Yogi Ramiah

Yogi Ramiah's parents were devout and very wealthy. Consequently, he was more interested in enjoying the good things in life than paying attention to his studies. 

At the age of eighteen Ramiah happened to read a book on saint Kabir. On reading it, the unreality of the world exploded like a bomb in his face. He had been taking the world to be real. But, after reading about Kabir's life and teachings, he was a changed man. 

When Brahmanantha Thirtha Swami was at Nellore, Ramiah went and prayed to him to give him upadesa and teach him yoga so that he could meditate upon Rama and conquer the mind. Brahmanantha Thirtha then gave him Rama Tarakam Mantram and asked him to meditate on it, observing pranayama, for a little while, at the time. Later Guru told Ramiah to practice pranayama vigorously, solitary living and food restrictions are necessary.

Ramiah wanted to go to Dandakaranya and spend the rest of his life there. On the way, he happened to meet the same guru who had given him Rama tharakam mantram. On being told that he was going to Dandakaranya, the guru told Ramiah, "Go back to your village and pursue your sadhana continuously in your garden." Without hesitation, Ramiah obeyed and returned home to do his sadhana. 

In due course, Ramiah had the vision of Lord Rama. On pursuing it even more intensely, he experienced the disappearance of the external Rama. Instead, he started feeling God within as the Self. 

Once Ramiah came on a pilgrimage to Arunagiri and saw Bhagavan Ramana. Learning that Bhagavan knew Telugu, Ramiah went to him, offered his respects, sat in his presence and was looking at Bhagavan. He found that Bhagavan was introverted, his eyes were not moving, breath appeared to have stopped - no movement was visible in him. Seeing Bhagavan Ramiah also turned his vision inwards and was introverted. As he had acquired dharana siddhi at the tip of the nose he found it easy to turn his vision inwards. When the vision is turned inwards the _drik_ (subject) _drisya_ (objects) are not seen. Self was all pervading and perfect (purna). 

In this state Ramiah was sitting for two hours. He came to the conclusion that when the mind was subdued and the objects are not seen but the subject and object are Self and the Self is all pervading and perfect. 

As Ganapati Muni was sitting there, Ramiah questioned him about this. The Muni replied that the subject and object are different. He couldnot agree with what Muni said.

 

When Ramiah looked at Bhagavan, he immediately said, "The subject and object are distinct in the phenomenal world to the ordinary man. But in the experience of samadhi they merge and become one."

This answer dissolved Ramiah's doubt. He felt very happy on hearing this and concluded with certainty that Bhagavan was the guru and that he had realized the truth. He instantly took Bhagavan as his satguru and decided to stay on in Tiruvannamalai. 

Bhagavan gave him a lot of attention because Ramiah lived like a real yogi. At ten in the morning, he would have the only meal of his day - a limited amount of lentils that he himself cooked. Otherwise, he was either in a rock cave in Palaakothu pursuing his sadhana or spending hours in front of Bhagavan. He was the only person who was freely permitted to be with Bhagavan anywhere and at any time of the day.

Yogi Ramiah loved Bhagavan's direct teaching of Self Enquiry and Bhagavan loved him. Since Ramiah knew only his mother tongue, Telugu, Bhagavan of his own accord translated Upadesa Saram and Ulladu Narpadu into Telugu to help him pursue Self Enquiry. 

As it was Kartika Deepam time and there was a big crowd of people Bhagavan said that if Ramiah wants to see him in the night, he is free to go and see Bhagavan. When Ramiah went there in the night, the doors were closed and all were asleep. Thinking it would not be proper to disturb them in their sleep he lay down outside on the pial. As it was winter season the chill was severe, mosquitoes began to bite and there was no sleep. 

At about 3 in the morning Bhagavan came outside saw Ramiah. Bhagavan who was all kindness said that Ramiah had been put to much trouble and asked him to come inside and sleep by his side. That night Ramiah asked Bhagavan some questions:

 *Q.* What is Nirvikalpa Samadhi'?

 *A* . That which has no sankalpam to Nirvikalpa.

 *Q* . In Samadhi will there not be even the Brahma Bhava?

 *A* . If there is Bhava, it will not be Nirvikalpa.

 *Q* . What is meant by Rama?

 *A* . That in which everything takes its origin, exists and disappears is Rama.

Ramiah then determined that all practices are only means to attain this final stage. He started giving up his former spiritual practices little by little. He felt immensely attracted to Bhagavan and felt quite at home in Ramanasramam. Bhagavan was all love for him. 

After some time with Bhagavan's permission Ramiah returned to his native place. He would come twice every year to see Bhagavan. He heard blessed words from Bhagavan regarding his experiences. Bhagavan himself was looking to Yogi Ramiah's food arrangements. Just as a father would bring motherless children, Bhagavan was always filled with limitless kindness towards Ramiah. 

As speech may cause chitta chalanam Ramiah observed mounam. He told Bhagavan that at the time of meditation only the whole thing would appear to be one and then at other times the subject and object appear to be different and asked him how this difference would disappear. 

Bhagavan told him that there was still deha-vasana, i.e., attachment to the body and asked him to carry on with his meditation till it disappeared entirely.

Yogi Ramiah then asked Bhagavan to tell him how to concentrate. Bhagavan then said: When a man dies the funeral pyre is prepared with fuel and the dead body would be laid on the pyre. The pyre would be lit. First the skin is burnt, then the flesh, and then the bones until the whole body is converted into ashes. What remains thereafter? Only the spirit. But by Self inquiry the spirit also disappears. By this deha-vasana goes, ahamkara also vanishes and Self alone remains

After Bhagavan's Nirvana, Yogi Ramiah spent most of his time in tapas, yoga and mounam at his village – Annareddy Palam, near Nellore, A.P. Finding peace in his presence, many people used to spend time in his proximity. Those who stuck around were invariably taught Self Enquiry and advised to follow the path of Bhagavan. 

Yogi Ramiah last days were very peaceful. He was fully conscious till the last moment. Those who were with him then, told that his face was suffused with yogic brilliance. His lips were constantly uttering the name of Bhagavan Ramana till he breathed his last. 

A samadhi shrine was built where Yogi Ramiah's body was interred. Since then, this shrine has become a place of worship.

Source:

Extracts from: Maharshi's News Letter - July-August 2008, Arunachala.org