Nan Yar

In 1901, a young man was sitting on the holy mountain Arunachala in South India, when a scholar came to him with burning questions about the nature of Truth. As he was not speaking at that time, the answers were given in silence, written in the sand. The young man was to become the renowned Saint Sri Ramana Maharshi. Twenty years after the initial interview, in the early days of the Ramana Ashram, he himself edited his answers given that day, which became the first ashram publication setting out his essential teachings. Sri Ramana Maharshi The Indian Saint was born in 1879. After coming to the holy mountain Arunachala aged seventeen, his early years there were alone and silent. In the 1920s he moved to a permanent place at the foot of Arunachala and the present ashram was constructed. Here he lived and taught until his death in 1950. Many people from all over the world visited Sri Ramana at the ashram, coming to directly experience his spiritual power and the profound peace and simplicity of the ashram.

Nan Yar – Who am I? is a classic spiritual text from one of the greatest Indian teachers, Sri Ramana Maharshi, and one of the most important books of the 20th Century. Containing the essence of his teachings, it lights the way for a clear, practical understanding and realization of spiritual awakening / Enlightenment. It shows a way to find true happiness within yourself. A beautifully designed edition, the original text has been set to touching quotes and wonderful digital remastered photographs of Sri Ramana Maharshi and a foreword from Ken Wilber.

Who am I? is the title given to a set of questions and answers bearing on Self-enquiry. The questions were put to Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi by Sri M. Sivaprakasam Pillai, about the year 1902. Sri Pillai, a graduate in philosophy, was at the time employed in the Revenue Department of the South Arcot Collectorate. During his visit to Tiruvannamalai in 1902 on official work, he went to Virupaksha Cave on Arunachala Hill and met the Maharshi there. He sought from him spiritual guidance and solicited answers to questions relating to Self-enquiry. As Bhagavan was not talking then, not because of any vow he had taken but because he did not have the inclination to talk, he answered questions put to him by writing. As recollected and recorded by Sri Sivaprakasam Pillai, there were thirteen questions and answers to them given by Bhagavan. This record was first published by Sri Pillai in 1923 (in the original Tamil), along with a couple of poems composed by himself relating how Bhagavan's grace operated in his case by dispelling his doubts and by saving him from a crisis in life.

Arunachala Shiva paints an intimate picture of Sri Ramana Maharshi’s life, taking us behind the scenes to moments with his closest disciples. Beautifully illustrated with 100 photographs, Arunachala Shiva paints an intimate picture of Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharishi’s life and takes us behind the scenes to moments with his closest disciples. New Commentaries lay out his teachings and offer unexpected and astonishing insights. The many different perspectives allow the reader to find their own deeper understanding. Included in this book is his famous text, Who Am I? (Nan Yar) in which he declares that Self-enquiry is the most direct route to Self-realisation. Arunachala Shiva paints an intimate picture of Sri Ramana’s life, taking us behind the scenes to moments with his closest disciples. The shocking yet compelling commentaries offer new and unexpected insights into his teachings, challenging entrenched ideas and assisting a final realisation. The unique nature of these interviews is revealed in the DVD Preview and in the 100 photographs.

The present work in prose consists of forty questions with answers covering the entire range of spiritual disciplines required for the gaining of release (moksha). The questioner was Gambhiram Seshayya, one of the early devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. He was a Municipal Overseer at Tiruvannamalai about 1900. Besides being an ardent Ramabhakta (worshipper of Rama) he was interested in the study and practice of Yoga. He used to read Swami Vivekananda's lectures on the different yoga's as also an English translation of the Rama-gita. For resolving the difficulties which he came across while studying these books and in his spiritual practices, he approached Bhagavan Sri Ramana from time to time. Bhagavan, who was only twenty-one years old, was then living in Virupaksha cave on Arunachala Hill. As he was keeping silent at the time not because of any vow taken but because he was not inclined to talk - he wrote out his answers to Seshayya's questions on bits of paper. These writings over the period 1900-1902 were later copied in a note-book by Seshayya. The material thus gathered was published by Sri Ramanasramam under the little Vichara-sangraham which literally means 'A Compendium of Self-Enquiry.' A digest of the teaching contained in this work was later printed in English bearing the title 'Self-Enquiry'. In that English version, the questions were omitted and the substance of Bhagavan's teaching was given, classifying it in twelve short chapters with appropriate headings. The present English translation is of the entire original text Vichara-sangraham as it is in Tamil. The Vicharasangraham has unique value in the sense that it constitutes the first set of instructions given by Bhagavan in his own handwriting.

