Ramana Maharshi
Ramanamritham… Guru Sri Ramana is a 20th Century Saint, Shiva devotee, philosopher, and he lived like an ancient Rishi. He never married, and he sacrificed his entire life towards rendering divine service to his beloved god Lord Arunachala at Tiruvannamalai. He had made his abode as Tiruvannamalai at his young age onwards! He is such a pure and a pious saint who has ever and never committed any mistakes. Similar to Shirdi Saibaba and Guru Raghavendra, still he is also considered to be a living saint, and he fulfils the wishes of his devotees by living in the Holy Mountain Kailash along with his divine parent, Lord Shiva and Ma Shakti Devi.
Ganapati Muni was a disciple and devotee of Sri Ramana Maharshi. He wrote the divine text “RAMANAMIRTHAM,” which contains the greatness of his Guru Ramana.
Some of the excerpts present in that divine text are as follows:-
1. RAMANAM GURU RAMANAM PARAMASHIVAYA RAMANAM. Hey Gurunatha Sri Ramana you have meditated in the Pathalalinga Cave for several days, even without having proper food and water, and you have tolerated the great pain which was caused due to ant bites, and due to that you have attained great spiritual enlightenment in that holy cave. I OFFER MY HUMBLE SALUTATIONS TO MY HOLY GURU SRI RAMANA.
2. RAMANAM GURU RAMANAM PARAMASHIVAYA RAMANAM. Sri Seshadri Swamigal is ten years elder than you, but once he has protected you from some arrogant boys, during your initial days stay at the Pathalalinga Cave present in the Holy Arunachala Temple, and this incident shows that you have been always protected by the great LORD SHIVA,” SHIVAYANAMAOM, NAMAHSHIVAYANAMAOM”. I OFFER MY HUMBLE SALUTATIONS TO MY HOLY GURU SRI RAMANA.
3. RAMANAM GURU RAMANAM PARAMASHIVAYA RAMANAM. During your stay at Tiruvannamalai, most of your precious devotees had fed food for you, and even when you refuse to have it, but, some of them had even forcibly fed the food from their own hands. I OFFER MY HUMBLE SALUTATIONS TO MY HOLY GURU SRI RAMANA.
4. RAMANAM GURU RAMANAM PARAMASHIVAYA RAMANAM. In course of time, though your mother and brother were also began to stay along you, and assisted in the Ramanashram activities yet, you have been keep on doing penance on Lord Shiva. I OFFER MY HUMBLE SALUTATIONS TO MY HOLY GURU SRI RAMANA.
5. RAMANAM GURU RAMANAM PARAMASHIVAYA RAMANAM. Your devotees those who had kept great faith and bhakti on you, were given you the title as “SRI RAMANA MAHARISHI”. I OFFER MY HUMBLE SALUTATIONS TO MY HOLY GURU SRI RAMANA.
6. RAMANAM GURU RAMANAM PARAMASHIVAYA RAMANAM. Sri Sivaprakasam Pillai was one of your sincere devotees, and one day, to his eyes, you have appeared in the form of Child Shiva (Bala Sivan), and likewise your devotee Manavasi Rama Swamy had attained great spiritual satisfaction when you touched his head, for three times, and due to that, we was able to see the presence of Lord Shiva within his soul itself. I OFFER MY HUMBLE SALUTATIONS TO MY HOLY GURU SRI RAMANA.
7. RAMANAM GURU RAMANAM PARAMASHIVAYA RAMANAM. Similar to Lord Dakshinamoorthy, you have clarified the doubts of many people, even without opening your mouth. I OFFER MY HUMBLE SALUTATIONS TO MY HOLY GURU SRI RAMANA.
8. RAMANAM GURU RAMANAM PARAMASHIVAYA RAMANAM. Once, when some thieves beat you at your Ashram, but you didn’t get anger with them, but you had borne the pain with a divine smile. I OFFER MY HUMBLE SALUTATIONS TO MY HOLY GURU SRI RAMANA.
9. RAMANAM GURU RAMANAM PARAMASHIVAYA RAMANAM. You have also admitted the foreigners and the lower class people into your Ashram and properly took care of them by providing sufficient food and water to them with great love and affection. I OFFER MY HUMBLE SALUTATIONS TO MY HOLY GURU SRI RAMANA.
10. RAMANAM GURU RAMANAM PARAMASHIVAYA RAMANAM. You have showed your kindness even to birds and animals like dogs, cows and peacocks, and daily you have provided food to them from your own hands. I OFFER MY HUMBLE SALUTATIONS TO MY HOLY GURU SRI RAMANA.
11. RAMANAM GURU RAMANAM PARAMASHIVAYA RAMANAM. You have even wilfully admitted some poor helpless destitute women, and made them to permanently stay at your Ashram, and also gave them some responsibilities at your Ashram like cooking, cleaning and maintenance, and when you have breathed last, a divine star had arisen from your body and merged with the Holy Arunachala Mountain, and this wonderful incident shows that our Guru Ramana is none other than our LORD SHIVA. I OFFER MY HUMBLE SALUTATIONS TO MY HOLY GURU SRI RAMANA.
12. RAMANAM GURU RAMANAM PARAMASHIVAYA RAMANAM. Through your great spiritual powers, after the death of your mother, you were able to send her soul to the divine world. Those who call your name “RAMANA”, from any corner of the world, would be immediately blessed by you, and all of their problems would come to an end. I OFFER MY HUMBLE SALUTATIONS TO MY HOLY GURU SRI RAMANA.
“OM GURU RAMANA BHAGAVANE NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR