Obituaries – Saranagati

Obituary: Sri Seenappa K. Venkatesan (1957-2026)

Sri Seenappa was born on 10th October 1957 into a family that had been closely associated with Bhagavan for three generations. He studied at the Danish Mission Higher Secondary School, Tiruvannamalai, and after completing his SSLC, began his career assisting his father as a job typist and stamp vendor. In 1979, he became an instructor at a typewriting institute.

He was married on 25th January 1993 and remained closely connected with the Ashram during Sri T. N. Venkataraman’s tenure and thereafter.

An ardent devotee of Arunachaleswarar and Bhagavan, Seenappa also served as a trustee of the Karthigai Utsava Vedaparayana Trust, founded one hundred years earlier by his grandfather, Sri Sundararama Ghanapatigal.

Sundararama Ghanapatigal had been drawn to Bhagavan from the Virupaksha days, often climbing the Hill to sit near Bhagavan at Virupaksha Cave. At that time, he was in charge of the Tiruvannamalai Veda Patasala, which had about thirty-five students.

Feeling it appropriate that Veda Parayana should be performed daily in Bhagavan’s presence, Sundararama Ghanapatigal arranged for a few devoted students to chant the Upanishads in the morning and Rudram and Chamakam in the evening before Bhagavan. When a complaint was lodged against him for bringing his students to recite at another institution, he approached Chinnaswami and suggested that the Ashram establish its own Vedapatasala. Chinnaswami agreed, provided Sundararama Ghanapatigal would take charge as teacher and arrange for students. Since he was already serving as teacher in the town Veda Patasala, Sundararama Ghanapatigal felt it would not be appropriate to take formal charge of the Ramanasramam Vedapatasala. Instead, he sent qualified former students and continued to supervise the work informally.

Later, when the Mother’s Shrine was under construction, Seenappa’s uncle, the Sanskrit pandit Sri Raju Sastrigal, a close friend of Sri Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni, helped design the Sri Chakra Meru to be carved in stone, as well as the puja vidhi for the Sri Chakra Puja. When the panchaloha idol of Sri Yogambal was cast, an image of Sri Lakshmi seated on a lotus was also made. Sri Bhagavan blessed this icon and presented it to Raju Sastrigal. It remains a treasured vigraha in Tiruvannamalai and a central feature of the puja room of Sri Seenappa’s eldest brother. Similarly, the family also received from Bhagavan a Meru Chakra, like that installed in the Mother’s Shrine.

Such was the deep lineage of devotion in Seenappa’s family—devotion both to the Veda and to Bhagavan Ramana—which continued into the present day. Seenappa regularly organised Sri Rudra Japa and Parayana, as well as abhishekam and puja, at Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple at the request of Bhagavan’s devotees. During Karthigai Utsavam, he accompanied the processional deities throughout the night and helped devotees of Sri Bhagavan have smooth and hassle-free darshan.

In keeping with family tradition, Seenappa was of great assistance to Ramanasramam in its daily transactions with banks and in liaising with local officials on Ashram-related matters. He was also a reliable support in religious matters, not least of all, for the late Sri Appichi Mama, former Ashram head priest.

Seenappa lost his wife in May 2021. He continued performing Nitya Siva Puja until his last day and remained ever helpful to others, without expectation. He merged peacefully with Sri Arunachaleswarar and Sri Bhagavan on 21st April 2026 at around 4 pm at his home near the Big Temple. A gentle, humble, self-effacing soul of few words, Sri Seenappa will be missed by the devotees, the Ashram management, and all who knew him. —

Obituary: Smt. Dhanya Helmi Komarek (1945-2026)

Born just after the war, on 16 August 1945 in Ulm, Germany, Helmtraud Komarek was the daughter of German-speaking parents expelled from Czechoslovakia at the end of the war. Known to all as Helmi, she later received the name Dhanya from Sri Mata Amritanandamayi, a fitting name in light of her boundless generosity and deep commitment to serving those in need.

An artist by temperament and training, Dhanya first came to India overland by car in the early 1970s. She travelled widely—in Greece, the United States and India—pursuing her artwork along the way. In 1983, she settled in Scotland, where she lived at the Findhorn Foundation, acquiring valuable skills in community life and service while managing a child care centre.

In the mid-1990s, Dhanya raised funds to establish Sri Sai Dhanya Vidya Mandir School in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, for disadvantaged children. Within its first two years, the school grew to more than 200 students. Dhanya served there for fourteen years.

During this period, she came to know of Bhagavan Sri Ramana and began visiting Tiruvannamalai. She took up Bhagavan’s teaching with devotion and was fond of quoting phrases from the Ramana literature. In 2007, she settled at Arunachala and, two years later, married Robert Dodds, Jr., a longtime Ramana devotee. Together they made Arunachala their permanent home.

During her weekly pradakshinas, townspeople would call out to her as she walked through the streets, for she was widely known and loved. She made a point of greeting those living on the sidewalks and helped them in whatever way she could, fully present and interested in whoever she met. People from abroad would send her money to distribute to the needy, and she never withheld support because of a person’s limitations or circumstances but met all with equality, warmth and empathy.

