Already in the early days at Virupaksha in 1901-02, Sivaprakasham Pillai put questions to young Bhagavan who, though in silence, was willing to write down answers to questions. Pillai later transcribed the text that would form the twenty-eight question-and-answer booklet published in 1923 under the title, Who Am I?

In 1908 Krishna Iyer published the first edition of Bhagavan’s Tamil translation of Vivekachudamani which went through numerous prints before being included in 1927 in the first edition of Sri Ramana Nooltirattu (Collected Works of Sri Ramana in Tamil).

These early volumes were published by individuals like Echammal, Narayana Reddiar and the publishing house, Vani Vilas, with proceeds going to the Ashram. Ramana Padananda financed the publication of Muruganar’s Sri Ramana Sannidhi Murai in 1931. Books like Ramana Gita were sold at a book shop called Ramaneeya Vaani Pushtakaalayam in the northeast corner mantapam of the Arunachaleswar Temple and earnings given to the Ashram. In 1925, Ramanasramam got its own book stall, which was managed by Somasundara Swami (and later by Sivarama Reddiar). Finally, by the early 1930s, the Ashram started publishing its own books.

This year marks the bookstore’s centenary year. One hundred years later, the Ashram bookstall is more in demand than ever. A growing catalogue of titles on Bhagavan in various language populates the shelves of the facility near the Ashram office. May all devotees remember with gratitude the bookstall staff who serve with dedication to meet the demands of devotees.

Pictured here with the Ashram President, Dr. Venkat S. Ramanan and Mrs. President, Dr. Nitya Ramanan, from top left: Sharmila Devi, Geetha, Akshara, Gayatri, Jennifer, Sireesha, Mohan, Jayakodi, Kannan, Ilango; seated middle row from left: Lakshman, P S N Murthy, Sasidharan, Balaji; front row from left: Arumugam, Gurumurthi,  Swami Satyananda, and Chinnaswami.  —