Rāmana Maharishi

views updated

Rāmana Maharishi ( māhā-ṛṣi; 1879–1950). Hindu ṛṣi who attained union with Brahman at the age of 17, without the help of instruction or a guru. This realization of ātman as Brahman remained with him as a constant condition, first in absolute silence on a hill in Tiruvannāmalai, later in dialogue with seekers, concentrating on the question, ‘Who are you?’ An āśrama developed around him at Tiruvannāmalai, which remains a place of pilgrimage.