(Part-1 of 8) Ramana Periya Puranam: Arthur Osborne

Описание: Arthur Osborne (1906–1970) was an English writer on spirituality and mysticism. He played a significant role as a disciple and biographer of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. Osborne’s spiritual journey led him to Ramana Maharshi in 1942. From 1964, he served as the founding editor of Mountain Path, a journal published by Ramanasramam, the ashram founded by devotees of Ramana Maharshi. His wife Lucia came the Ramanasramam with her children Katya (known as Kitty), Adam and circa 1940 while Arthur was in Thailand during the war.


Part-1 is written by Katya (Kitty) Douglas (Osborne)'s (Arthur's daughter) in a foreword to a 2001 "lost book"-My Life and Quest, published decades after Arthur transitioned. Part-2 is also from that book, My Life and Quest (originally entitled: The Mountain Path, My Quest) and is Arthur's direct reminiscences.



The remaining parts are taken from V. Ganesan's Ramana Periya Puranam.


The author, V. Ganesan born in 1936, up to the age of 14, grew up in the presence of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. After obtaining a Master's degree in philosophy, he came to stay permanently at Sri Ramanasramam and took care of old devotees of the Master as as his sole sadhana (spiritual practice).

From the editor: The title of this book (written by V. Ganesan, grandnephew of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi) has been inspired by the Periya Puranam, an ancient Tamil text that recounts the stories of the Nayanmar, the exalted devotees of Lord Shiva, and their moving and uplifting devotion to the Lord.

Ramana Periya Puranam is therefore, a particularly apt title for this book as it is about the old devotees of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and their devotion to Bhagavan - Arunachala Shiva in human form. The unique power of these words is because Sri Ganesan got them from the horse’s mouth - directly from Bhagavan’s old devotees. In addition, his interactions with the old devotees are also very instructive to aspiring, earnest seekers on their march towards Truth. Sri Ganesan himself strived for it and experienced it. This, is the lodestone that gives Ramana Periya Puranam the stamp of authenticity and participation.

Another uniqueness of this book is that it is perhaps the only one where the old devotees have been presented in a chronological order. That is, their introduction is according to the year they arrived at the holy feet of Sri Bhagavan and not based on their spiritual maturity, erudition, scholarship, greatness or any other external factors.

On Bhagavan’s direct path, these devotees are signboards on the inner path that gently, but firmly, guide us to the centre, the Heart. When we read about these rocks and boulders, or sit on the inner path in silent communion with Arunachala’s rocks and boulders, we come in union with them – and with the satguru, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.

V Ganesan moved closely with and took care of many of the direct disciples of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. satsangs recorded at Aham Center in North Carolina, were later edited in India and turned into this book (with some amazing photos as well).
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Ganesan now age 87, is one of the last remaining direct disciples of the Bhagavan Ramana (and also his grandnephew). He has permitted me to record two of his books, "Meetings with Sages and Saints" and "Ramana Periya Puranam"

thumbnail: Kitty Osborne at the Ramanasramam in 1944 (age 8)

(Please forgive any mispronunciations of Tamil, Hindi and Sanskrit words).