Forty Verses in Adoration of Sri Ramana

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Sri Ramana Catvarimsat, "Forty Verses in Adoration of Sri Ramana" is a cardinal work in Sri Ramana literature. Inspired by his direct vision that the Maharshi was none other than an incarnation of a portion of Lord Subrahmanya. Sri Savishtha Ganapati Muni composed these verses in the soul-stirring mellifluous Sanskrit.

These forty verses were daily recited in the presence of Sri Bhagavan during his life time and continue to be recited every morning at his Shrine. The verses describe both the human and the divine characteristics of the Maharshi, making no distinction between him and Skanda.

As these verses deal with an Avatara Purusha and Jivanmukta and are composed by a great spiritual stalwart of no mean attainments, each verse acts like a Mantra in invoking the presence of the Maharshi and is a veritable boon to every sincere aspirant.

One early morning, in the Pachaiamman Temple at Tiruvannamalai, Sri Vasishtha Ganapati Muni and other disciples were all sitting in front of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi who was, as usual, sitting, completely in drawn. The Muni saw a sparkling light come down from the sky and touch the forehead of the Maharshi six times. This vision made the Muni realize that the Maharshi was none other than an incarnation of Lord Subrahmanya. Immediately the poet in the Muni blossomed forth in eight verses in the beautiful sardulavikridita metre. Later on as occasion demanded, the Muni composed many verses adoring the Maharshi and these were collected along with the initial eight verses as Sri Ramana Catvarith6at, "Forty Verses in Adoration of Sri Ramana". These forty verses were daily recited in the presence of Bhagavan during his lifetime and continue to be recited every morning at his Shrine. The verses describe both the human and the divine characteristics of the Maharshi, making no distinction between him and Skanda. As these verses deal with an Avatara Purusha and Jivanmukta and are composed by a great spiritual stalwart of no mean attainments, each verse acts like a Mantra in invoking the presence of the Maharshi and is a veritable boon to every sincere aspirant.

I am grateful to Sri Ramanasramam for entrusting me with the work of providing a comprehensive translation and commentary in English of these forty verses to fulfil the long-felt need of those aspirants all over the world who do not know Sanskrit.

I dedicate this cardinal work in Sri Ramana literature to the memory of my grandfather, the late Sri Harbour Narayana Iyer, one of the oldest devotees of Sri Bhagavan, who was closely associated with him even from the Virupaksha Cave days.

**Contents and Sample Pages**