Sri Ramana Ashram

Sri Ramana Ashram
Sri Ramana Ashram
Sri Ramanasramam
EstablishedDecember 28, 1922 [1]
FounderRamana Maharshi
TypeNonprofit Trust[2]
Location
Publication
Mountain Path (estb. 1964)
Websitewww.gururamana.org

Sri Ramana Ashram, also known as Sri Ramanasramam, is a historic ashram (spiritual hermitage and community) and international organisation located at the base of the sacred Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu.[3] It is dedicated to the life and teachings of Ramana Maharshi, modern sage and Advaita (Nondualism) Teacher, who lived here from 1922 until his death in 1950, offering guidance primarily through silent presence and minimal verbal instruction rooted in his central teaching of self-enquiry (“Who am I?”). Established in 1922 around the samadhi shrine of his mother, the ashram evolved organically from a small hut into a significant pilgrimage destination for thousands of seekers of self-realisation, and Advaita Vedanta traditions flocked to be in his presence. [4][5][6] The guru's body is also enshrined in a samadhi hall.[7]

Today, a century later, the ashram functions both as a place of meditation, spiritual study and retreat. It houses meditation halls, shrines, a library and archives, Vedpathshala (School of Vedas education), Goshala (Cow Shelter) and 200-room residential facilities. His Samadhi shrine continues to attract devotees from all over the world.[4][8][6] The ashram fuctions as a international organisation and non-profit trust[2], with outreach centres known as Ramana Kendras in New Delhi (estb. 1963), Hyderabad and Chennai in India and Arunachala Ashram in New York City, Ramana Satchidananda Mandali in Mumbai established in 1923; and around 100 spiritual centers, known as Satsangh Centres or Kendras, in 65 countries, including the US, Switzerland, Mauritius, Japan, France, Spain and Eastern Europe. [6][8]

The ashram Library and Archives, Granthalaya preserves all the writings of Ramana Maharishi, and publishes over 200 books in English, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati and Marathi, besides numerous foreign languages, including French, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, German, Romanian and Hungarian. It also publishes a quarterly magazineThe Mountain Path since 1964 on the Avadita philosophy and teachings of Maharshi.[6][8] To mark the ashram's centenary in 2022, the Government of India released a commemorative silver coin.[5]

History

Ramana Maharshi in the Old Hall in 1948, where he lived from 1927 to 1950
Ramana Maharshi with followers at the ashram
Sri Ramanasramam campus.
Ramana Maharshi Mahanirvana room in Sri Ramana Ashram.
Ramana Maharshi Samadhi inside the ashram

The ashram gradually grew in its present location after Ramana Maharshi settled near the Samadhi shrine of his mother Alagammal, who died on 19 May 1922. From 1922 until his death in 1950, Ramana Maharshi lived at the ashram that developed around his mother's tomb.[9] Initially, Ramana Maharshi would often walk from Skandashram to his mother's tomb. In December 1922, he did not return to Skandashram and settled at the base of the Hill, and Sri Ramanasramam started to develop. In the beginning, a single small hut was built near the samadhi, but in 1924, two huts were erected – one opposite the samadhi and the other to the north. The so-called Old Hall was built in 1928, where Ramana Maharshi lived until 1949.[10]

Sri Ramanasramam grew to include a library, hospital, post office, and many other facilities. Ramana Maharshi displayed a natural talent for planning and building projects. Annamalai Swami gave detailed accounts of this in his reminiscences. [11] The Ramanasramam temple within the campus was designed and constructed by architect-cum-builder Vaidyanatha Sthapati between 1939 and 1949. He was a 36th-generation descendant of Kunjaramallan Rajaraja Perunthachan, the architect of the 11th-century Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur. During its decade-long construction period, Maharshi was deeply involved in the project. [12]

Amongst its early western visitors was British writer Paul Brunton in 1931, who is credited with introducing Ramana Maharshi to the West through his books "A Search in Secret India" (1934) and "The Secret Path". Writer W. Somerset Maugham visited the ashram in 1938, and later used Ramana Maharshi as the model for the holy man, Shri Ganesha in his novel, The Razor’s Edge (1944).[13][8][14] Other visitors included Swami Sivananda, Paramahansa Yogananda,[15] Alfred Sorensen (Sunyata) and Wei Wu Wei.[16] During the Indian independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi would often encourage freedom fighters to visit the Ashram, including Dr Rajendra Prasad, Sarojini Naidu, and Jamnalal Bajaj. [6][5]

Arthur Osborne stayed at the Ashram for twenty years, and edited the Ashram's journal, The Mountain Path (estb. 1964), besides writing several books on Ramana Maharshi and his teachings. Mouni Sadhu spent several months at the Ashram in 1949.[17] David Godman came to the ashram in 1976, remained the ashram librarian from 1978 to 1985, and has since written or edited fourteen books on topics related to Sri Ramana Maharshi. [18][19] He continues to live near the ashram.

