Rm03. Ramana Maharishi's Early Life Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

RAMANA MAHARISHI

On 29-12-1879 he was born,
When the clock struck one,
In the Town of Thiruchuzhi
Near Aruppukkottai, Madurai.

Lord Shiva of the Temple,
The Deity of the local people,
Went in procession in the streets,
That day being very auspicious.

In the month of Marghazhi.
On the day Thiruvadhirai,
The Lord visits every house
To shower His blessings.

Azhagammal, as a pious mother,
Gave him all the love and care.
He grew up like other children,
Revealing no special sign then.

‘Venkataraman' was his name.
As ‘Ramana' later it became,
When he chose a life more divine
After taking up his renunciation.

His father Sundaram Iyer
Was working as a pleader,
A popular man of the town,
Respected by everyone.

His elder brother, Nagasami,
Younger one, Nagasundaram
And younger sister Alamelu,
Under one roof, they all grew.

He studied in the local school,
From fifth in a school at Dindigul
In a High School at Madurai then,
Run by the Christian Mission.

This was his background, in brief,
Before he took up a renounced life,
But as a boy, none could wake him up,
As he went always into a deep sleep.

They tried to beat him even,
But he didn't feel the pain,
A strange phenomenon it was
They felt, not knowing its cause.