Interesting but Forgotten Places - I

Cow Lakshmi's Nirvana Room

In this post, and maybe a few more later, I thought to write about some hidden little gems in Sri Ramanasramam and nearby places. Regular visitors to Sri Ramanasramam naturally become familiar with most places of interest within its august environs, and those found in and around Tiruvannamalai. So, one could be sanguine that over the years one would have seen virtually all that there is to see therein. But it is astounding how often one finds that there is a new, important sacred spot which one never knew about, and all one can do is pause and wonder, “how is it that I never heard of this place before?” It happens to me often actually, and described below is one such spot within Sri Ramanasramam which, for me, emerged into awareness 2 years ago.

Sri Ramanasramam houses the Samadhi shrines of (at least) 3 confirmed Self-realized souls: Sri Bhagavan and Mother Alagamma of course, and Cow Lakshmi. We know that the latter 2 were Self-realized too at the time of dropping the body, because as far as is known, they are the only 2 entities for whom Bhagavan Himself, physically, aided the soul’s release to the point of Liberation. The room where Bhagavan dropped His mortal coil is now the “Nirvana Room”, and an important sacred spot within the Ashram. Mother Alagamma’s Nirvana room is, of course, in Skandasramam on the Holy Hill, and again, an important place to visit and pray/meditate in. But what about Ma Lakshmi’s Nirvana room? Where within Sri Ramanasramam did she actually drop the body?

Amazingly, few even amongst the regulars at Sri Ramanasramam are aware of where exactly this momentous event happened. In books of reminiscences, as far as I can recall, all that is found is that in the last days Cow Lakshmi was moved to the “stall for the calves”, within the Goshala, which was cleaned and laid out with straw for her.

This “stall for calves” is now a fully enclosed room with a proper door and is used for storage purposes. The room is part of the front side of the old Goshala building, facing straight down the path which goes past the Veda-Pathshala building. As you enter the porch of the Goshala building, this room, Ma Lakshmi’s Nirvana room, is the one with the locked door on your right. It just so happened that I was around when the room was opened that day for some work, and thus could spend a happy few minutes there. That this was indeed Ma Lakshmi’s Nirvana room was confirmed to me by the very kind senior member of Ashram management, who had the key. [The old Goshala building extends at the back into the massive complex now which comprises the Sri Ramanasramam Dairy].



The path towards the right, from the front of the kitchen,
leading to the Veda Pathshala & Old Goshala Building





On this path the Veda Pathshala is on the left



The front of the Old Goshala Building is straight ahead





As you enter the porch where some sacks can be seen
piled up in the picture above, Ma Lakshmi's Nirvana
Room is this one on the right. Note the little red
"kumkum" marks placed around the door for
auspiciousness. Though open now, this
door is always kept locked.



Interior of the lovely Old Goshala Building. This is the
"stall for calves" now.

Inside the Old Goshala Building

Inside the Old Goshala Building

[The old Goshala building falls within the “functional” zone of Sri Ramanasramam and as such big crowds are not really desirable in that area. Also, though the odd devotee is fine, crowds would disturb the cows and also the Veda Pathshala work. And so it is my belief that this room has been consciously kept a little inaccessible, tho’ I was told that tentative plans are there to renovate and open it to devotees in the future. And so the room, at present, remains locked and can only be seen from the outside].

Addendum: Folks, am sure any devotee who is a regular visitor would have his own hidden gems, some unusual places associated with Bhagavan within Sri Ramanasramam or Tiruvannamalai, which are not so well known. Happy if you were to share your own little gem in the “Comments” below.