Yogi Ramsuratkumar was a spiritual leader and mystic from India, often called "Visiri samiyar". After achieving enlightenment, he spent most of his time in Tiruvannamalai, a town in Tamil Nadu that has a long history of attracting spiritual seekers. Yogi Ramsuratkumar was a part of the lineage of enlightened individuals who have spent time in this town. He passed away on February 20, 2001.
Yogi Ramsuratkumar recognized the important role played by three renowned spiritual leaders of his era in his journey towards enlightenment. These individuals were Sri Aurobindo, who founded Integral Yoga, Ramana Maharshi, a highly regarded spiritual figure of his time, and Swami Ramdas, who eventually became Yogi's guru.
Yogi Ramsuratkumar was born on December 1, 1918, in the village of Naradara, located in Lalganj, Ballia-277216 (U.P.), near Kashi. As a child, he was fascinated by meeting yogis and monks. He became acquainted with several holy men who had settled in huts on the banks of the Ganges or nearby areas. Among them was Sri Sri 1008 Sri Khapadia Baba, a mystic monk, who advised him to embark on a spiritual journey towards the South.
Yogi Ramsuratkumar initially lived as a Grihasta but eventually, his yearning for spirituality became too strong to ignore. He went in search of his spiritual teacher and spent time at the ashrams of Sri Aurobindo and Ramana Maharishi. Later, he moved to Swami Ramdas' ashram in Kerala, where he received the gift of Bhakti. According to his own understanding, Sri Aurobindo gave him Jnana, Ramana Maharshi blessed him with tapas, and Swami Ramdas initiated him into the holy mantra "Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram" by chanting it thrice in his ears. Yogi Ramsuratkumar often referred to this moment as his "death" because he felt that his ego dissolved and he had a profound spiritual experience
Between 1952 and 1959, Yogi Ramsuratkumar traveled throughout India, but there isn't much information available about where he went or what he did during this time. In 1959, he arrived in Tiruvannamalai, a town in Southern India. During his early days there, he was a relatively unknown figure, and many people saw him only as a beggar. However, little did they know that this "beggar" would go on to enrich the lives of countless individuals as a revered saint.
Initially, Yogi Ramsuratkumar was often spotted near the Temple chariot, on the road corners, or under the trees of the Temple in Tiruvannamalai. As more and more people began to recognize the divine presence within him, he started residing in a small house on Sannadhi Street, located under the Temple. Here, he continued to bless devotees who came from far and wide to seek his blessings, and his house became a popular destination for thousands of people.
As the number of his devotees increased, it became difficult for Yogi Ramsuratkumar to manage them all in his small house. Therefore, his followers requested him to establish an ashram, which he initially hesitated to do. However, after much persuasion, he agreed to fulfill the wishes of his devotees. The Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram was constructed on a 3.5-acre plot of land in Agrahara Collai to accommodate his growing number of followers.
Yogi Ramsuratkumar had notable disciples from the Western world, including Lee Lozowick, who established "Western Baul" communities in the United States and Europe. Another prominent disciple was Krishna Carcelle, also known as Gaurakrishna, who published the Vedantic monthly magazine 'Rama Nama'. With the blessings of his Master, he created the 'Yogi Ramsuratkumar Bhavan' website and continues to publish free ebooks on Yogi Ramsuratkumar.