Sri Ramana Maharshi is widely thought of as one of the most outstanding Indian spiritual leaders of recent times. Having attained enlightenment at the age of 16, he was drawn to the holy mountain of Arunachala in southern India, and remained there for the rest of his life. Attracted by his stillness, quietness and teachings, thousands sought his guidance on issues ranging from the nature of God to daily life. This book brings together many of the conversations Maharshi had with his followers in an intimate portrait of his beliefs and teachings. Through these conversations, readers will discover Maharshi's simple discipline of self-enquiry: knowing oneself and looking inwards as the road to true understanding and enlightenment. This updated edition will appeal to anyone looking for peace, self-awareness, and guidance on how to embrace the self for well being and calm.

An in-depth study of the philosophy, science and art of true self-knowledge taught by Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, giving detailed guidance on the practice of self-investigation (atma-vichara), 'Who am I?'

Fascinating dialogues and stories of Sri Ramana Maharshi recorded by Sri Gajapathi Aiyyer in the summer 1936, at Ramana Ashram. This book contains a selection from the complete manuscript Aham Sphurana. This selection, a brilliant treasure, speaks for itself. Beside the detailed teachings on Self-Enquiry, Surrender and Jnana, it exposes a new glimpse of Bhagavan’s personal day-to-day life at fifty-six, in his middle age. These teaching selections taken from the Aham Sphurana manuscript offer a new rounded view on Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi as a spiritual master. Stories from daily ashram life unveil his multifaceted nature and profound power in ways not previously offered to the public. Bhagavan, born in 1879, is one of the most famous and most recent of India’s wealth of sages, saints and spiritual Masters. As a young man of sixteen, he had a spontaneous awakening. He left his home in Madurai and made his way to Tiruvannamalai and the holy mountain, Arunachala. Here he lived and taught until he left his body in 1950. We would like to encourage the reader to be open for an adventure in Silence, for a fresh perspective on Bhagavan’s day-to-day life and for your own deep inner transformation from his detailed teachings on Self-Enquiry, Surrender and Jnana. This Selection of Teachings is a treasure for all devotees of Bhagavan. REVIEWS: "In telling people about this book, I've compared it to unexpectedly finding a lost Shakespeare manuscript! The notebooks from which this book is edited comprise a newly found treasure trove of Bhagavan’s teaching, and his voice comes alive. For any serious student of the Maharshi, this book is essential." --Dr. Solomon Katz, awarded author, Harvard USA "In my opinion, AhamSphurana, a Glimpse of Self Realisation, will become a Treasure Trove of Wisdomto the Seekers of Truth in general, and particularly to the devotees ofBhagavan.” - Swami Hamsananda – Athithi Ashram,Tiruvannamalai, India "Aham Sphurana is the most profound, subtle and practical version of Ramana Maharishi. When you read this book you realize just how diluted, vague and lacking are most of the books published in the name of this great sage of Arunachala. It is not an easy new age read, it is the real deal with all its subtleties and intricacies. Our role is to develop a profound, sensitive and subtle mind and heart to understand and absorb these teachings. The persons who wrote and published this book faced fierce objection from many people and are no less than warriors of spiritual truth. Their devotion and respect to Ramana Maharishi made them fight this war and they deserve our appreciation and respect for making these rare teachings available to us." --Noah, Israel