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>.] —