INTRODUCTORY BOOKS:
If you are new to Sri Ramana Maharshi’s teachings we recommend starting out with these two books first.
- Path of Sri Ramana by Sri Sadhu Om, Published by Sri Ramana Center of Houston, 2023: This book is a lucid exposition of the non-dual teachings that Bhagavan graciously bestowed upon the world, and has been widely acclaimed by sincere devotees of Sri Ramana to be a definitive work on Bhagavan’s teachings and a rare treasure of his grace! Those who wish to achieve the real purpose of their birth, namely eternal happiness, can do so by following the path of Sri Ramana as expounded in this book.
- Timeless in Time by A. R. Natarajan. This is the best available compact English language biography of Sri Ramana. If possible, please get the Indian edition published by Ramana Maharshi Centre for Learning in Bangalore. It has more details. Books are also available at Sri Ramanasramam in Tiruvannamalai. If unable to obtain the Indian edition, one can buy the U.S. edition published by World Wisdom.
FURTHER READING:
In this section, we are posting English language books, which have the most faithful translation of original works with commentaries. First book can be bought either from Sri Ramanasramam in Tiruvannamalai or Arunachala Ashrama in New York (www.arunachala.org). We have books #2 to #4 in our Center and if you need those, please contact us. We also have Sri Sadhu Om’s Path of Sri Ramana. The fifth book can be ordered from www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com or www.alibris.com.
- Upadesa Saram - The complete version in four languages composed by Sri Bhagavan. Published by Sri Ramanasramam, 2016. As the subtitle indicates, this book contains Upadesa Undiyar in Tamil, followed by Upadesa Saram in Sanskrit, Telugu and Malayalam. The Tamil version, Upadesa Undiyar, has English translation and commentary by Sri Sadhu Om and Michael James. The Malayalam version was also extensively reviewed and commented upon by Michael James.
- Sri Ramanopadesa Noonmalai Commentary by Sri Sadhu Om. 2007. Published by Kanvashrama Trust, Tiruvannamalai – 606 603: This book contains the philosophical poems of Sri Ramana (excluding Upadesa Undiyar, which is contained in book # 1 above). It consists of the original Tamil verses, word for word English meaning, followed by translation and notes by Sri Sadhu Om.
- Sri Arunachala Stuti Panchakam Commentary by Sri Sadhu Om. 2007, Published by Kanvashrama Trust, Tiruvannamalai – 606 603: This book contains the five songs sung by Sri Ramana in praise of Sri Arunachala (the name given to God in Thiruvannamalai). The book has the original Tamil verses, word for word English meaning and translation. Some verses also have explanatory notes by Sri Sadhu Om.
- Guru Vachaka Kovai by Sri Muruganar, Translation and commentary by Sri Sadhu Om. 2005. Published by Sri Arunachala Ramana Nilayam. Guru Vachaka Kovai is the most comprehensive and authentic collection of Sri Ramana’s teachings. The verses in this book were recorded by his foremost disciple, Sri Muruganar, and thoroughly reviewed by Sri Ramana himself. The Maharshi also added some new verses to this collection. Many verses have commentaries either by Sri Muruganar or by Sri Sadhu Om.
- Happiness and Art of Being by Michael James. Second Edition, Published by Create Space Independent Publishing Platform, 2012. This book is a detailed introduction to the philosophy and practice of the spiritual teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana, and which contains accurate and carefully worded translations by the author of the whole of Sri Ramana's prose treatise Nāṉ Yār? (Who am I?) and of most of the verses of his philosophical poems such as Upadēśa Undiyār, Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu, Ēkātma Pañcakam, Āṉma-Viddai and Upadēśa Taṉippākkaḷ. Michael has presented all twenty paragraphs of the original essay version of Sri Ramana's Nāṉ Yār? in different parts of the book with detailed commentaries. Such a detailed commentary of Nāṉ Yār is not available in any other book. The final chapters deal with the technique of self-investigation and will be useful for serious practitioners of self-investigation.