Ramana Maharshi

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi is one of India’s greatest modern saints. He was born in what is now Tiruchuli, Tamil Nadu, India. In 1895 an attraction to the holy hill Arunachala was aroused in him, and in 1896, at the age of sixteen, he had a ‘death experience’ in which he became aware of his true ‘I’ or Self, which never dies. This resulted in a state of spiritual awakening, which he didn’t really understand at the beginning. Six weeks later he left his uncle’s home in Madurai and journeyed to Arunachala, taking up the role of a sannyasin. He remained there for the rest of his life. He soon attracted devotees and in later years an ashram grew up around him where visitors received spiritual instruction by sitting silently in his company and raising their concerns and questions. Since the 1930s his teachings have been popularised in the West, resulting in worldwide recognition as an enlightened being. He gave his approval to a variety of paths and practices, but recommended
Self-Enquiry as the principal means to Self-realisation, together with bhakti (devotion) or surrender to the Self. The Ramana Ashram and others have published many books from his talks and about his life and teachings, such as Talks with SriRamana, Nan Yar – Who Am I? (Ashram publication) and Arunachala Shiva (Open Sky Press publications).