Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai
Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu
Sri Ramanasramam is the ashram of the sage Ramana Maharshi, at the base of the sacred Arunachala hill. Ramana Maharshi lived here from 1922 until his death in 1950, and taught self-enquiry, the question 'Who am I?'. The ashram grew around the samadhi shrine of his mother, and today it holds the samadhi hall, a meditation hall and a library. It is a quiet place, popular with seekers from India and from abroad.
What to see and do
- Sit quietly in the Samadhi Hall and the meditation hall
- Visit the Mother's Shrine and the old hall where Ramana taught
- Walk in the peaceful ashram grounds at the foot of Arunachala
- Ask the ashram office about places linked to Ramana's life on the hill
Ideal for
- Seekers interested in self-enquiry and Advaita
- Visitors who want a quiet, silent break from temple crowds
- Anyone doing the Girivalam who wants a meditative stop
Good to know
- The ashram's own schedule lists it as open from about 5:30 am to 8:30 pm, with the Mother's Shrine and the Samadhi Hall closed from about 11 am to 2 pm, but third-party sites differ, so check locally
- Be on time for programmes, and arrive at least 10 minutes early for a queue
- Keep mobile phones silent or off, and keep silence in the shrines and halls
- Dress modestly, and leave footwear at the free shoe stall outside
- The schedule changes on special days, so check the notice board
Spiritual significance
Ramana Maharshi is one of the best-known sages of modern India, and this ashram keeps his teaching of self-enquiry alive. It is a place of silence rather than ritual.
Why it matters
- A modern sage: Ramana lived here from 1922 until 1950
- Self-enquiry: the teaching 'Who am I?' is the heart of the ashram
- A place of silence: meditation and quiet are the practice here