No name is more closely tied to Tiruvannamalai in the eyes of the world than Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. A schoolboy from a small Tamil town who awakened to the Self at sixteen, he spent the remaining 54 years of his life at the foot of Arunachala and drew seekers from every continent. This article tells the Ramana Maharshi life story place by place, so you can follow his footsteps when you visit Tiruvannamalai.
Ramana Maharshi Timeline
| Year | Event | Place to visit today |
|---|---|---|
| 1879 | Born as Venkataraman on 30 December | Sundara Mandiram, Tiruchuli (Virudhunagar district) |
| 1896 | Death experience and Self-realisation at 16 in Madurai | Ramana Mandiram, Madurai |
| 1896 | Arrives in Tiruvannamalai on 1 September | Arunachaleswarar Temple |
| 1896 to 1898 | Deep meditation in the temple and nearby shrines | Pathala Lingam, Gurumurtham |
| 1899 to 1916 | Lives in Virupaksha Cave on the hill | Virupaksha Cave |
| 1916 to 1922 | Lives at Skandashram with his mother | Skandashram |
| 1922 to 1950 | Settles at the foot of the hill; Sri Ramanasramam grows | Sri Ramanasramam, Chengam Road |
| 1950 | Mahanirvana on 14 April | Samadhi Hall, Sri Ramanasramam |
Early Life in Tiruchuli and Madurai
Venkataraman was born on 30 December 1879, on the auspicious Arudra Darshan night, in Tiruchuli near Madurai. He was an ordinary, sporty boy with little interest in religion. In 1896, while living with his uncle in Madurai, he was suddenly gripped by an intense fear of death. Instead of panicking, he lay down, dramatised death and enquired: if the body dies, am I dead? In that inquiry he directly realised that he was the deathless Self, and the realisation never left him.
Around the same time he heard a relative mention “Arunachala”, and the name thrilled him. Weeks later he quietly left home with a note saying he was going in search of his Father, and set out for Tiruvannamalai.
Arrival at Arunachala (1896)
Venkataraman reached Tiruvannamalai on 1 September 1896 and went straight to the Arunachaleswarar Temple. He threw away his remaining money, shaved his head and lived as a silent ascetic. Seeking solitude, he sat in the dark underground Pathala Lingam vault beneath the thousand-pillared hall, so absorbed that he did not notice insects eating into his thighs. The saint Seshadri Swamigal was among the first to protect him. Read more in our guide to the temple’s architecture and the Pathala Lingam.
He later moved to Gurumurtham, a shrine on the outskirts of town, where devotees began to gather around the young “Brahmana Swami”.
Virupaksha Cave and Skandashram (1899 to 1922)
In 1899 he moved up the hill to Virupaksha Cave, where he lived for about 17 years. Here he answered seekers’ questions by writing, and the notes later became the famous booklet Who Am I? (Nan Yar?). In 1916 devotees built Skandashram a little higher up, and his mother Alagammal joined him there. Both places are open to visitors; follow our Skandashram and Virupaksha Cave trek guide.
Sri Ramanasramam (1922 to 1950)
After his mother passed away in 1922, she was buried at the foot of the hill, and a shrine (now the Mathrubhuteswara Temple) was raised over her samadhi. Ramana came down to stay near it, and Sri Ramanasramam grew up around him. For 28 years he lived simply in the Old Hall, available to all visitors day and night, helping in the kitchen and walking on the hill. Visitors included Paul Brunton, whose book A Search in Secret India made him famous in the West, and figures such as Somerset Maugham.
He passed away on the evening of 14 April 1950. Many witnesses reported a bright star moving slowly across the sky towards the peak of Arunachala at that moment. Plan your visit with our Ramana Maharshi Ashram visitor guide.
The Core Teaching: Self-Enquiry
Ramana’s central teaching is Atma Vichara (Self-enquiry): turning attention to the sense of “I” and asking “Who am I?” until the ego subsides in its source, the Self. He also taught surrender as an equal path. His teaching was given mostly in silence, which many visitors found more powerful than words.
- Key texts: Who Am I?, Upadesa Saram, Ulladu Narpadu (Forty Verses on Reality), and the Five Hymns to Arunachala.
- Recorded conversations: Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi and Day by Day with Bhagavan.
Following Ramana’s Footsteps in Tiruvannamalai: A Half-Day Route
- Early morning: Pathala Lingam inside Arunachaleswarar Temple (check temple timings).
- Breakfast, then auto to Sri Ramanasramam: Samadhi Hall, Old Hall, Mother’s shrine.
- Climb to Virupaksha Cave and Skandashram (30 to 45 minutes).
- Afternoon: the ashram bookstall and library.
- Optional: Gurumurtham, about 2 km from the town centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Ramana Maharshi come to Tiruvannamalai?
He arrived on 1 September 1896 at the age of 16 and never left Arunachala until his death in 1950.
Where did Ramana Maharshi live in Tiruvannamalai?
In the temple and Gurumurtham (1896 to 1898), Virupaksha Cave (1899 to 1916), Skandashram (1916 to 1922) and Sri Ramanasramam (1922 to 1950).
What is Ramana Maharshi’s main teaching?
Self-enquiry: asking “Who am I?” to trace the ego to its source, along with complete surrender to God or the Self.
When is Ramana Maharshi’s Jayanthi and Aradhana?
His Jayanthi is celebrated on Arudra Darshan in Margazhi (December or January), and his Aradhana (Mahanirvana day) in April, both at Sri Ramanasramam.
