← Sri Ramana MaharshiSacred life

Books inspired by Sri Bhagavan include, Self-Realisation by B.V. Narasimha Swami, Guru Vachaka Kovai, Ramana Sannidhi Murai and Ramana Padamalai by Muruganar, Day by Day with Bhagavan by Devaraja Mudaliar, Letters from Ramanasramam by Suri Nagamma, Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi by Munagala Venkataramiah and Sat Darshana Bhashyam by Kapali Shastri, to name a few. Each one a Spark from His Anvil and each quite capable of igniting the fiery thirst in readers for Enlightenment.

Until the frailty of age set in, there were no set hours for approaching Sri Bhagavan. He was accessible at all times, day and night. He would not have the Hall doors and windows closed lest any who needed Him might be shut out. Often, He would talk to a group of devotees far into the night.

During the last years, the Old Hall was becoming too small even on ordinary days, and it became more usual to sit outside under a palm-leaf roof. In 1939 work had started on a Temple over the Mother's Samadhi, and this was completed in 1949, together with a New Hall for Sri Bhagavan and the devotees to sit in. Sri Bhagavan attended every event in connection with the dedication of the Temple, placing His hands in blessing on the various objects that were to be enclosed in the Shrine. At night, when no one was about, He used to walk around the construction site, thus consecrating it.

At the end of 1948, a small growth, the size of a peanut, was noticed on Sri Bhagavan’s left elbow. It gradually grew in size and became painful when touched. By February 1949, it had grown into a tumour, the size of a small lemon. The doctor in charge of the Ashram Dispensary removed it surgically, and the wound healed in about ten days. At the time of the consecration - Maha Kumbabhishekam - of the Matrubhuteswara Temple erected over the Samadhi of His Mother in March, Sri Bhagavan looked all right except for a little sagging of the skin at the elbow. Soon after this, however, the tumour returned above the operated part. Eminent surgeons from Madras came and examined it and, suspecting it to be malignant, they again removed it surgically on March 27. Soon after this they treated the spot with radium. An examination of the affected tissue confirmed that the growth was indeed a malignant sarcoma.

The Form that held the most Benign and yet Blazing Sun of Jnana that the World had known in many centuries had started to set. And even as the Flame continued to increase in Brilliance, the Lamp that had borne it all these years, was showing signs of fading.

Excruciatingly painful, especially in its later stages, and fatal, a fresh growth appeared while the earlier wound was still healing. The doctors suggested amputating the arm above the affected part in the hope of saving Sri Bhagavan’s Precious Life. Sri Bhagavan smiled and replied, “There is no need for alarm. The body is itself a disease. Let it have its natural end. Why mutilate it? Simple dressing of the affected part is enough.”

At this time, a village physician (vaidhyar) of some repute was allowed to try herbal treatment, but it had no success. There was further aggravation and sepsis set in. A medical board discussed the matter and decided upon a third operation in the hope of saving Sri Bhagavan’s Life. Sri Bhagavan was persuaded to agree to this. This third operation, on August 7th, was a major operation carefully organized and carried out by a team of doctors and surgeons. A week later it was followed by radium treatment to destroy the affected tissues.

The wound was gradually healing and Sri Bhagavan’s general health showed a slight improvement for about three months, so that hope revived in all hearts. But, then again, to the dismay of all, at the end of November the tumour re-appeared, higher up on the arm. This necessitated a fourth operation on December 19th. After this the doctors were definite that if the tumour appeared again, nothing more could be done except administer palliatives.

At this stage, homeopathy was tried for a few weeks but it could not arrest the disease. Another tumour appeared adjoining the left armpit and grew rapidly. Two Ayurvedic physicians of repute now tried their treatment but without success. The whole of the left upper arm had become one terrific swelling.

Owing to constant oozing of blood through the open wound and the tumour, Sri Bhagavan’s system had turned anaemic. The poison of the disease had now spread, affecting the whole body. It was the last phase of sarcoma and the end was near.

Throughout this long time of pain and sickness Sri Bhagavan was quite unconcerned. He had no personal inclination for any kind of treatment. Whenever a course of treatment was decided upon by the Ashram, He abided by it - more to please the devotees than to get cured. He had often said, “It is for us to witness all that happens,” and His behaviour was a perfect illustration of this. In December 1949, when the devotees were at a loss what treatment to try next, one of them approached Sri Bhagavan and asked Him what must be done next. He replied with a smile, “Have I ever asked for any treatment? It is you who wanted this and that for me, so it is you who must decide. If I were asked, I should always say, as I have said from the beginning, that no treatment is necessary. Let things take their course.”

