Description

During a recent pilgrimage through India, we acquired these traditional protection cords in Bodh Gaya, the sacred place where the Buddha attained enlightenment, with the intention of carrying them to many of the holiest sites associated with the Buddha’s life and teachings.

The cords accompanied us as we visited the principal shrines of Bodh Gaya, including the Vajrasana (Diamond Throne) beneath the Bodhi Tree, the sacred lake associated with the Naga King Mucalinda, who is said to have sheltered the Buddha during a great storm, and the revered Tara statue said to have spoken to the great master Atisha, urging him to travel to Tibet to teach the Dharma. From there, we continued our pilgrimage to Dungeshwari (Mahakala) Cave, where Siddhartha practiced austerities before accepting Sujata’s offering of milk-rice, Nalanda Mahavihara, one of the greatest Buddhist universities in history, and Vulture Peak (Gridhrakuta) near Rajgir, where the Buddha is traditionally said to have taught the Prajñāpāramitā (Perfection of Wisdom) teachings.

Our journey then led us to Tiruvannamalai in South India, home of the great sage Ramana Maharshi. There we visited Sri Ramanasramam, the caves on the slopes of Arunachala where Ramana lived and practiced for many years, the underground shrine of the Patala Lingam where he entered profound samadhi soon after arriving in Tiruvannamalai, and many other places intimately connected with his life. We also carried these cords on the sacred girivalam pilgrimage around the base of Arunachala, a practice revered for centuries as an expression of devotion and spiritual contemplation.

The time we spent at Sri Ramanasramam left a profound impression on us. The peace, stillness, and spirit of inquiry that Ramana Maharshi embodied continue to inspire seekers from around the world. In gratitude for that experience, we decided to offer these blessed protection cords as a way of supporting the place that preserves and shares his teachings.

Every dollar of profit from the sale of these protection cords will be donated to Sri Ramanasramam to help support the ashram’s ongoing work of preserving Ramana Maharshi’s legacy, maintaining the sacred grounds, publishing his teachings, and welcoming spiritual aspirants from around the world.

We are honored to share these cords with you and hope they serve as a meaningful reminder of the timeless wisdom, compassion, and inner peace represented by the sacred places through which they have traveled.

For a beautiful and moving introduction to Ramana and his message, see this video.