In this article I discuss the meaning and significance of the term ‘I-I’ in the writings and dialogues of Sri Ramana. I attempt to make the case that the experience of it is a precursor to Self-realisation, not a consequence of it.
Sorupananda and Tattuvaraya
Sorupananda was a distinguished Tamil Guru who lived about 500 years ago. His chief disciple, Tattuvaraya, was a prolific author of Tamil spiritual works. In this article I narrate the relationship that existed between the two of them and then add translations of their poetry.
Allama Prabhu, Prabhulinga Leelai
Prabhulinga Leelai is a 15th century Virasaiva work, written in Kannada and comprising 1,111 verses. It was translated in Tamil by Sivaprakasa Swami in the 17th century. This is a translation of a portion of the Tamil version of the work that Ramana Maharshi sometimes summarised.
Bhagavan and Thayumanavar
Thayumanavar was a distinguished Tamil poet-saint who lived in the first half of the eighteenth century, from 1705 to 1742 AD. In this article I retell his life story and include new translations of all his poetry that was cited by Ramana Maharshi.
Isanya Jnana Desikar
Isanya Jnana Desikar was a Tamil saint who lived in Tiruvannamalai in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was a devotee of Arunachala who was liberated through its power and grace. The article contains a biography and verses in which he speaks of his own experiences and his love for the mountain.
Bhagavan, Manikkavachagar and the Tiruvachakam
Manikkavachagar was a Tamil saint who lived over 1,000 years ago. Tiruvachakam, an anthology of his devotional poetry, is one of the most celebrated poetic texts in Tamil literature. This article chronicles his life and focuses on the incidents and verses that Ramana Maharshi cited in his replies to visitors.
Umapati Sivam
Umapati Sivam is one of the major figures in the Saiva Siddhanta tradition, composing many of the works that now comprise the Saiva philosophical canon. He was also involved in an incident in which a thorn bush was granted moksha. This article chronicles his life and gives full details of the thorn bush incident.
Andavan Picchai
Maragathamma was a devotee of Murugan who was blessed by him to sing spontaneous compositions in his praise. Her story is a scarcely credible account that seems to belong in an ancient purana, rather than the twentieth century.