All the doctors who attended upon Sri Bhagavan were struck by His superhuman indifference to pain and His absolute unconcern even during and after operations. He took everything lightly and retained His sense of humour throughout. His casual remarks often made the doctors and attendants laugh despite their anxiety.

A few hours after the serious operation of August, although He had been advised not to move out for some days, Sri Bhagavan decided to give darshan to the many devotees who were waiting anxiously outside the Ashram Dispensary. He was as serene as ever and even smiled from time to time. At noon next day, as soon as the doctors had left, He returned to the Hall where He always sat, saying that He should not occupy the Dispensary to the inconvenience of patients who needed to go there for treatment.

Doctors and others who saw Sri Bhagavan even after the fourth operation were amazed at His tranquil expression and gracious smile. There was no sign of suffering in His face.

The seventy-first birthday of Bhagavan Sri Ramana was celebrated in His Presence on January 5th, 1950. Sri Bhagavan sat up for hours in the morning and evening amid His devotees who had thronged for what many feared would be His last. He read through many hymns newly composed by devotees and heard them being sung. The elephant of the Temple of Arunachala came and stood there for a while after bowing down to Sri Bhagavan and then took leave of Him by touching His feet with its trunk. A Rani who had come from North India to pay her respects took a motion picture of the scene. The atmosphere was full of joy and the festivities ended with the prostration of the devotees to their Master after the Vedic chants.

Prayers and chanting of hymns for Sri Bhagavan’s recovery went on for months at the Ashram and outside. Once, when Sri Bhagavan was asked about their efficacy, He replied with a smile, “It is certainly desirable to be engaged in good activities; let them continue.”

When the devotees prayed to Sri Bhagavan Himself to set His health right by His own Potent Will, He replied, “Everything will come right in due course.” And then He added, “Who is there to ‘will’ this?” He could not will or desire anything, having lost the sense of separate individuality in the Universal Consciousness.

Sri Bhagavan kept to His normal daily routine until it became physically impossible for Him. He took His morning bath an hour before Sunrise, sat up for darshan at fixed hours, in the morning and evening, went through the Ashram correspondence and supervised the printing of the Ashram publications, often making suggestions. Everything received His attention despite His ill-health.

More than a year before His Maha Nirvana, Sri Bhagavan quoted and rendered into Tamil verse a sloka from Srimad Bhagavatam (Skandha XI, ch.13, S1.36): “Let the body, the result of fructifying karma, rest or move about, live or die. The Sage who has Realised the Self is not aware of it, just as one in drunken stupor is not aware of his clothing.”

Late in 1949, Sri Bhagavan picked up and expounded a verse from Yoga Vasishtam: “The Jnani who has found Himself as formless Pure Awareness is unaffected though His body be cleft with a sword. Sugar candy does not lose its sweetness though broken or crushed.”

Clockwise from above: 1. Sri Bhagavan during the inauguration of the Ashram Dispensary building in 1942 2. Sri Bhagavan sitting outside the newly constructed bathroom – along with the Doctors 3. Sri Bhagavan – in His daily routine ( T.P.Ramachandra Iyer and Sathyananda Swami) 4. Devotees waiting in queue to have ‘darshan’ of Sri Bhagavan

On one occasion, during the last months, Sri Bhagavan said to an anxious attendant, “When we have finished a meal do we keep the leaf-plate on which we have eaten it?” On another occasion, He told him that the Jnani rejoices to be relieved of the body by death as a servant rejoices to lay down his burden at the place of delivery.

With a look of compassion He consoled a devotee, saying, “They take this body for Sri Bhagavan and attribute suffering to Him. What a pity! They are despondent that Sri Bhagavan is going to leave them and go away; where can He go, I Am here !”

Even during the last days, when Sri Bhagavan was unable to leave His room, He continued to give darshan to the hundreds of devotees, morning and evening, reclining on His Bed within, majestic like Bhishma on his bed of arrows. Sri Bhagavan would not consent to have the darshan cancelled even on days when His condition was critical - it went on right up to the last evening.

