K Lakshmana Sarma
K Lakshmana Sarma (1879 - 1965) was a lawyer and a Vedantic scholar[1], who authored seminal works on experiential Advaita (specifically the life and teachings of Ramana Maharshi), Upanishadic lore, and Nature Cure. He was also the founder of the Institute of Natural Therapeutics, Sarma's Nature-Cure Sanatorium, and founder-editor of The Life Natural magazine[2] and is referred to as the "Father of Nature Cure" [3][4][5]in India.
He has authored, edited, and translated 30 works in 62 publications across 5 languages. These works are available in libraries worldwide.[6] He preferred to use the pseudonym Who in his writings.[7]
His book Maha Yoga (running into the tenth edition) summarizes the teachings of the sage Ramana Maharshi and also gives a summary of Vedanta, in particular the exposition of Sri Sankaracharya. A German edition of the book, Das Groe Yoga, has also been published.
Early Life[edit]
Lakshmana Sarma was born in 1879, at Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu to Krishnaswamy Iyer and Thulasi Iyer[8]. In childhood, he was considered the sickliest of four brothers. As a boy, he studied at the local Intermediate College at Pudukkottai, where he showed an early interest and aptitude for Sanksrit. Later on, he gained a Bachelor of Arts at Tiruchchirappalli, and thereafter completed a Law Degree in Madras.
He began his career as a civil lawyer for the Government in Pudukkottai and during that time became involved with the freedom movement and with social reform movements. In 1920, he presided over a public meeting against the then ruler of Pudukottai, a move that eventually cost him his job.
In response to the call from Mahatma Gandhi, Sarma gave up his private legal practice and withdrew his children from Government schools, admitting them instead into an Indian Gurukulam. After the sudden death of Subrahmanya Aiyar - someone he looked up to immensely - he moved, with his wife Nagamma and children, to Pondicherry. He lived at Pondicherry from 1920-1925. In Pondicherry, he began to research and publish his works on Nature Cure and began to visit his Guru, Sri Ramana Maharshi, regularly at Tiruvannamalai.[2]
Association with Ramana Maharshi and Related Works[edit]
Over the next 35 years, Lakshmana Sarma devoted himself to understanding, translating, and transmitting Ramana Maharshi’s philosophy and teachings. He spent more than two decades in close association with the sage and thoroughly studied his teachings under his personal guidance[9]. A large portion of their time was spent on the practical teachings of Ramana Maharshi explained in Ulladu Narpadu, which Lakshmana Sarma summarized and presented in two works: a commentary on Ulladu Narpadu in Tamil and an expanded Sanskrit rendering of the original verses called Revelation.
In the 1930s and 1950s, Lakshmana Sarma made further attempts to explain and summarize his guru’s teachings into two more treatises: Maha Yoga, in English, and a Sanskrit work of over 700 verses, called Sri Ramana Paravidyopanishad.[10]
All these teachings, while related closely to Advaita Vedanta are considered to be and currently categorized under Nondualism - Contemporary Vernacular Advaita, with "their origins in vernacular movements and householder traditions, and close ties to the Nath, Nayanars and Sant Mat traditions."
Work in the Field of Nature Cure[edit]
Lakshmana Sarma is frequently referred to as the 'Father of Nature Cure' in India, as he was a pioneer of the nature cure movement in the country. He was the founder of nature cure sanatoriums and institutions and the author of multiple influential treatises compiling his research results on the subject including Practical Nature Cure and Speaking of Nature Cure.
Death and Legacy[edit]
He passed away on May 3, 1965 after several months of reduced consumption of food and eventually not eating at all. This seems to have followed a period where he mentioned to friends that he felt no further need to continue living as he had accomplished everything he had set out to do[11]. His legacy in the field of nature cure was carried forward by his sons: Tyagarajan Sarma, L. Ganesa Sarma, L. Kameswara Sarma, L Ramachandra Sarma, and Krishnamurthy Sarma and several other disciples and adherents.
References[edit]
- ↑ "The Power of the Presence, Part Three by David Godman". davidgodman.org. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 [http://www.arunachalasamudra.org/essay6.html "A R U N A C H A L A S A M U D R A - Information - Essay - Life and Times of Lakshmana Sarma, �Who' By Meenakshi Ammal"]. www.arunachalasamudra.org. Retrieved 2018-12-31. replacement character in
|title=at position 94 (help) - ↑ Sarma, K. Laksmana; Swaminathan, S. (2013-08-01). Speaking of Nature Cure. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 9781845570286. Search this book on
- ↑ "PGNG | Poineers | naturopathic physician for abscesses in Amsterdam | naturopathic physician for arthritis in Amsterdam | naturopathic physician for constipation in Amsterdam". www.pgng.nl. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ "History of Natural Life Style". Natural Lifestyle. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ "Overview of Lakshmana Sarma's works". worldcat.org.
- ↑ "Maha Yoga". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ "Lakshmana Sarma". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ "Preface to the eight edition of Maha Yoga by Paul Brunton".
- ↑ "Sri Ramana Paravidyopanishad". davidgodman.org. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ [http://www.arunachalasamudra.org/essay6.html#11 "A R U N A C H A L A S A M U D R A - Information - Essay - Life and Times of Lakshmana Sarma, �Who' By Meenakshi Ammal"]. www.arunachalasamudra.org. Retrieved 2018-12-31. replacement character in
|title=at position 94 (help)
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