Sreenath

A Visit To Tiruvannamalal

On a recent visit to Tiruvannamalai, a town in South India, the serene Ramana Maharshi Ashram was more crowded than usual. I found myself a place in front of a huge black and white photo of Ramana. Sat down and just stared at his face for an hour.

hopes dropped 
the moment
i stopped praying
inner release 
from outer gods

Later, I started on a stone-path, behind the ashram, towards the top of Arunachaleswara hill. Easy and relaxed climb through the forest, birds flitting from tree to tree, a few langoor monkeys here and there staring at us, and hawkers selling nimbu-pani (lemonade), sliced cucumber etc. A man was carving small beautiful idols of Shiva, Buddha etc. made out of marble and other stones. A bit expensive but worth the effort put in. 

After an hour or so I reached the top.

atop the hill
nestled in the greenery
Ramana's hut . . .
an ethereal presence
pervades the world 

Ramana’s hut is known as Skandashram. Bhagawan lived here for a few years.

Then I started downwards on the other side, path somewhat steep, towards Virupaksha Cave, where Ramana Maharshi did tapasya for a few years.

At Virupaksha Cave, absolute silence. Three or four people were sitting inside in meditation.

meditation
in Virupaksha Cave
silence . . .
the world
dissolves in the Self

At the end we reached Arunachaleswara temple and had the darshan of the Lord.

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About the Author

Sreenath lives in Mysore, India. He writes: “Since my late teens I’ve been spiritually inclined and have been sporadically interested in poetry.” Since 2022, he’s engaged in writing haiku and other related forms of poetry. His poems have appeared in online journals including: Cold Moon Journal, IHF, Bamboo Hut, Triveni haikuKATHA, 5IVE , Itchy.

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