Ramana Maharshi Devotee Sri Oruganti Ramachandraiah

March 11, 2010

Sri Oruganti Ramachandraiah, was the son of Oruganti Venkata Subbaiah, ofÂ Kavali,Â Andhra Pradesh.Â

Subbaiah and his wife were great freedom fighters and they had gone to jail many times.As a young boy Ramachandraiah shouted anti-British slogans on the streets and was kept in minor's jail! He was studying B.A. Hons. in Andhra University and at that time he was falsely implicated in the famous Kakinada Bomb and he was running between courts and jails for three years, after which he was acquitted.However,he pursued his B.A. Hons and came first in the University.After education, he could not find a job,since no one was eager to take him because of his past history.At last he joined Birla Trust School in Pilani as a teacher of history.However, things turned well afterwards and he was a lecturer and later the Head of Dept. of History and Archeology in Andhra University.He has contributed in the team of investigators of Harappan civilization.

The marriage was another turning point in his life.He was married to Kamakshi,the daughter of the famous compiler of Talks, Munagala Venkatramaiah with Bhagavan Ramana's consent.The couple moved to Tiruvannamalai after Ramachandraiah's retirement,in 1972.Throughout their lives, they stood closely devoted to Ramana and Ramana devotees. Kamakshi was given the mantra " Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya Namah " by Bhagavan Himself in a piece of paper,in 1940s.Â

Kamakshi's health later deteriorated and she was diagonized to have bone cancer. On seeing her condition Sri V. Sundara Ramanan of the Asramam said with flowing tears: " O Auntie! why has Bhagavan let you down like this? " Eyes flashing and with sudden energy flowing Kamakshi responded: " How dare you say Bhagavan has at any time failed to take care of me? " She passed away after sometime.

Kamakshi almost raised her hand to slap the present president when she was in her death-bed.This was told to me by the president himself during my last visit to the ashram.He added that she was a brave lady and how she used to command everyone in ashram to do their work.

Kamakshi though not well qualified in academics knew much about veda mantras.She visited temples in cholavandan the temple priests used to shiver since she would openly reprimand them if they went wrong.

Ramachandraiah continued to live in Tiruvannamalai. Mr. Dwarakanatha Reddy's daughter Sandhya, who was herself a child-friend of Bhagavan became his spiritual daughter and she was taking care of him, when Ramachandraiah took ill. In 1994, he was admitted to Rangammal Hospital in Tiruvannamalai.While opening the door of the room,Sandhya on seeing the Hill, said: " Ayya, Arunachala is behind you! " Ramachandraiah said in tender voice, " Amma, Arunachala has always been behind me! " He passed away later.

Ramachandraiah has done a pure Telugu translation of Talks.He has also rendered in Telugu, Sri Ramana Stuti Panchakam, Maha Yoga and Guru Ramana Vachana Mala.Incidentally Oruganti Krishnayya author of Telugu Sri Ramana Leela, is his brother!

Sri Ramachandriah garu house which is like an asram and he used to tell his personal experiences with Bhagawan and he wrote many poems on Bhagawan and he used to tell the meaning of those to some of us.He left the body without much pain and he is fully conscious while dying.Past president of Ramanasramam Sri T.N.Venkata Raman used to invite him for lunch by saying " Alludu garu randi " in Telugu which means respected son-in-law,kindly come and have your meal because he is considered son-in-law of asram because it is Bhagawan who fixed the marriage for him and Bhagawan attended the marriage and stayed till the function is over.Ramachadriah is a lucky soul having direct connection with Bhagawan.