aspirant is unsuited temperamentally for the first two methods and circumstantially (on account of age) for the third method, he must try the Karma Marga (doing good deeds, for example, social service). His nobler instincts become more evident and he derives impersonal pleasure. His smaller self is less assertive and has a chance of expanding its good side. The man becomes duly equipped for one of the three aforesaid paths. His intuition may also develop directly by this single method.
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Prajnatma eBook DownloadRamana Maharshi Enlightenment Experience
Venkataraman Iyer’s father died suddenly on 18 February 1992. He and his brother stayed with his parental uncle Subbaiyar’s house.
One afternoon at his uncle’s house, he felt a sudden feeling of death. His body became rigid. Analyzing this situation he suddenly he started self-inquiry what it is that dies.
He then imitated death by trying to be a dead person. He asked questions like what is it that dies, what happens during and after the death.
He then says to himself that after the body dies, it will be taken to the cremation ground and buried or burnt into ashes. But, what is that which remains after the death of the physical body?
He negated the fact that body after once’s time got over here on the physical plane of existence, then he asked what is the force which is driving this mortal body, he
am I dead he asked? I asked myself then who am I? Then the thought occurred in my mind saying that if the body dies, then something else which lives. What is it?
I focused completely and absorbed in the self-continued broken thoughts from that time on. Every other thought were coming and going except this thought of “i” remained centered. Then realized that there is a current or force which is driving this mortal physical body.
Later he realizes that it is his own self which he identified with the personal god.
After this incident, his outlook on life and perspectives completely changed.
He also says previously he used to visit Meenakshi Temple in his town with his friends. He used to put the Thilak on his brows and come back to home.
After this experience, he used to visit Meenakshi Temple daily alone and sit still like a rock and experience the blissful waves of the Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Shiva with 63 saints.
Ramana Maharshi Best Quote
Great yogis experience with Ramana Maharshi
Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni experience with Ramana Maharshi
Ganapathi Muni was an eminent scholor in sanskrit and a great poet. He had a tremendous memory power. He mastered the language telugu in just 15 days both in writting, reading, and fluency in speaking. He had also given a position of teacher in Telugu language.
He heard about the name of Ramana Maharshi as Brahmanaswami who is very young and lives in a hill called Arunachala near the temple of Tiruvannamalai.
In 1907 he left his teaching position and resumed his Mantra Japa. He felt terrible pains, troubles, and bouts during the sadhana.
He thought of reaching out to young swami near Tiruvannamalai. He visited the place and was searching for him near the hill but found nowhere around the place.
He then climbs up the mountain and went into the cave where the young swami sitting alone.
After seeing young swami ganapathi muni prostrated before him.
He told, ” I have read all the scriptures that one has to read. I have done all the mantra Japas one has to do. Still I have not found the truth. Please help me.”
Young swami after a long gap of 15 minutes, Ramana Maharshi breaks his silence which he maintained for 11 years.
He says, “If one observes where the “I” coming up from, one absorbs completely in that. That is called Tapas. When one recites a mantra, watch out where the sound is coming from, within you. When you pray for the lord, watch out where it is coming from your heart. Bring your attention to that. That is Tyaga. That is real Tapasya. That is all.”
After hearing this Ganapathi Muni was spellbound and became his disciple.
Another great yogic experience which was happened due to his compassionate guru Ramana Maharshi’s grace.
In taittīriyopaniṣad, there is a sentence “vyapohya śirṣakapāle bhūrityagnau prati tiṣṭhati”.
The gross translation of this is cranium gets separated as two and the person establishes himself as a fire (kundalini) in earthly existence.
One afternoon, muni experiences this kapalabheda (skull opening) and felt great experiences while he was meditating in the mango cave of the Arunachala hill.
He visits his Ramana Maharshi and shares his experience.
Ramana Maharshi with his compassionate heart puts his hand on his head understanding his experiences.
On that day night, he experiences the results of Kundalini Sadhana.
He experiences oneness and it is said that in shastras a person whose cranium got split up will not be able to retain his physical body for a long period of time.
But with his guru’s grace and his intense tapas made him live 14 more years in the earthly plane of existence.
Source: https://www.arunachala.org
Frank H. Humphreys experience with Ramana Maharshi
Frank H. Humphreys being the first western disciple before Paul Brunton, he was introduced to Ramana Maharshi by Ganapathi Muni.
He has written down a book named “Glimpses of the Life and Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramaa Maharshi” and published in The International Psychic Gazette in 1913.
Humphrey was interested in occult powers and used to grasp the vision of prominent people before he even visits them.
Likewise, he had a vision of Ganapati Muni and Ramana Maharshi during his meditation session.
Humphrey mentions his first meeting with Ramana Maharshi.
