Ramanalayam, Sri Lanka · Jaffna
Know Yourself.
Silence is the Highest Teaching.
“Your own Self-Realisation is the greatest service you can render the world.”
Home — Intro
A quiet Ramanashramam in northern Sri Lanka, dedicated to the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi.
Home — Intro
Welcome to Ramanalayam
Est.
1958
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
“Silence is the highest teaching. The tongue is silenced. The mind is silenced. The heart is still. In that stillness, the Self shines forth.”
— Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi
Home — Self-enquiry title
Home — Self-enquiry kicker
The Direct Path
The Question
“Who am I?” is not a riddle — it is an invitation to look past every answer until only the looker remains.
The Method
When a thought arises, do not follow it. Ask, “To whom does this thought appear?” Trace it back to the source — the I.
The Practice
Sit still, breathe gently, and allow the mind to settle. Each moment of attention returned to the Self is practice.
The Result
The ego-thought subsides. What remains is peace — the natural state, ever-present, untouched by circumstances.
Home — Self-enquiry title
A rhythm of silence, chant, and service.
Home — Self-enquiry kicker
The Direct Path
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 04:30 | Morning Chanting (Suprabhatam) | Main shrine · Tamil & Sanskrit |
| 05:00 | Silent Meditation | Meditation hall · 45 min |
| 06:30 | Morning Pooja | Main shrine · open to all |
| 07:30 | Annadanam (breakfast) | Dining hall |
| 09:00 | Vedanta Class | Discourse hall |
| 12:00 | Mid-day Annadanam | Dining hall · vegetarian |
| 16:00 | Afternoon Meditation | Meditation hall |
| 17:30 | Evening Pooja & Bhajans | Main shrine |
| 19:30 | Silent Sittings | Meditation hall |
| 21:00 | Temple closes | Quiet until 04:00 |
All times are local (Asia/Colombo). Schedule may vary on festival days. Full calendar →
Home — Events title
Retreats, festivals, and quiet gatherings.
Mahashivaratri
Main Shrine
Night-long chanting and abhishekam at the main shrine.
Year-end Silent Retreat
Ashram
5-day retreat. Pre-registration required.
Diwali Celebrations
Ashram
Lamps, bhajans and annadanam through the night.
Pournami Full-moon Vigil
Meditation Hall
Silent vigil from sunset to sunrise.
Guru Pooja
Main Shrine
Marking the Jayanthi of Bhagavan Ramana.
Advent Day of Bhagavn
Ramanalayam, Sri Lanka
Independence Day Annadanam
Jaffna
Mass feeding for 1,000 pilgrims.
Sri Ramana Maharshi
Home — Ramana title
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) lived almost his entire adult life on the sacred hill of Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai. Through the simple, luminous practice of Self-enquiry he pointed seekers of every tradition to the one direct path — “Who am I?”. His presence, his silence, and his boundless compassion continue to guide those who turn within.
தமிழ்
நான் யார்?
Who am I?
Home — Gallery title
Moments from the Ashram.
Audio Library
From the archives.
Suprabhatam · Morning Chants
Traditional · Tamil & Sanskrit
Bhajans · Sri Ramana
Various artists
Rudram · Vedic Chanting
Traditional · Sanskrit
Video Library
This week.
The Practice of Self-Enquiry
Swami Nirgunananda
Who is the “I”?
Discourse
Children's Sloka Class
Sunday Class
Home — Publications title
Books, pamphlets, and articles.
Ramanalayam Press
Be As You Are
David Godman
An accessible commentary on the teachings.
Ramanalayam Press
Beads of Grace
Sri Ramana Maharshi
Powerful short verses.
Ramanalayam Press
Sri Ramana Reminiscences
Various devotees
Personal recollections of life at the Ashram.
Ramanalayam Press
Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
Recorded by devotees
Three volumes of conversations from the old hall.
Ramanalayam Press
The Collected Works of Sri Ramana Maharshi
Sri Ramana Maharshi
Essays, verses and prose.
Ramanalayam Press
Who am I? (Nan Yar?)
