Bhagavan Ramana and Mother

We all know that Ramana was born with a constant awareness of the glory of his father, Arunachala. We also know that it was in response to His father’s call that he left for Tiruvannamalai where he became one, and non-separate, from his father immediately on arrival. However, very little is known about the extraordinary beauty of Ramana’s relationship with his mother Azhagammal and His role as her Sadguru and bestower of her liberation.

The need to know more about the Mother cannot be over-stated. There is something unique about every aspect of Bhagavan’s life and this is more true of his bonds between him and his mother. Though his mother attained Mahasamadhi in 1922 itself, Ramana’s phenomenal and photo-graphic memory enabled him to recall, even decades later. Every little detail about her. Such is the divine plan, that these recollections of Ramana have been fully recorded by Devaraja Mudaliar, Suri Nagamma, Krishna Bikshu and Kunju Swami, so that posterity could know about and enjoy the tender and heart-warming incidents.

The sole and sufficient reason which Ramana gave for shifting from Skandasramam, situated in the heart of Arunachala, to the Mother’s shrine was that the same power which had brought him to Arunachala had also brought him to the Mother’s shrine at the foot of the hill. On the 1st of September 1939, the construction of the beautiful temple for the Mother commenced with the full blessings of Ramana. The date has its own significance for it was on the 1st of September, 1896 that Ramana had come to Arunachala. The construction was spread over ten years from 1939 to 1949. Throughout this period, he took ken interest in all the aspects of the construction and would walk around, with torch in hand, at night, giving appropriate instructions. During the ceremonies connected with Kumbhabhishekam or the dedication of the Mother’s temple in March 1949, Bhagavan fully participated in all the events connected with it. Thus he demonstrated as it were the true stature of his mother, as the universal Mother.

The temple of Grace of Ramana is situated adjacent to that of the Mother. It serves as a constant reminder to us of what they meant to each other and brings out in clear focus that divine relationship between the Mother and Son, who had become inseparable.

This book is a homage to unique Ramana and Mother Azhagammal. The holy atmosphere of Virupaksha Cave, Skandasramam and Sri Ramanasramam is sought to be re-created by making the narrative simple and having a profusion of photographs in colour and black-and-white, including some rare ones to make the presentation beautiful visually also.