Humphrey looked at Ramana Maharshi for half an hour which never changed their expression of deep contemplation. He then begins to realize somewhat the body is just space where the holy ghost (soul) resides.
He could feel Ramana’s body was just an instrument of God, merely sitting motionless corpse from which god was radiating terrifically. He sensed vibrations which were indescribable.
Source: https://realization.org/
Paul Brunton Experience with Ramana Maharshi
Paul Brunton speaks about his experience of telepathy by Ramana Maharshi in his book “Secret search in India” when he meets the master in Arunachala hill.
I am learning to see that Ramana Maharshi’s way of helping others, this unobtrusive, silent and steady outpouring of healing vibrations into troubled souls. Science might one day be required to account this mysterious telepathic process.
Source: Secret Search in India by Paul Brunton.
Paramahansa Yogananda experience with Ramana Maharshi
Below is the conversation Swami Paramahansa Yogananda had with the great sage Ramana Maharshi.
Swami Yogananda: How is the spiritual uplift of the people to be affected? What are the instructions to be given to them?
Ramana Maharshi: They differ according to the temperaments of the individuals and according to the spiritual ripeness of their minds. There cannot be any instruction en masse.
Swami Yogananda: Why does God permit suffering in the world? Should He not with His omnipotence do away with it at one stroke and ordain the universal realization of God?
Ramana Maharshi: Suffering is the way for the Realization of God.
Swami Yogananda: Should He not ordain differently?
Ramana Maharshi: It is the way.
Swami Yogananda: Are yoga, religion, etc. antidotes to suffering?
Ramana Maharshi: They help you to overcome suffering.
Swami Yogananda: Why should there be suffering?
Ramana Maharshi: Who suffers? What is suffering?
No answer!
Papaji experience with Ramana Maharshi
Papaji is another great yogi of recent times. We have written down detailed experiences and his teachings.
Please do check out the great yogi papaji’s profile for more information and his encounter with Ramana Maharshi.
Nisargadatta Maharaj experience with Ramana Maharshi
David Godman is an author who has written on the life, teachings, and disciples of Ramana Maharshi.
When his disciple asks him what was Nisargadatta Maharaj’s attitude to Ramana Maharshi and his teachings?
David says that Nisargadatta used to regret that he did not get a chance to meet the great sage Ramana Maharshi.
He shares the story of Ramana Maharshi’s grandnephew visiting Nisargadatta Maharaj once.
When Ganesan visits Nisargadatta Maharaj in the late 1970s. As soon as Nisargadatta Maharaj sees Ganesan, he stood up and made a huge pile of cushions and made Ganesan sit on it.
Nisargadatta Maharaj clears up space around the floor and did a full-length prostration to him.
He told Ganeshan that he did not get a chance to meet your uncle Ramana Maharshi, so I am prostrating before you instead so that it would be like prostrating before him.
Such was the divine respect towards Ramana Maharshi by the great yogi Nisargadatta Maharaj.
Annamalai Swami experience with Ramana Maharshi
Annamalai Swami is a direct disciple of Ramana Maharshi and was expert at self-enquiry of self-realization.
He was a supervisor in charge of the building projects in the ashram.
Once this happened, Annamalai and Madhava went to the bathroom and gave Ramana Maharshi the usual oil bath.
After the bath, Annamalai asked Ramana Maharshi about Ganja about its effect on the human body that leads to a blissful state.
Ramana Maharshi laughed came towards him saying ‘Ananda, Ananda!’ and hugged him.
This hug gave Annamalai a great bliss that he had lost his physical body consciousness and was aware of the bliss he was experiencing for about 15 minutes.
It ceased his mind and soon he covered the awareness of word around him, he was left with no one and standing alone in the bathroom.
Thereafter he realized that he needs to leave the ashram and indulge himself in complete solitude and meditation.
Source: https://realization.org
Swami Chinmayananda on Ramana Maharshi
Here is a story of a boy who will get vedic knowledge just through a glimpse of the great sage in his high school days.
During his holidays, Swami Chinmayananda visits Ramanashram.
Chinmayananda was an atheist at the time, he visits the ashram and go near to the sage.
He sat down waiting for the sage to open his eyes.
Just after Ramana Maharshi opened his eyes he looked into the eyes of Chinmayananda.
That one single look which cleanses his heart and clears his dirt inside out.
Chinmayananda later realizes that fact during his days with his master Swami Sivananda that sage has transferred all the Upanishadic knowledge with just one single look.
In his own words, he says about the great master.
“Sri Ramana is not a theme for discussion; he is an experience; he is a state of consciousness. Sri Ramana was the highest reality and the cream of all scriptures in the world. He was there for all to see how a Master can live in perfect detachment. Though in the mortal form, he lived as the beauty and purity of the Infinite.”
