Ramana Maharshi – The Spiritual Guru
Ramana Maharshi Early Life
Ramana Maharshi was born on 30 December 1879 in an orthodox Brahmin Family in a small village called Tiruchuzhi near Aruppukkottai, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. His father is Sundaram Iyer, and his mother is Azhagammal. He was the second in the family and had two brothers and a Sister. His father was a leader in the local court. In the early days, Ramana Maharshi Knew as Venkataraman Iyer, and in later years famous as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.
In 1895 at 16, he was attracted to the sacred hill Arunachala and impressed the thoughts of 63 nayanars. Once he got the miracle death experience, he was completely immersed in the state of mind of Iswara. Later he left the family and went to Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai. He took the Sannyasin life and stayed there the rest of his life.
His life and preaching to the visitors attracted the people of the surrounding villages. The people turned to his devotees and regarded him as an Avatar of God.
Ramana Maharshi Teachings:
Every day many people sit silently before him and listen to his preaches. They also asked questions and solutions. His teachings, thoughts and preachers became immensely popularised in the West, and he became recognized worldwide as a great Hindu spiritual leader. Gradually, the number of devotees had been increasing to visit the place, so the area transformed into a big Ashram. His concept of principles was to know Self-awareness and remove ignorance to follow Devotion or surrender to the self.
Ramana Maharshi Ashram:
The family of Ramana Maharshi always kept Devotion to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and other Gods and Goddesses. His home was always in the festival mood. Seven years old Venkataraman, his parents wanted to celebrate the sacred ritual of Upanayana with him. Since then, the boy has had a remarkable ability for good memory and is interested to read Tamil Devotional Poems. When he was twelve years old, he unconsciously went into deep meditation.
When Ramana Maharshi was seventeen, he visited the Arunachaleswara temple, spent most of his time there, and worshipped Lord Shiva. He deeply went into the state of Samadhi and forgot what was happening around him. He spent a few months like that and found salvation for life.
Ramana Maharshi Death:
In 1948, a tiny cancerous lump was found on the arm of Ramana Maharshi, and they removed it in February 1949. However, it made the struggle to the Maharshi and did another four operations. But the hopes were ruined. The devotees asked him to cure himself. Then the saint replied to the devotees, ‘Why are you attached to the body so deeply’ let it go…I am always with you here. Gradually, His health became worse. Finally, he died on 14 April 1950 at the Ashram. Since then, the place has become a pilgrimage site for the devotees who strongly believe in him. Some devotees believe He is the Avatar of Dakshinamurthy, who is very popular in Tamil Nadu.