Ramana Maharshi was a
well-known Hindu sage and spiritual teacher, whose ashram was situated below
Arunachala, a holy mountain in the southern part of India. “The Life of Cow
Lakshmi” is a children's book about Ramana Maharshi's cow!
The anecdotes are apparently freely based on a true story, since Ramana's ashram really did house a holy cow named Lakshmi, plus her descendants. Ramana claimed that the cow achieved liberation after her death, and the ashramites still celebrate a special festival in Lakshmi's honour. During her lifetime, the cow was allowed to roam freely in Ramana's compound, often helping herself to the offerings brought by (sometimes bemused) devotees…
“The Life of Cow Lakshmi” is part of a series, “Sri Ramana, Friend of Animals” and also includes a book about the guru's favourite monkey. I can't say the little stories in the Lakshmi book really thrilled me, but I was intrigued by a photo of Ramana sitting in a sumptuous bed, reading the newspaper.
Hmmm…I assumed this man lived in a cave as a hermit…?
Three stars.
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