Ramana Maharhi Devotee T.P.Ramachandra Iyer

T.P.Ramachandra Iyer was a native of Tiruvannamalai. His interest in religion and philosophy led him to Sri Ramana in the 1920s. As a lawyer in Madras, he handled much of the Ashram’s legal work. He also served as an interpreter and as an attendant in the Maharshi’s hall.

The following article was published in the July 1966 issue of The Mountain Path.

Sri T. P. Ramachandra Iyer whose native home is Tiruvannamalai itself, has been an earnest devotee of Sri Bhagavan from very early times. He hails from an ancient orthodox Brahmin family who for generations were well known in Tiruvannamalai for their traditional learning, discipline and piety.

Endearingly known and called merely as ‘TPR’ by Sri Bhagavan and others, he has lived as one of Sri Bhagavan's ‘family’ here for decades.

Sri Bhagavan has narrated an incident of 1896, the year of his arrival in Tiruvannamalai, when he was staying in the precincts of Sri Arunachala Temple.TPR's grandfather, an elderly and pious person who used to visit him daily, one day, out of affection and regard, conducted him to his house and gave a ceremonial meal in the householder's manner. This was the only house which Sri Bhagavan entered to take biksha in the usual way after he had left his Madurai home. This information was given in full detail by Sri Maharshi himself.

The present Ashram, almost from its inception has grown and developed to his knowledge and he has been actively associated with every branch of its growth, while maintaining close contact with Sri Bhagavan and depending on him for guidance. Few
have had this privilege of moving with Sri Bhagavan for so many years with the ease and freedom of a devoted son to an affectionate parent.

This gave him ample opportunities of receiving instruction, and guidance directly or indirectly from Sri Bhagavan. In later years, it also led to his being helpful in interpreting Sri Bhagavan's utterances to some of the western devotees and those who did not know Tamil.

TPR was also instrumental in seeing through the press a few editions of Sri Bhagavan's early works, particularly the 3rd edition of ‘Sri Ramana Nool Tkirattu’ (‘The Collected Works of Sri Maharshi’ in Tamil).

When Sri Bhagavan's fatal physical affliction appeared for the first time,ending in an operation, and then recurred, TPR made up his mind and wound up his practice and
interests in Madras.

Thereafter he was fortunate enough to join the small band of attendants who
looked after Sri Bhagavan's personal comforts and needs. During the whole two years the illness lasted, he stayed permanently with him and the opportunities of service he had are treasured by him. He was helpfully assisting the doctors in attendance during the anxious months preceding the 14th April 1950 by his instructive guidance and meticulous attention to prescribed routines.

(Sri T.P.Ramachandra Iyer attained the lotus feet of Sri Bhagavan on August 26th, 1976 in Bangalore.)

Source: http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/pdf/Saranagathi_eNewsletter_September_2010.pdf