Ramana

Ramana, commonly known as Ramana Maharshi, was an Indian sage whose teaching emphasized self-inquiry as a direct path to self-realization. He was born Venkataraman Iyer on 30 December 1879 in Tiruchuzhi, Tamil Nadu, and died on 14 April 1950 in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. At about the age of 16 he experienced a profound spiritual awakening and subsequently left home to seek solitude. He eventually settled at the holy hill Arunachala near Tiruvannamalai, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Ramana did not claim a new doctrine or establish a formal school. His core teaching centers on the practice of self-inquiry, encapsulated in the question “Who am I?”. This method, known as atma-vichara, asks the practitioner to trace the source of the “I” thought until the sense of individual ego dissolves and one realizes the true self as pure awareness. He also acknowledged the value of devotion and quiet internal reflection, urging seekers to turn inward rather than rely on external rituals.

The Ramanashram, established around the late 19th and early 20th centuries on Tiruvannamalai’s Arunachala Hill, became the focal point of his presence. The ashram remains a spiritual center, welcoming visitors and continuing the practice of meditation, silent sitting, and study of his talks and writings. It preserves a simple daily rhythm and a tradition of seva (service) as expressions of spiritual life.

Ramana’s influence extends beyond regional boundaries. His dialogues, teachings, and the accessible portrayal of self-inquiry have inspired modern seekers across spiritual backgrounds and have been circulated widely through books and translations. He is regarded as a major figure in 20th-century nondual and Vedantic-inspired spirituality.