Life of Ramana Maharshi - 1

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Life of Ramana Maharshi – 1

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For the protection of men of noble character, for the destruction of the

wicked and for the establishment of (sanatana) dharma, I manifest myself

from age to age. - Sri Krishna.

 

Not very often are born men on this earth who are the very images of

Divinity, who are endowed with flawless wisdom along with supreme love for

mankind, who are exemplars of devotion to God and renunciates of the highest

order. They manifest themselves for a singular purpose – upliftment of

mankind. Their teachings are not very different from their life. They

teach what they live and live what they teach. Blessed indeed are those who

come into contact with such men of mighty spirit; blessed is the nation that

bears their feet and shelters them; blessed is the family in which they are

born; and blessed are the wise men who learn from them. They are

courageous, wise, kind and supremely loving. They are perfect beings on

earth. They are filled with God. They know God. They are God.

 

One such person was Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi (RM).

 

A look at the geo-political map of India during the 19th century would

create in readers painful impressions of a nation known for its piety and

noble character for long, being run over by imperial powers, a nation that

had always held the Spirit above matter going through one of the most

tumultuous periods of its history – testing time of its time-tested

philosophy. Its own sons and daughters would disown the wisdom of their

forefathers for the new fangled materialistic civilization. The nation

having long forgotten its roots had become physically lethargic, mentally

moribund and spiritually sterile. Various forces were acting upon the minds

of the people – the materialistic advancements of the West, the material

poverty of the East, the political uprisings against the foreign yoke,

princely states and imperial powers exercising their authority, conflict of

languages and cultures, kingdoms being redrawn, redefined, people trying to

find a motive force for their life – a nation trying to find itself.

 

It was during this time that on the firmament of the holy land were born two

giants among men – Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa (earlier) and Bhagavan Ramana

Maharshi (later). They were the consummation of that the people of the land

of Rishis held dear for centuries nay eons together. Sri Ramakrishna was

born in the east and spread the unitary message of fatherhood of God and

brotherhood of mankind. And in South India was born the man who was later

to be christened by one of his disciples as the “SAGE OF ARUNACHALA”.

 

On the 30th of December 1879 was born a baby boy named Venkataraman (RM) to

the noble parents Sri Sundaram Iyer and Smt. Alagammal. [iyer is a surname

of Tamil Brahmin families who follow the Smartha tradition]. The place was

Tiruchuzhi.

 

Place of birth:

 

Tiruchuzi occupies a very prominent place in the hearts of the devotees of

Lord Shiva. Every place of religious significance has a history behind the

origin of the significance. Tiruchuzhi literally means “sacred eddy” [Tiru

– sacred; chuzhi – eddy]. Legend has it that when the whole mass of land

was submerged under water, Lord Shiva plunged his Trident into earth and all

the water that was to drown the land was sucked into that spot where the

Trident was thrust upon the earth. There is a temple even today for Lord

Shiva and the tank in the temple is the place where Lord Shiva’s Trident was

thrust upon the earth to save it from deluge.

 

The place has been hallowed by the visits of sages and saints. Recorded

history has it that two nayanars (Tamil saints devoted to Lord Shiva – they

were 63 of them) one Sri Sundaramurthy and Sri Manikkavachagar. The latter

had composed the famous “Tiruvachagam” of which it is said that – one who is

not moved by listening to it will never be able to be impacted by any other

spiritual literature – even stones would melt if they listened to this holy

text. They had sung praises of this glorious temple in their hyms.

 

Lord Shiva seated as the primary deity of the temple is called

“BhumiNatheshwara” meaning the Lord of Earth (Bhumi – earth; Natha – Lord;

Ishwara – Lord Shiva – Lord Shiva who is the Lord of the Earth). He

presides the temple with His consort Divine Mother in the form of Sri

Sahayavalli.

 

Time of birth:

 

The time of RM’s birth was very auspicious. It was the confluence of two

great festivities or commemorations – 1. Arudra Darshanam; 2.

Manifestations of Arunachala Hill.

 

Continued next week ...

 

 

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