From the readings and sapthahams and Navahams I attended in Mumbai, I could gather some knowledge which I would like to share with my readers who have always evinced and expressed great interest and inquisitiveness to acquire the knowledge potential. I too strongly believe that the knowledge we gather from books and discourses and even discussions with knowledgeable souls should be shared with others from time to time. Otherwise, it remains futile like the wealth with a miser which is of no use. I am sure these stories and articles which contain good morals will be more helpful particularly, to the younger generation to instil in them a passion for learning our cultural heritage!
Here in these series of articles and stories, I wish to start with some striking stories which I recollect from Bhagavatham etc and I wish to begin with:
5.BHAGAVAN RAMANA MAHARSHI AND THIRUVANNAMALAI     

INTRODUCTION:

Of all the countries in the world, India is the only country blessed with saints and Rishis whose powers of ceaseless penance from time immemorial, have augmented the spiritual powers and strengthened the dharmic values of our country. It is mentioned in the Puranas that there are three factors essential for the Rishis for practising ascetism:
1)The place chosen to do penance should be VANA-ARAAMANYAKAM -It should be in a jungle with serene ambience.
2)The place chosen should be STHALA-ARAAMNYAKAM -It should be a scenically attractive place.
3)The place should be JALA-ARAAMANYAKAM -  It should be endowed with the potential of enough water for cleansing the body as well as necessary for the daily rituals and consumption.
All the above preconditions were available to BHAGAVAN RAMANA MAHARSHI!
BHAGAWAN SHRI RAMANA MAHARSHI (30-12-1879 -14-4-1950) was born into an orthodox Brahmin family as the second of four children of Shri Sundaram Iyer (from the lineage of PARASARA MAHARSHI) and Azhagammal. His name was Venkataraman Iyer, but came to be known as Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi when he became a sage. He had two brothers viz Nagaswami and Nagasundaram anda young sister by name Alamelu. Venkataraman’s father was a Court Pleader. The family worshipped Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha, Lord Surya and Goddess Shakthi in their house.
At the age of 7 his thread ceremony or Upanayanam was conducted. He had the exceptional quality of extra ordinary memory power to recollect anything read once, with which he used to recite Tamil poems instantly and flawlessly. He had learned English also. Besides, he had the knowledge of self. In 1895, while reading the Tamil version of the Kannada poem PRABHULINGALEELA, he realized that ARUNACHALA the sacred mountain was a serene real place for practising peaceful penance.

One day, he reached THIRUVANNAMALAI and there he visited the temple of ARUNACHALESWARA and spent a few weeks there in the 1000 pillared Hall without even knowing the bites of vermin and other pests. A local saint Seshadri swamigal noticed it and saved him. Another Palani swami became his attendant took care of him and also begged outside in the street for alms for both of them. Later, he moved to another Shiva Temple.

With his proficiency in Tamil, he had composed many meaningful philosophical verses whichare quoted and explained in spiritual discourses by Acharyas. He had sufficient knowledge in Sanskrit and English also. As ahuman being, he had also suffered from various serious health hazards which he ignored as happenings on the inanimate envelopment, while the soul remains safe and unaffected. Besides, people always wanted to have his soothing darshan which calmed their confused and troubled minds. He used to speak very little but, it contained thought provoking advices for making a self-enquiry to find out appropriate solutions or answers.

BHAGAWAN RAMANA MAHARSHI is respected as a great saint or Rishi and a philosopher as well.
He spent his whole life in THIRUVANNAMALAI and lead a worthy life as a Rishi strictly adhering to silence and loneliness. Hence the name BHAGAWAN RAMANA MAHARSHI!
MAHANIRVANA OF BHAGAVAN RAMANA MAHARSHI:
The 70th anniversary of the MAHANIRVANA of our SADGURU BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI was observed very recently. His MAHASAMADHI denoted the end of a born Rishi’s spiritual epoch!
It was reported that Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi attained MAHASAMADHI in the Ramanashram at 8.47 P M on 14th April 1950 and the news was conveyed to thousands of his devotees who were reciting the verses from his composition ARUNACHALA MAALAI. It was also reported that an unusually big meteor shedding so much brilliance appeared on the sky exactly at the time Bhagavan discarded his mortal envelopment and attained MAHASAMADHI. This happens only with Maha Purushas or Jeevan Mukthas like BHAGAVAN RAMANA MAHARSHI who is considered as an incarnation of LORD SHIVA. This uncommon large and luminous meteor was viewed by many in various parts of India which marked the end of an astute dedicated saint BHAGAVAN RAMANA MAHARSHI!

ARUNACHALASHIVA ARUNACHALA:

ARUNACHALAM OR THIRUANNAMALAI:
ARUNACHALAM is a holy hill situated in THIRUANNAMALAI T N and one of the five main Shaivite holy places in South India. The ANNAMALAIYAR temple, a temple of Lord Shiva is located at the foot of the hill. The hill is also known by the name Annamalai, Arunagiri, Arunachalam, Sona giri and Sonachalam.
Every year in Tamil month Karthikai(November-December) the Karthikai Deepam or light is lit atop the hill. It is also an important place for the devotees of Shri Ramana Maharshi.
A LEGENDARY STORY:
According to the legend associated with the temple, a dispute arose between Brahma the creator and Vishnu the preserver of the whole universe about who out of the two is superior. With the intension of solving the problem and settling the argument Lord Shiva is believed to have manifested as a stream of light in the form of ARUNACHALA. It is believed that so many saints like Manikya Vachakar, Appar Sambandhar and Sundarar are believed to have visited the ARUNACHALA Hill. It is also believed that Virupaksha Deva lived in the AUM SHAPED cave at the top of the hill and this cave bears his name. It is located on the Southeast top of ARUNACHALA. It is recorded in history that BHAGAWAN RAMANA MAHARSHI lived in this cave from 1899 to 1916.

The temple is famous for its massive Gopurams which are as tall as 66 m. The temple is well known for the remarkable carvings or murals on the walls. In one particular carving, Lord Shiva is shown dancing on an elephant’s skin. To keep up the overall look of the forest, new trees are planted from time to time. The noble mission is to preserve the hill for future generation. It will boost tourism and the local people will enjoy the manifold benefits of the prestige of having a World Heritage Site in their vicinity. In short, every improvement will fetch many befits to the tourists as well as the natives!