2015-12-30 Wed

Shri Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950), modern Hindu Advaita renaissance saint of Maharshi Research Institute, philosopher and yogi, was born in Tiruchuzhi near Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

In 1895 Maharshi was divinely attracted to the holy hill Arunachala and the 63 Nayanars was aroused in him. At a tender age of 16, he had a "death-experience" in which he became aware of true-self and later he described this awareness as "the state of mind of ‘Iswara’ or the ‘jnani’.

Soon he journeyed to the Arunachala Mountains, Tiruvannamalai, where he took on the role of a sannyasin and remained for the rest of his life. People regarded him as a divinity and in later years an ashram grew up around him, where visitors received upadesa ("spiritual instruction). Since the 1930s his teachings have been popularised in the west, resulting in worldwide recognition as an enlightened being.

The India Post has issued two commemorative stamps in the honour of Shri Ramana Maharshi of denominations INR 2 and 20 Paise.