~ Swami Chinmayananda (Chinmaya Mission)
Source:
Belegere Krishnashastri experience with Ramana Maharshi
Belegere Krishnashastri is a great Karma Yogi from Belegere, Karnataka. He was trained on Yoga by his master “Mukundur Swami” who was a Siddha (An accomplished Yogi).
Under his guidance, he becomes self-realized soul.
A book is written on the life of Belegere Krishnashastri by the author Shripad Pujar.
The book name is “Naaninddu Nannadenilla”.
There comes a point where the author asks about Belegere Krishnashastri’s celibacy for more than 40 years.
Krishnashastri for that question tells, his mind got fixed on the god and did not fluctuate for any other material world attractiveness upon meeting the great sage Ramana Maharshi.
Robert Adams experience with Ramana Maharshi
Robert Adams in his early teenage, he was inclined to spirituality. He joins Paramahansa Yogananda’s Self-realization fellowship. He meets Yogananda and requests him to initiate him to sannyasa (renunciant).
Yogananda suggests that your guru is Ramana Maharshi and request him to meet him in India.
Soon he leaves his place and visits Ramana Maharshi and be bathed in the compassionate love of the sage.
Morning he visits ramanashram and sits in front of Maharshi. Sage looks at him and smiles.
He stays there for the last 3 years of Ramana Maharshi. The sage had told him that Robert and he were together in their past life.
Adam says in one of his books that he had never met a
After the departure from the worldly life of his guru, he stays in India for about 17 years. He stayed with well-known gurus such as Nisargadatta Maharaj, Anandamayi Ma, Neem Karoli Baba, and Swami Ramdas.
Osho about Ramana Maharshi
There is this great story of the cow named “Lakshmi” got enlightened by Ramana Maharshi.
During the last few minutes of her death, she kept her head on the lap of Ramana Maharshi and leaves her body.
Here is a heart-wrenching story of the cow by Osho on Ramana Maharshi.
Osho on Raman in his book “Zarathustra: The Laughing Prophet, Chapter-20”.
When you use a second thorn to remove the first one from the body. What are you going to do with the second one? You remove it right?
The same way, you need to remove the questions you have already filled up in the mind with this one question ‘Who am I?’.
That’s what Ramana says to ask. Use this questioning as a thorn to remove the thorn of knowledge.
Osho on Ramana in his book “The voice of Silence.”
What living yogis have to say about Ramana Maharshi?
Sri M about Ramana Maharshi
According to the Vedantic teaching or according to what Ramana Maharishi said (who, I think, was one of the latest teachers of ‘Vedanta’ with a genuine experience of it), “When you pursue this ‘trying to find out who you are’, then you begin to think, ‘Maybe, I am the mind.’ Then you say, ‘Yeah, I must be the mind’, then, ‘Whose mind?’ and so on.”
~ Shri M
Jaggi Vasudev about Ramana Maharshi
Watch the below video of Jaggi Vasudev talks about “Who am I?” and the significance of internalizing the question.
Ramana Maharshi Real and Rare Videos (Footages)
Great Sage Ramana Maharshi Documentary - “The Jnani”
Who am I?
“Who am I? The gross body which is composed of the seven humors (dhatus), I am not; the five cognitive sense organs, viz. the senses of hearing, touch, sight, taste, and smell, which apprehend their respective objects, viz. sound, touch, colour, taste, and odour, I am not; the five cognitive sense organs, viz. the organs of speech, locomotion, grasping, excretion, and procreation, which have as their respective functions speaking, moving, grasping, excreting, and enjoying, I am not; the five vital airs, prana, etc., which perform respectively the five functions of in-breathing, etc., I am not; even the mind which thinks, I am not; the nescience too, which is endowed only with the residual impressions of objects, and in which there are no objects and no functioning’s, I am not.”
This is an excerpt from the book “Who am I?”.
Ramana Maharshi Books
Ramana Maharshi has not written down any books. But, his disciples had written down the books on him and his teachings.
Some of the most fascinating and chosen 12 amazing books of Ramana Maharshi are listed down. Do check out them for more information.
Ramanshram Details
- Ashram Name – Sri Ramanashram.
- Ashram Address – Sri Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, 606 603, India.
- Phone Number – +91- 4175-237200.
Be Blessed by the master Maharshi Ramana
- Place – https://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/ashram/
- Website – https://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/
- Contact Number – +91- 4175-237200
- Timeline – https://www.sriramanamaharshi.org
FRIENDLY NOTE:
The details put up here are to bring about the awareness of the guru and their noble teachings to the layman’s understanding.
SoulPrajna is not at all responsible for any monetary involvements related to the organizations mentioned over here in any way.