Niranjananda Swami, younger brother of Ramana Maharshi, who had moved to the ashram along with his mother in 1916, stayed at the ashram for the rest of his life and handled its management till his death in 1953. His son, T.N. Venkatraman and grandson have looked after the ashram in turn.[20] V.S. Ramanan remained the President of the ashram from 1994 to 2020; after that, his son Dr. Venkat Ramanan, a former medical practitioner and grand nephew of Ramana Maharishi, became the President.[21][8]

Today, the ashram's living quarters have 200 rooms. The 'Veda Patasala', established in 1934, trains priests in rituals and the Vedas. It has several Ramana Kendras across India and worldwide, and around 100 centres in 65 countries, including the US, Switzerland, Mauritius, Japan, France, Spain and Eastern Europe. They are involved in spreading the philosophy of Ramana Maharshi. The ashram runs community service initiatives, like free medical dispensaries, providing meals for sadhus and the underprivileged, and environmental conservation projects. [6][8]

In 2023, marking the centenary of the establishment of the ashram on December 28, 1922, The Hindu Group released new editions of books on Ramana Maharshi, Who Am I and Bhagvan Sri Ramana Maharshi, 1879-1950, this was part of the year-long celebrations at the ashram. [1]

To mark the centenary of the ashram (1922-2022), the Government of India Mint released a commemorative coin in silver to "honour both the enduring spiritual influence of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and the historic role of Sri Ramana Ashram."[6][5][22]

  • Ramanasaramam Compound
    Ramanasaramam Compound
  • Sri Ramanaramam Public Library
    Sri Ramanaramam Public Library
  • Main temple decorated during Maharshi's birthday celebrations
    Main temple decorated during Maharshi's birthday celebrations
  • Hall
    Hall
  • A shrine inside Ramana Ashram
    A shrine inside Ramana Ashram
  • Personal use objects of Ramana Maharshi
    Personal use objects of Ramana Maharshi
  • Ramana Maharshi with Paramahansa Yogananda at the ashram
    Ramana Maharshi with Paramahansa Yogananda at the ashram

See also

References

  1. ^ a b The Hindu Bureau (7 January 2023). "New edition of work on Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi released in Tiruvannamalai". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b Compliance
  3. ^ Seed, John (1998). "Spirit of the EARTH: A battle-weary rainforest activist journeys to India to renew his soul". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 4 April 2026 – via EBSCOhost.
  4. ^ a b Sri Ramana Ashram Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine Tiruvannamalai district website.
  5. ^ a b c d "श्री रमणाश्रमम् शताब्दी वर्ष / SRI RAMANASRAMAM CENTENARY". India Government Mint. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan Addresses 146th Jayanti Celebrations of Sri Ramana Maharshi in New Delhi". Press Information Bureau, Govt of India. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 30 March 2026. He lauded the enduring role of Sri Ramana Ashram, Tiruvannamalai, and Ramana Kendras in India and abroad in preserving and disseminating Ramana Maharshi's timeless wisdom. Appreciating the Ashram's community service initiatives, he highlighted its free medical dispensaries, provision of meals to sadhus and the underprivileged, and efforts in environmental conservation. Recalling history, he noted that Mahatma Gandhi, during the freedom movement, often encouraged freedom fighters to visit the Ashram to gain strength, clarity and solace.
  7. ^ Noble, Isabella (2017). "Kanchipuram". South India & Kerala. Lonely Planet Global. p. 357. ISBN 9781786571489.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Today, Hinduism (1 April 2025). "Sri Ramana". Hinduism Today. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  9. ^ Ebert 2006, p. 107-114.
  10. ^ Ebert 2006, p. 109.
  11. ^ Godman 1998.
  12. ^ Venkataraman, Swaminathan (2 August 2025). "What connects Raja Raja Chola, Ramana Maharshi, and Hindu temples of North America". ThePrint. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  13. ^ Zaleski, p. 219
  14. ^ "Eastern promise". Mint. 17 May 2008.
  15. ^ Yogananda, p. 384
  16. ^ Sri Ramanasramam history Archived 2010-03-10 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Mouni Sadhu, 'In Days of Great Peace' 2nd. revised edition pub. 1957 by G Allen and Unwin
  18. ^ "An Interview with David Godman". Integral Yoga Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012.
  19. ^ Godman, David. "David Godman". Realization.org. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  20. ^ Osborne, p. 119
  21. ^ "Former president of Sri Ramanasramam dead". The Hindu. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  22. ^ "Followers, numismatists hail Govt of India's decision to issue a coin on Ramana Maharishi". The New Indian Express. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2026.

Sources

Bibliography

  • My life at Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma. Pub. Sri Ramanasramam, 1975.
  • Unforgettable Years: Memoirs of 29 Old Devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. Ed.: A. R. Natarajan. Pub. Ramana Maharshi Centre for Learning, 1990. ISBN 9788185378015.
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