Rāmana Maharshi
Rāmana Maharshi (रमण महर्षि, 1879–1950) was an Indian sage and Advaita Vedānta teacher best known for his method of self-inquiry (ātma-vicāra) — the practice of asking “Who am I?” to trace the sense of “I” back to its source.
The transformation
Born as Venkataraman Iyer in Tiruchuli, Tamil Nadu, he had a spontaneous “death-experience” at age 16 (1896): lying still, simulating death, he became aware of a “current” (avēsam) that he recognised as his true “I” or Self. Six weeks later he left his uncle’s home in Madurai and journeyed to Tiruvannamalai, drawn by the sacred Arunachala hill. He remained in the vicinity of Arunachala for the rest of his life, living first in caves and shrines on the hill. In his early years he observed near-silence, communicating mainly through written notes.
Teachings
The Maharshi’s central teaching is the practice of self-inquiry (ātma-vicāra):
“The question ‘Who am I?’ is the first and foremost of all the practices.”
He emphasized that the sense of “I” is not the same as the Ātman (Self). By persistently asking “Who am I?” and tracing the source of this feeling, the seeker discovers that the “I” is not the body, mind, or senses, but the witnessing consciousness itself.
The method is deceptively simple:
- Sit in a quiet place
- Ask “Who am I?” gently but persistently
- Notice the sense of “I” and trace it back to its source
- Do not seek visions or experiences — only the sense of “I”
Writings
Ramana composed a small number of works himself, and many of his oral teachings were recorded by devotees:
- Who Am I? (Nān Yār?) — his own prose exposition of self-inquiry
- Upadeśa Sāram — thirty verses on the essence of spiritual instruction
- Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu (Forty Verses on Reality) — his most-quoted philosophical poem
- Five Hymns to Arunachala — devotional verses
- Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi — conversations recorded by Munagala S. Venkataramaiah (Swami Ramanananda Saraswati)
- Day by Day with Bhagavan — diary of A. Devaraja Mudaliar
Influence
The Ramana tradition has influenced spiritual teachers worldwide. Notable devotees and popularizers include Ganapati Muni, Arthur Osborne, Paul Brunton, and Maurice Frydman. Since the 1930s his teachings have spread widely in the West.
Sri Ramanasramam, the ashram that grew up around him at the foot of Arunachala, continues today in Tiruvannamalai.
Final years
The Maharshi died on 14 April 1950, aged 70, after months of illness from a sarcoma in his left arm. When devotees spoke of his impending death, he reportedly told them:
“They say that I am dying, but I am not going away. Where can I go? I am here.”
His body was cremated at Sri Ramanasramam, between the hall and the mother temple.
Verification notes
- Biographical details are from Sri Ramanasramam records and standard biographies.
- The death-experience at 16 and the journey to Arunachala are documented in Self Realization by B. V. Narasimhaswami.
- The “Who am I?” teaching is consistently documented across Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi and Day by Day with Bhagavan.
- Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).