Ramalinga Swamigal

Thiruvarutprakasa Vallalār Chidambaram Ramalingam (5 October 1823 – 30 January 1874), commonly known in India and across the world[1] as Vallalār, Ramalinga Swamigal and Ramalinga Adigal, was one of the most famous Tamil Saiva Saints and also one of the greatest Tamil poets of the 19th century[2] and belongs to a line of Tamil saints known as "gnana siddhars" (gnana means higher wisdom).

Ramalinga Swamigal
Thiruvarut Prakasa Vallalar (a) Ramalinga Adiagal
Born(1823-10-05)5 October 1823
Marudur, Chidambaram
(present-day Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India)
DisappearedJanuary 30, 1874 (aged 50)
Mettukuppam, Vadalur, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu

The Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Sathiya Sangam[3] was spread and passed on by him not only in theory but mainly in practice by his own way of living which by itself is an inspiration for his followers. Through the notion of Suddha Sanmarga Sangam, the saint endeavored to eliminate the caste system.[4] According to Suddha Sanmarga, the prime aspects of human life should be love connected with charity and divine practice leading to achievement of pure knowledge.

Ramalinga espoused the veneration of the radiant flame emanating from a lit lamp, not as a deity unto itself, but rather as a profound symbol representing the enduring omnipotence of the Divine, as opposed to the adoration of statues within a monotheistic framework.[5]

Early life

Ramalingam's parents were Ramayya Pillai and Chinnammai of Vellalar caste. She was his sixth wife, as all his previous wives had died childless and in quick succession. They were a family in Marudhur, a village in the old South Arcot district, near Chidambaram. Ramalingam was their fifth child. The older ones were two sons Sabhapati and Parasu Rāman; and two daughters, Sundarammal and Unnamulai. They named their youngest child Ramalingam.

Childhood and divine experiences

Once, Ramalingam's parents went to the Chidambaram Natarājar Temple with their five month old child, and the infant was joyous while the priest was offering Deepa Aradhana (adoration by lighted lamp being brought close to the vigrahams); this was perceived by Ramalingam as a deep spiritual experience. In later years he said of the experience: "No sooner the Light was perceived, happiness prevailed on me", and "The sweet nectar was tasted by me as soon as the Arut Perum Jothi (Supreme Grace Of Light) became visible".[6]

In 1824, his father Ramayya Pillai died. Because of his untimely demise, Chinnammai shifted her residence to her mother's place at Chinna Kāvanam, Ponneri. Saint Ramalingam was a small child when he relocated with his mother to Chennai in 1826. He and his mother lived with his eldest brother Sabhapati and his wife Pāppāthi at 31/14 Veerasamy Pillai Street at Sevenwells area of Chennai, which is in the area near Chennai Kandha Kottam Kandha Swāmi Temple. After Ramalingam reached five years of age, Sabhapati initiated his formal education. But the young child was not interested in that, instead he preferred trips to the nearby Kandha Swāmi temple. Sabhapati thought that the child needed punishment as a form of discipline, and he told his wife not to give Ramalingam his daily meal. His kind sister-in-law, however, secretly gave him food and persuaded him to study seriously at home. In return, Ramalingam asked for his own room, lighted lamp and mirror. He placed the light in front of the mirror. He started meditation by concentrating on the light and thus began the young boy's spiritual life. He miraculously saw a vision of the Lord Muruga. Ramalingam said:

"The beauty endowed divine faces six, the illustrious shoulders twelve."[7]

At one time, Ramalingam had to replace his elder brother Sabhapati at an Upanyāsam (religious stories) session as upāsakar. His great discourse on verses from the `Periya Purānam', an epic poem by Sekkizhar about the saintly '63 Nāyanārs', was appreciated by the devotees as being given by a very learned scholar. Ramalingam's mental and spiritual growth progressed rapidly. Ramalingam says thanks to the Divine by:

"Effulgent flame of grace, that lit in me intelligence, to know untaught."[8]

Ramalingam evolved in his spiritual journey from being a devout devotee of Lord Shiva to worshiping the formless.

Ramalingam renounced the world at the young age of thirteen but he was forced to marry his niece (on his sister's side). Legends say that the bridegroom during his first night after marriage was reading devotional works like the Thiruvāsagam. He was not interested in money, and it is said that in later life he reduced or ignored eating and sleeping. But he seemed fit in body, which was believed to be due to his supposed "physical transformation".