In early April, Dhanya fell ill. On 25th April, test results revealed metastatic cancer. Never inclined toward intrusive medical intervention, she chose not to undergo treatment. But on 8th May, she agreed to be taken to Rangammal Hospital for testing. Calm and relaxed, she interacted warmly with the nursing staff and with the many who came to see her. On Monday morning, 11th May, at the age of eighty, Dhanya merged peacefully at the Feet of Holy Arunachala. She is survived by her husband, Robert, and her nephew, Andreas, and will be greatly missed by local children and by all who knew her. —

Obituary: Sri Markus Horlacher (1957–2026)

Many will remember Markus Horlacher as the Ashram beekeeper, a quiet and devoted presence who cared for the Ashram’s beehives for nearly twenty years. But his connection with Tiruvannamalai and Arunachala extend back much further and find expression in many forms of service and devotion.

Born in Switzerland on 25th September 1957, Markus spent part of his childhood (from the age of 6-11) in Hubballi, Karnataka, where his father founded a mechanical tools training centre (still functioning today). Markus grew up amidst the languages and culture of South India. Even though he later returned to Switzerland for his education, India remained close to his heart, and over the years he continued to deepen his familiarity with South Indian languages as well as Hindi.

In 1987, he first learned of Bhagavan and Arunachala, and thereafter began visiting Tiruvannamalai six months each year. During these visits he came to know intimately the landscape and rhythms of life around the Holy Hill. In 1995, he began transforming a piece of barren land near Adi Annamalai into a flourishing forest, reflecting his deep love of nature. Trained as a gardener in Switzerland, Markus had an exceptional knowledge of plants and was widely known for his keen interest in the natural world. An outdoorsman, environmentalist and conservationist, he trained children in rock climbing, rope climbing, cycling, trekking, and other nature-oriented activities. His adventuresome spirit took him overland across Africa in 1983.

Markus was a devoted climber of the Holy Hill and, before restrictions were imposed, ascended the Hill several times a week. He was among the swiftest to reach the summit, often beginning from Mulaipal Tirtham near Virupaksha Cave and climbing the Hill in under forty minutes. His knowledge of Indian plants was legendary. When the Kailash route first opened to Indian pilgrims, he was among the first to undertake the journey. While most travelled quickly under the burden of limited supplies, Markus moved at his own pace, spending several weeks on the sacred route and subsisting largely on food he foraged from plants along the way.

A regular chronicler of the Karthigai Deepam festival, he often accompanied those carrying the Deepam cauldron up to the summit, documenting the event with dedication and care.

In 2015, he took up photography with a single subject: Arunachala at sunrise. Through his lens, he sought to capture the many changing moods of the Hill, and his photographs have been appreciated by devotees around the world. He translated The Power of the Presence, into German, the first part of which was published in India many years ago.

In February this year, Markus was struck by a severe infection—meningo-encephalitis, possibly caused by a tick bite—which left him paralysed. He was flown to Switzerland for treatment, but on 8th April, doctors informed him that he would remain permanently bedridden and dependent on mechanical life support. For one who had lived his life in the outdoors, close to nature, this was an especially grave prospect. Markus chose not to continue under such conditions and requested that the life support be withdrawn. In accordance with medical guidelines, this wish was honoured. On Thursday, 9th April, at 1.30 p.m. IST, Markus passed away. He is survived by his long-time partner, Maya. —

[Devotees value the remarkable photographic record Markus leaves behind—images that reveal the ever-changing beauty of Arunachala. Those who wish to view his work may visit: <https://www.markushorlacher.com/>]

Obituary: Smt. Shweta Pandey (1987–2026)

Smt. Shweta Pandey was known among devotees for her quiet devotion, visiting the Ashram twice daily with her young son, Guru, and performing regular pradakshina around Bhagavan’s Samadhi.
Born 25th February 1987 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Shweta completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Allahabad (2009), an LLB at Benares Hindu University (2012) and her master’s (LL.M) at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore (2014). She served as an Advocate Assistant in the Allahabad High Court, Junior Assistant in the Supreme Court of India and did legal work at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.
Shweta married in September 2018 and gave birth to her son, Shree Guruvayurappan in January 2023. A few months later, in April, she moved to Tiruvannamalai to provide a spiritually wholesome environment for her son. Her husband, Navneet, continued to work in Hyderabad, joining the family in Tiruvannamalai on weekends.
In 2022, Shweta took up teacher training in Isha Hatha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore and became a dedicated yoga teacher, offering classes to children, families, and professionals.
Devotees recall how they got to see Guru grow up in Bhagavan’s Samadhi Hall, when his mother and father would take him in devotion around the shrine again and again. Since his early infancy, these pradakshinas seemed to be the highlight of his life.
On 27th March, Shweta suffered an ischemic brain stroke and was admitted to hospital. She passed away suddenly the following morning, merging at the Feet of Bhagavan at the tender age of 39. A memorial in her honour was held on 10th April in the Sri Ramanasramam Grantalaya Auditorium, attended by Ramana devotees. Tributes were offered by her husband, family members, and Ashram President Dr. Venkat S. Ramanan, along with Dr. Nitya Ramanan. Shweta is survived by her loving husband, Navneet, and their three-year-old son, Guru, and is remembered by the devotees whose lives she touched with her quiet presence. [See final farewell video at: <https://youtu.be/iwwTZ_E3s78>.] —