Ramana Maharshi's life, teachings and devotees
Song of Ribhu (Ribhu Gita)
By Brahmasri Bikshu Sastrigal (Ulaganatha Swamigal)
Translation by Dr. H. Ramamoorthy and Nome
Paperback
733 pages
Published by V. S. Ramanan, Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai, India
ISBN 978-09-7036-670-2
The Sanskrit version of the Ribhu Gita appeared in a little known text, Siva Rahasyam. It was translated into Tamil in the 1880s. This version came to the attention of Ramana Maharshi during his early years at Arunachala. In the 1920s and 30s there were regular group readings of the Tamil text at Ramanasramam. Devotees would sit in a circle and take it in turns to read out verses from the book. Ramana Maharshi, who would join in these group readings, is on record as saying that reading the book was akin to being in samadhi. This book is a translation of the Tamil text that was publicly read out in the 20s and 30s.
The text takes an uncompromising advaita line by repeatedly affirming that Brahman alone is the sole reality, and that everything else that appears to exist is mere imagination.
