Ramana Maharshi - Icon Profile | Alexandria
Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950), born Venkataraman Iyer, stands as one of India's most influential spiritual figures, whose profound teachings on self-inquiry and self-realization have transcended cultural boundaries to influence seekers worldwide. Known simply as "Bhagavan" (the Divine One) by his devotees, Ramana's approach to spiritual enlightenment centered on the deceptively simple yet profound question "Who am I?"—a method that would later revolutionize contemporary understanding of non-dual awareness.
At age sixteen, Venkataraman experienced a spontaneous spiritual awakening triggered by an intense fear of death, during which he realized his essential nature as consciousness itself rather than the physical body. This transformative experience led him to abandon his family home in Madurai, eventually settling at the sacred hill of Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai, where he would remain for the rest of his life. Initially maintaining years of silence while dwelling in caves, his presence began attracting followers who recognized in him a state of profound peace and self-realization that seemed to transcend ordinary human experience.
Through the early decades of the 20th century, as India underwent significant political and social transformation, Ramana's teachings gained international recognition through visitors such as Paul Brunton, whose book "A Search in Secret India" introduced the sage to Western audiences. Unlike many contemporary Indian spiritual teachers, Ramana emphasized direct experiential inquiry over theoretical knowledge or complicated practices, maintaining that the core truth of human existence could be discovered through persistent self-investigation.
Ramana's legacy continues to influence modern spiritual discourse, with his method of self-inquiry being particularly relevant to contemporary discussions about consciousness and identity. His teachings have been embraced by figures ranging from Carl Jung to Joseph Campbell, while his emphasis on direct experience rather than belief systems resonates strongly with current trends in mindfulness and meditation. The mystery of his transformation from an ordinary schoolboy to an enlightened sage, combined with his unwavering state of self-realization, continues to intrigue scholars and practitioners alike, raising profound questions about the nature of consciousness and human potential. Even decades after his death, the power of his presence is still palpably felt by visitors to his ashram at Arunachala, where the eternal question "Who am I?" echoes through the halls, inviting each seeker to embark on their own journey of self-discovery.