flowering and fruiting trees and other plants at Sri Ramanasramam









the temple and samadhi hall complex at Sri Ramanasramam

The complex houses the samadhi of Sri Maharshi, the Matrubhuteswara temple, and the new prayer hall in the Sri Ramanasramam campus.




the outer prayer hall at Sri Ramanasramam

The outer prayer hall, also known as the New Hall, houses a life-sized statue of Sri Maharshi, and a wall text mural of his words about his out-of-life and near-death experience. There is a beautifully carved yogasana, or couch, made from a single stone, polished to look like black marble.

the life-sized statue of Sri Ramana Maharshi at the new prayer hall


On the occasion of Mahashivaratri

In tribute and for worship on the eve of Mahashivaratri at Sri Ramanasramam




Matrubhuteswara Temple at Sri Ramanasramam

One immediately notices the traditional Dravidian style of temple architecture upon entering Sri Ramanasramam. The nearest one is the Matrubhuteswara Temple, established over the samadhi of Sri Maharshi's mother. The devotee arrives at the Temple after walking through the New Hall with the life-sized statue of Sri Maharshi and a stone carved yogasana (= couch). The Matrubhuteswara temple houses a sacred Shiva Lingam and a Sri Chakra Meru. The prayers, a special worship, at this temple are also known as the Sri Chakra Puja. It is conducted on Fridays, and on Full Moon Days, and on the first day of all months. Within, on the walls of the temple, are the sculpted images of Dakshinamurti, Lingodbhava Shiva, Vishnu and Lakshmi, along with Ganesha and Subramanya at the southwest and northwest corners. A shrine to Chandikeswara is at the northern side. The Navagraha shrine is at the northeast corner.

Nataraja


The most beautiful and exquisite Sri Lingodbhava Shiva image, totally blissful, and resplendent, at the Matrubhuteswara Temple in Sri Ramanasramam





Sri Maharshi's Samadhi at Sri Ramanasramam

As one walks through the north door of the Sri Matrubuteshwara Temple, the devoted arrive at the sacred Shrine at Sri Maharshi's samadhi. It can be seen actually as a raised platform, with a vimana or tower above it. There are four carved granite pillars, that look like marble at the corners of the platform. At the center of the platform is a white marble lotus, with a sacred Shiva Lingam installed above it. The meditation hall at the Shrine is a favored place for meditation, prayers and dhyana by the many pilgrims, devotees and faithful who come here.


The white marble lotus with the sacred Shiva Lingam installed above it, along with the nandi in front, at the mantapam


a most blissful statue of Sri Ramana Maharshi, placed above his sacred samadhi in the mantapam. A stone plaque informs us that the dedication has been done by Mrs. Indira Gandhi, when she was Prime Minister of India. Many devotees, meditators, and pilgrims circumnavigate the mantapam, while some remain seated in blissful contemplation. The vibrations at this location are immense. You can feel them immediately, even in your first visit.


The prayer hall in front of Sri Maharshi's Samadhi, with the faithful and devoted, seated in prayers, meditation, contemplation and dhyana

in supplication - the peafowl of Sri Ramanasramam - in continuous blessings from the sacred Arunachala

the truly blessed - the peafowl of Sri Ramanasramam - receiving the blessings of sacred Arunachala - day and night, through the year.... 





darshan of sacred Arunachala hill while moving about in Tiruvannamalai city








moving around Tiruvannamalai city in an autorickshaw


There are roadblocks at many locations, directing and redirecting the traffic in the city


the many dynamic views from the autorickshaw as one moves about in the city


Daughter and father, journeying about within the city


Auto-rickshaw stand

Development, infrastructure and growth - Tiruvannamalai city is certainly a growing city