Sri Ramanasramam: The Ashram of Ramana Maharshi
At the southern foot of Arunachala Hill, on Chengam Road about two kilometres from the great temple, stands Sri Ramanasramam, the ashram that grew around Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and where he lived until his mahasamadhi in 1950. A century on, it remains one of the most visited spiritual destinations in India, drawing seekers from every continent.
This guide covers what the ashram is, what to see and do there, the etiquette, and how accommodation works.
A Short History
Ramana Maharshi arrived in Tiruvannamalai in 1896 as a boy of sixteen, drawn by the name Arunachala, and never left. After years in the temple precincts and the hill caves, Virupaksha Cave and later Skandashram, he settled at the foot of the hill where his mother’s samadhi was established in the early 1920s. The community that gathered there became Sri Ramanasramam. His teaching of self-enquiry, asking Who am I, spread worldwide and continues to define the ashram’s quiet, inward atmosphere.
What to See and Do
- The Samadhi Hall: The shrine over Bhagavan’s samadhi, centre of the ashram’s daily life, where devotees sit in meditation through the day.
- The Old Hall: The room where Ramana sat with visitors for over two decades; sitting quietly here is, for many, the heart of the visit.
- The Mother’s Shrine: The Matrubhuteswara shrine over his mother’s samadhi.
- Daily chanting: Vedic parayana and Tamil recitations mark the ashram’s rhythm morning and evening.
- The library and bookstore: An extensive collection on Bhagavan’s life and teachings; the bookstore sells works in many languages at modest prices.
- The peacocks and the goshala: The ashram’s famous peacocks roam freely, and the cowshed recalls the beloved cow Lakshmi.
- The hill gate: The trail to Skandashram and Virupaksha Cave starts from behind the ashram, open during daylight hours.
Visiting Basics
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Chengam Road, about 2 km south-west of Arunachaleswarar Temple |
| Entry | Free; the ashram runs on donations |
| Hours | Open daily from early morning to evening; exact schedule on the ashram’s official website |
| Dress | Modest, quiet clothing; traditional wear fits the setting |
| Atmosphere | Silence in the halls; phones silent; photography restricted in some areas |
