2025 - Sri Ramanasramam Centenary | Commemorative Coin

A commemorative coin of ₹100 will be issued on occasion of Sri Ramanasramam Centenary. The Ministry of Finance has issued the gazette notification on May 15, 2025.

Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) is widely regarded as one of the most revered spiritual teachers of modern India. Born as Venkataraman Iyer in Tiruchuli, Tamil Nadu, his life took a profound turn at the age of 16, when he experienced a spontaneous spiritual awakening. Without the guidance of a teacher or formal initiation, he realized the true Self, which he later described as pure consciousness beyond the mind and body.

Shortly after this life-changing realization, he left home and traveled to Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai, drawn by a deep inner calling. There, he spent years in intense silence and meditation, gradually attracting seekers who were inspired by his peaceful presence. Ramana Maharshi’s core teaching was the method of Self-inquiry (Atma Vichara), centered around the question, "Who am I?" He taught that by directing the mind inward and seeking the source of the ego, one could realize the eternal Self—beyond thought, desire, and suffering.

Unlike many spiritual figures, Ramana Maharshi did not found a formal sect or preach elaborate doctrines. His message was simple, direct, and universal—truth lies within, and silence is the highest teaching. He welcomed all who came to him, regardless of background, and answered questions with profound clarity, often guiding through mere presence rather than words.

The spiritual hub that grew around him is today known as Sri Ramanasramam, located at the foot of Arunachala Hill. This ashram, established formally in the 1920s, remains a sanctuary of peace and meditation. It houses Ramana Maharshi’s samadhi (final resting place), a meditation hall, a library, and living quarters for visitors and devotees. The ashram continues to function in the spirit of simplicity, service, and silence, offering a space for spiritual seekers from around the world to reflect, study, and deepen their inner journey.

Arunachala itself is considered a sacred hill, and devotees often perform Girivalam—a barefoot circumambulation of the hill—as an act of devotion and purification. For Sri Ramana, Arunachala was not merely a hill, but the very embodiment of divine consciousness.

Even decades after his Mahasamadhi in 1950, the presence of Sri Ramana Maharshi continues to be felt strongly at the ashram. His teachings remain timeless, offering a beacon of inner stillness in an age of distraction. Sri Ramanasramam stands today not just as a monument to a great sage, but as a living reminder of the truth he lived and pointed others toward: the Self is ever-present, silent, and free.