Sri Ramana Maharshi
The foundational text of Self-enquiry.
Meditation Timer
Sit. Breathe. Be still.
A simple timer for your daily practice. No sound, no notifications, no tracking.
Next Festival
Independence Day Annadanam
A festival of lights, chanting, and annadanam through the night.
Begins in
12 days
August 2026
Home — Prayer title
We hold your prayers in silence.
Pilgrims worldwide entrust their intentions to the Ashram. Each prayer is offered before the shrine at the morning pooja.
Your prayer may be marked anonymous if you wish. The Ashram does not charge for prayers — they are offered freely, without expectation.
Dana · Generous Giving
Home — Donate title
All teachings at Ramanalayam are offered freely. The Ashram is sustained entirely by the generosity of devotees and visitors. Your contribution maintains the shrine, feeds pilgrims, and supports seekers on retreat.
Free
Teachings
Daily
Annadanam
Open
To All
Home — Volunteer title
Service is a form of worship.
We welcome volunteers who wish to serve the Ashram — in the kitchen, garden, library, with children, or with our online sangha. Even a few hours a week is a blessing.
Cooking
Annadanam
Gardening
Temple grounds
Teaching
Children's class
Translation
Tamil · Sinhala · English
Medical
First aid at retreats
IT
Library & website
Ashram Stay
Home — Stay title
Simple rooms are offered to sincere seekers. Stay may be for a day, a weekend, a silent retreat, or longer. Ashram rules apply; please read them before requesting.
- · Vegetarian meals included
- · Quiet hours after 21:00
- · No alcohol, tobacco, or non-veg food on the premises
- · Daily sittings and pooja attendance encouraged
Home — Library title
Books, audio, video, articles.
Home — Children title
A gentle, illustrated corner of the Ashram website where children can hear stories of saints, learn short slokas, colour sacred pictures, and play quiet memory games.
Home — FAQ title
A few common questions.
Is accommodation free? ＋
Yes. Donations are welcome but never required.
What is provided in the rooms? ＋
A bed, mosquito net, sheets, a small shelf, and a lamp. Bathrooms are shared or attached.
Are meals provided? ＋
Yes — three simple vegetarian meals a day. The kitchen is happy to accommodate most dietary needs with advance notice.
How long can I stay? ＋
Stays of 1 night to 1 month are typical. Longer stays are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Can I wear any color cloths? ＋
Yes, As long as your knee is covered.
Q1 ＋
A1
How is my donation used? ＋
It supports the shrine, annadanam, translations, retreats, and the children's programmes. A full accounts summary is available on request.
Can I volunteer for a day? ＋
Yes. Please write to volunteers@ramanalayam.lk a few days in advance.
Do you accept foreign volunteers? ＋
Yes. We are happy to host international volunteers for stays of two weeks to three months.
I'm new to meditation — can I join a sitting? ＋
Of course. Sit comfortably, breathe gently, and follow the bell at the beginning and end of the sitting.
Are there guided sessions? ＋
Yes. Morning sittings are unguided; Wednesday evenings include a short guided introduction to Self-enquiry.
Is there a beginner's retreat? ＋
We host two silent retreats a year, plus an introductory weekend in spring.
What are the temple opening hours? ＋
The shrine is open daily from 04:30 to 21:00. The office is open Mon–Sat, 09:00–17:00.
What is the dress code? ＋
Simple, modest clothing. Shoulders and knees covered. White is preferred on festival days and during retreats.
Are mobile phones allowed? ＋
Yes, but please switch to silent mode. Refrain from calls inside the meditation hall or during pooja.
May I take photographs? ＋
Yes, in the grounds. Not inside the meditation hall during sittings. Please be discreet at festival times.
A quiet letter, once a month.
Visit
Ramanalayam, Sri Lanka
404, Kadduvan - Mallakam Road, Kadduvan, Tellippalai, Jaffna District, Sri Lanka
Jaffna , Sri Lanka
Reach
ramanalayamsl@gmail.com
+94 764 453 640
WhatsApp · +94 77 000 0000