The news of the rapid decline in Sri Bhagavan’s physical condition spread and hundreds of devotees came to Arunachala to have the last darshan. In the queue that filed past his room, there were men and women, rich and poor, learned and simple, from all parts of India and from abroad, all united in their devotion to this Divine Personification.

On Wednesday evening, two days before the Maha Nirvana, Sri Bhagavan gave a peculiar look of Grace to devotees who passed before Him in the queue. It struck some of them that this might be His parting look, and it turned out to be so, for during the next two days Sri Bhagavan had not the physical strength to turn about and look at the devotees. But, whether His eyes were open or closed, His ‘mind’ was always clear and He spoke to the attendants when necessary.

On Thursday morning, when a doctor brought Sri Bhagavan some medicine to relieve congestion in the lungs, Sri Bhagavan told him that it was not necessary and that everything would come right within two days. That night, Sri Bhagavan told His attendants to retire for sleep or meditation and leave Him alone.

On 14th April, 1950, Friday morning, Sri Bhagavan said “Thanks!” to Sivananda Swami, an attendant who had just finished massaging His body. The attendant, who did not know English, blinked with surprise. Sri Bhagavan, smilingly explained to him the meaning of the English term. It is probable that, when about to leave the physical plane, Sri Bhagavan intended thus to express “His Thanks” to all who had served Him.

That evening, there was a vast gathering of devotees and all had darshan of Sri Bhagavan. Many stayed at the Ashram after darshan, as Sri Bhagavan’s condition was critical. At about Sunset, Sri Bhagavan asked His attendants to raise Him to a sitting position. They raised Him up as comfortably as they could, one of them gently supporting His head. One of the doctors began to give Him oxygen but Sri Bhagavan motioned them to stop it with a wave of His right hand.

There were ten or twelve persons, doctors and attendants, in the small room. Two of them were fanning Sri Bhagavan. Hundreds of devotees were anxiously waiting just outside. A group of devotees seated on the Temple ramp opposite the little room began chanting Aksharamanamalai with devotional fervour interspersing the chorus ‘Arunachala Siva’ after every verse. Sri Bhagavan’s eyes opened a little and flashed for a moment. From their outer edges tears of ecstasy rolled down.

The last breaths followed one another softly, smoothly and then, with no premonition, no shock, breathing stopped.

The famous French photographer, M. Cartier-Bresson, who was standing before his cottage in Ramana Nagar near the Ashram, saw a shooting-star, vividly luminous, coming from the south, moving slowly northward across the sky and disappearing behind the peak of Arunachala. He looked at his watch; it was 8.47 p.m.

This was the very moment when the Maharshi breathed His last. The appearance of the bright meteor in the sky was observed by many people all over India and was widely reported in the papers. Some devotees in Madras and elsewhere, seeing it, guessed its import and set out by car to be present at the interment at Tiruvannamalai.

Sri Bhagavan had receded into His Reality, the Heart of the Universe. The extraordinary peace of that hour overwhelmed everyone in His Presence, felt more now than ever before. It was the Transcendent Glory of Sri Bhagavan, the Luminous Self, that prevailed.

The Flight of the Flame that started just over seventy-one years ago on the night of Ardhra Darshan, when Shiva appeared as the Infinite Pillar of Light, the Flame that lit up the inner and outer lives of all those that approached it, that Flame had gone back to the Source.

Now, the Flame shines in all of us, including you, dear reader, even as you are reading it, It shines in us as our Heart, our Centre, as Being-Awareness-Bliss. If we but turn towards it, dive into it, surrender to it, the Flame by its Light of Grace will lift us to its own state of Arunachala Ramana-Anandam.

“Once a man has surrendered his life Here, he belongs Here. Wherever he may go, he shall return. For him this is the Door to Liberation.”

~ Sri Bhagavan

“FLIGHT OF THE FLAME” ( by Suresh Kailaash ) – Supplement to “TREASURE TROVE OF SRI BHAGAVAN’S GRACE”

“ ஐக்கியம் ஆக்கிக்கொள் அருணாசலா — ஸ்ரீ பகவான் ” “Absorb (Me) into Yourself, Oh! Arunachala! — Sri Bhagavan”

“அண்ணாமலைக்கு அரோஹரா ” “Obeisances to Arunachala”