Ramana Maharshi

Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) is a modern exemplar of Advaita Vedanta, revered as a jivanmukta (liberated being) and deified by followers as a direct embodiment of the Self. His teachings center on self-inquiry (ātma-vicāra), the method of persistently asking 'Who am I?' to trace the ego back to its source. This path is expounded in his concise work 'Who Am I?' (Nān Yār?), which records his responses to early devotees. The core of his message is that the Self alone is real, and the world and ego are superimposed appearances. He taught primarily through silence (mauna), which he considered the most potent form of instruction, as described in the 'Talks with Ramana Maharshi' collection.

Born Venkataraman Iyer in Tiruchuzhi, Tamil Nadu, he experienced a spontaneous death-experience at age 16 that revealed his true nature as the Self. Shortly thereafter, he felt an irresistible call to Arunachala, the sacred hill in Tiruvannamalai, which he regarded as the spiritual heart of the world. He lived there for the rest of his life, first in caves on the hill and later at Sri Ramanasramam at its foot. The hill itself is considered a manifestation of Shiva, and Ramana often identified it with the Self. His life exemplifies the ideal of the sage who abides in the natural state (sahaja samadhi).

Ramana Maharshi's teachings are rooted in the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, which he frequently cited. He affirmed the non-dual truth that the individual self (jiva) is identical with Brahman, the ultimate reality. His method of self-inquiry is a direct application of the Mahavakya 'Tat tvam asi' (That thou art) from the Chandogya Upanishad. He also composed devotional hymns, such as the 'Arunachala Stotram' and 'Arunachala Pancharatna', which express his love for the hill and its symbolic significance.

Regional worship traditions center on Sri Ramanasramam, where his samadhi shrine attracts pilgrims worldwide. Major festivals include Ramana Jayanti (his birth anniversary) and Arunachala Deepam, the festival of lights on the hill. His iconography depicts him in a simple loincloth, seated in meditation with a serene expression, often with Arunachala in the background. The lotus and meditation posture are symbols of his realized state. His legacy continues through the Ramana Maharshi Foundation and numerous spiritual seekers who practice self-inquiry. In Hindu cosmology, he is seen as a modern rishi who revived the ancient path of jnana yoga, demonstrating that liberation is attainable here and now.

Depicted in a simple loincloth, often seated in meditation. Serene, radiant, transcendent expression. Sometimes shown with Arunachala in the background.