SARAN

Saran was born and raised in Tiruvannamalai. In fact, his family home is right between Arunchala Temple and the mountain. At the age of 12, while climbing the mountain with friends, Saran had his first encounter with his Guru. When he and his friends were near the top of the mountain, Saran became quite thristy, but he had no water. So, while his friends returned home, Saran went to look for water. At the top of Arunachala, Saran heard some noises.

He went to see where the sound was coming from, and that is when he discovered Narayana (at the time Narayana was in the midst of constant meditation, day and night, with no food and no moving from his spot.

He completed 16 years before he came down a of couple years ago). Saran asked Narayana, "Swami, what are you doing here?" Narayana answered, "I know what I'm doing here. What are you doing here?" Saran explained that he was up there with friends and that he was on a break from school. Narayana then asked, "When are you coming to this school...spiritual school?"

After finishing up their talk, Narayana directed him to a fresh water spring nearby that he could drink from. After quenching his thirst, Saran went down and nearly forgot about the man he had met on the mountain. He was reminded couple of months later, when Narayana came to him in his dreams, asking him, "Did you forget about me?" The dream was very strong and Saran then felt the pull to make regular trips up the mountain to spend time with his new Guru.

By age 17 he had finished school and spent most of his time on Arunachala with Narayana, in service and meditation. Since Narayana's departure from the mountain a of couple years ago, Saran still spends much of his time on the mountain, working as a guide and giving service at Skandashram (Ramana's original ashram that is situated above the newer ashram, partway up the mountain). Saran really feels that Arunachala is his energy source...and he is very enthusiastic about sharing it with others.

As already stated, Saran's passion is for Arunachala, meditation and family. He knows many stories of Ramana and his meditation spots, and about the rich history of Arunachala.

Saran is also well versed in the history of the Arunachala Temple. More than anything, Saran loves to share all of this with others and see how happy it makes them. When the people that Saran guides feel blessed to have been able to spend time on Arunachala, he is more than content.

A couple years ago, in the morning hours at Skandashram, Arunachala brought Saran an unexpected gift. It was in the form of an American girl named Jehan. It was an instant and very electric recognition that took them both by surprise.

Saran shyly offered to guide her and her friends up the mountain that day. He spoke very little English and remained quiet for most of the trip up. But on the way down he managed to say one important thing. He asked her if she would marry him. She thought he must be joking, as they had only just met, and that just doesn't happen in "real" life. But she felt a strong pull toward him too, so she gave him a chance.

She had only been planning to stay in Tiruvannamalai long enough to go up the sacred mountain that she had heard about. But, when it came time to leave with her traveling buddy, she found that her feet would not take her.

It was as if both Saran and Arunachala were magnetically holding her in place. So she stayed until her visa ran out several months later. And after a trip back to the US, she came back... Now, as of April 2009, they are married. Saran, by the way, does speak quite good English now.