Ramana Maharshi And His Teachings | The Great Saint Ramana

 Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi:

Ramana Maharshi was born in December 30,1879 at Tiruchuzhi village in Madurai. His original name was Venkataraman Iyer. He was the most famous Indian sage of 20th century.He was the one who insisted upon selfinquiry and silence.

Early Life:

Ramana Maharshi was a normal child and was good at his studies. He stayed with his uncle in Madurai and attended American Mission, High School. He had good knowledge power and concentration.Altough he had an habit of deep sleep.Once,he met his relative and asked for where he comes from. His relative replied that he is from Arunachala. He was so excited to hear that word although he is not aware of that place. At the age of sixteen,he lost his sense of individual selfhood, later recognised it as enlightenment. In one of his written communication on this process he wrote: "Enquiring within who is the seer? I saw the seer disappear leaving tht alone which stands forever.No thought arose to say I saw.How then could the thought arise to say I didnot see". After this incident, Ramana lost interest in his studies,friends and relations and preferred to stay alone quiet and concentrate on self.In 1896, knowing his family would not permit him to become a Sanyassin, he left home and went to Tiruvannamalai.

Journey to Arunachala:

Arriving in Tiruvannamalai, he went straight to the temple of Arunachaleswarar and entered sanctum sanctroum and embraced linga in ecstasy. After six months of stay in Arunachala, he moved to Gurumurtam temple mile away from Arunacahala. There Sadhu named Palaniswamy went to see him. On the first Dharshan of Ramana,Palaniswamy was filled with peace and bliss. From the time onwards started to serve Ramana.During this time Ramana neglected his body 'Completely disregarding his outward apperance'. Despite of Ramana's desire for privacy,he attracted attention from visitors who admired his silence. Then he moved to Shiva temple at Pavalakkunru. During the time his mother found him in 1898.His mother begged him to return home. But the silence was the answer from Ramana.After the request of his devotees,he replied through a piece of paper, "In accordance with Prarabdha of each,the one who functionit is to ordain makes each to act.What will not happen will never happen, whatever effort one may put forth.And what will happen will not fail to happen,however much one may seek to prevent to it. This is certain. The part of wisdom is to stay quiet".

Arunachala Hill:

Several visitors visited him and became devotees. Kavyakantha Sri Ganapathi Sasthri,a vedic scholar came to visit Ramana in 1907. He proclaimed him as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharishi.In 1916,his mother Alagammal and his brother joined and followed him when he moved to larger Skandashrama Cave. During this period Ramana composed "The Five Hymns to Arunachala".In 1922, his mother died. Her body was enshrined in a samadhi on top of which siva lingam was installed and gave the name Matrbhuteshwara. Shiva manifesting as mother.From 1922 till his death in 1950 Ramana lived in Sri Ramanasramam. Ramana led a modest and renunciate life. He spent most of his time sitting silently in samadhi doing nothing.

Sri Ramana Maharshi's final years:

Ramana's fame spread throughout the 1940s, even during the fame his lifestyle remained that of a renunciate. Ramana was noted for his belief in the power of silence and sparse use of speech, lack of concern for fame or criticism,unusual love of creatures and plants.He was affected by tiny cancerous lamp disease.Devotees begged him to cure himself,but he replied, "Why are you so attached to this body?Let it go" and "Where can I go,Iam here".On a evening 14 april 1950, Ramana's breathing gradually slower and slower and at 8:47pm it subsided quietly.

Teachings:

The Self:

The essence of Ramana teachings in that there exists one indivisible reality, which is both immenent and directly experienced by everyone and the source, substance and real nature of all that exists. The term he used most frequently for this,reality was "The Self".

Silence:

Ramana's main means of instruction to his devotees in order to realise the self was through silence,using words only sparisingly. Ramana said: Silence is the true upadesa. It is the perfect upadesa.It is situated only for the most advanced seeker. The others are unable to draw full inspiration from it. Therefore they require words to explain the truth. But truth is beyond words,it does not warrant explanation.

Self Inquiry:

At the highest level that could be expressed in words Ramana would say that " Consiousness alone exists". Ramana prescribed an innovative method of self-attention called Self-Inquiry.

Bhakti:

Although he advocated self enquiry as the fastest means to realisation he also recommended the path  of bhakti and self surrender either concurrently or as on adequate alternative,which would ultimately converge with the path of Self-inquiry.