I always try to visit Ramana Maharshi Ashram at Tiruvannamalai whenever I am in Pondicherry. My first visit was in 1996, just a day trip from Pondicherry (presently renamed Puducherry). I had lunch at the Ashram and bought a few books; one is "Self Realization" by B V Narasimha Swami. I went back to Pondicherry by the afternoon bus the same day. The second visit was on December 26, 2007. This time I was keen to spend two days there. There are regular bus services to Tiruvannamalai from Pondicherry via Villipuram. It takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes to get there. From the bus stand, one can hire an auto, and if one does not have any luggage, one can take a walk in the morning, and after half an hour, one reaches the Ashram.
I first read a book by Paul Brunton, 'In Search of Secret India'. What impressed me about the book is the sincerity with which it was written. Of course, the language is superb. I have rarely come across such beautiful writings. I would recommend this book to my friends. It is wonderful. In later years, I studied almost all the books by devotees and Ramana Maharshi. His life was so simple, and the great austerity that he had undergone can easily be comparable with The Enlightened One - The Buddha. My admiration for Ramana Maharishi stems from his life and teaching - life so unique, teaching so simple that one feels being one with him. How I wish I could meet him in person, had he been alive. Nonetheless, the whole atmosphere at the Ashram and the Arunachal hill is saturated with his presence.
I reached the Ashram by 9.30 in the morning. Although I had no reservations. I was gracefully allotted a single bedroom across the road. The meditation hall where Ramana Maharshi used to sit on a sofa and give Darshan to the devotees has a big picture of the Maharshi. This is one of the most important wings of the Ashram. As you sit quietly in this room, you feel the presence of Maharshi as if he were there. During his lifetime, someone asked him what would happen when he was not present in physical form. Maharshi replied, " Where could I go, I will be here only." This candid reply emboldens devotees to think of him being present in the Ashram. This Ashram continues with a traditional mode of worship and dining facilities. Visitors are to sit on the floor and eat with their hands without the use of spoons. For breakfast at 7 a.m., lunch at 11.30 a.m., Tea/Coffee at 4 p.m., and dinner at 7.30 p.m., you must be in the queue to enter the dining hall.
There are two important places on Arunachal Hill where Maharshi did his tapas from 1899 to 1916 and 1916 to 1922. The first is called Virupaksha Cave, and the second is Skandashramam. Walking up the hill takes about 40 minutes to reach these two places. These places are perfect for a meditation session, or you can sit quietly looking at the vegetation on the hill or the town of Tiruvannumalai below. I went up the hill, visited the Skandashramam, and went further. As it was getting dark, I had to come down, but I wish to complete this journey next time I visit Ramana Maharshi Ashram.
The next day, I planned a trip around the hill, which I was told was about 14 kilometers. So, the next morning, after finishing my breakfast at the dining hall, I took the path to Giripradakshina. Exiting the Ashram, you take a right turn along the main road. After about 25 minutes of walking, you find the road divided; one goes straight, called Chengam Road, and on the right is the Pradakshina route. I encountered many water bodies, temples, and Ashram on the way. It took about 3 hours to complete the circumambulation. I once again had a bath and went for lunch at 11.30 a.m. I took every opportunity to sit in the meditation hall because that is the main hall where Ramana Maharshi's presence is felt. The Nirvana Room displays some of the articles used by Maharshi.
There are many books available on Ramana and by Ramana. I suppose one of the most important ones is "Talks with Ramana Maharshi," and the other is Self Realization by B.V. Narasimha Swami. His principal teaching is to find out, "Who am I?" This self-inquiry is all that one needs to realize the Self. Ramana Maharshi lived about 70 years of earthly life. He was in the world but not of the world.
I submitted the room's key and gave a token donation for my stay at the office. With a heavy heart, I had to take leave of this beautiful place around 2.30 p.m. with a desire to come many more times in the future. The desire again materialized when I took two days off from my Puducherry trip. I joined Kameshwar Rao at Tiruvallumalai on 21st December 2013, and he came from Bellary in Karnataka. Those two days at Ramana Ashram were most enjoyable. The Ashram food, Meditation, circumambulation of the Arunachala hill, visiting places associated with Bhagwan, and meeting devotees kept our time flying. We found our time was very short and wished once again to be there for a longer time. The longer stay, about 4 days, materialized on January 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2017, when we stayed at the Sheshadri Ashram, next to Ramana Ashram.
How to reach Maharshi Ramana Ashram: Buses from Chennai or Poducherry exist. There are some train services as well. See their website at www.sriramanamaharshi.org