Teachings
Heaps of grain bags at Sathya Gnana Sabhai, Vadalur - established by Rāmalinga adigal

Ramalingam left Chennai in the year 1858. First he went to Chidambaram where he had a debate with Kodakanallur Sundara Swāmigal. At the request of one Rāmakrishna Reddiyar he went to his house at Karunguzhi (near Vadalur) and stayed there for nine years. He was very much against the caste system because of the adverse impacts it had on society. Towards that end, he started the "Samarasa Vedha Sanmarga Sangam" in 1865. In 1872 it was renamed "Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Sathya Sangam",[3] meaning "Society for pure truth in universal self-hood".

Ramalingam was influenced by Valluvar and was drawn towards the teachings of the Tirukkural from a young age. He soon started teaching the Kural's message by conducting regular Kural classes to the masses.[9] He vowed to follow the Kural's morals of compassion and non-violence and continued emphasizing on non-killing and meatless way of life throughout his life by his well-known concept of Jeeva Karunyam.[10]: 39–42 [11]: 96  Staunchly shunning non-vegetarianism, he said:

When I see men feeding on the coarse and vicious food of meat, it is an ever-recurring grief to me.[12]

In 1867, Ramalingam established a facility named "The Sathya Dharma Salai"[13] in Vadalur for serving free food to the poor. On the inaugural day he lit the fire of the stone stove, with a declaration that the fire be ever alive and the needy shall be fed forever.[14] The facility, still in existence and run by volunteers, continues to serve free food to all people, without any caste distinction.[15] The land for the facility was donated by kind, generous people and the registration documents are available for seeing by the visitors.

Entrance to the Sathya Gnana Sabha. The sign above it reads "only those who have renounced meat and murder should enter"

On 25 January 1872, Ramalingam opened the "Sathya Gnana Sabhai" (Hall of True Knowledge) at Vadalur. One of the primary teachings of Vallalar is "Service to Living Beings is the path of Liberation/ Moksha". He declared that death is not natural that our life's first priority should be to fight death. He declared religion in itself a darkness. He laid great emphasis on adhering to vegetarianism. He said God is "Arut Perum Jothi (Supreme Grace Of Light)" who is personification of Grace or Mercy and Knowledge. He said the path of compassion and mercy are the only path to God.[16]

Around 1872 he established the "Sathya Gnana Sabhai", hall of True Wisdom Forum and ensuring it was entirely secular. This place is not a temple; fruits, flowers are not offered, and no blessings are given. It was open to people of all castes except those who ate meat, who were only allowed to worship from the outside. He wrote in detail about the pooja to be performed in Gnana Sabhai. Those who are below 12 years or those who are above 72 years alone were expected to enter Gnana Sabhai and do poojas. The oil lamp lit by him is kept perpetually burning. He said that souls are blinded by seven veils.[17]

There are seven cotton fabric screens, representing the seven factors that prevent a soul from realizing its true nature. The entire complex is bound by a chain with 21,600 links, said to represent 21,600 inhalations[18] by a normal human being. He said the intelligence we possess is Maya intelligence which is not true and final intelligence. The path of final intelligence is Jeeva Karunyam. He advocated a casteless society. Vallalār was opposed to superstitions and rituals. He forbade killing animals even for the sake of food. He advocated feeding the poor as the highest form of worship. He condemned inequality based on birth. Today there are spiritual groups spread out all over the world who practice the teachings of Ramalingam and follow the path of Arut Perum Jothi.

Chennai Kandha Kottam

Kandha Kottam Kandaswāmi Temple[19] is located in the Parry's Corner neighborhood of Chennai city. Ramalingam and his mother lived with his eldest brother Sabhapati and his wife Pāppāthi at 31/14 Veerasamy Pillai Street at Sevenwells area of Chennai, which is in the area near Chennai Kandha Kottam Kandha Swāmi temple. He spent a lot of his time at this temple. Ramalingam composed 'Deiva Mani Malai' here. At this temple, there is a hall called the Mukha Mandapam, where the idols of Sarva Siddhi Vinayakar, Meenakshi Sundareswarar, Idumban, Sri Rāmalinga Swāmigal,[20] and Pamban Swāmigal are found. The locality where he lived, has been renamed as 'Vallalār Nagar'.

Literary works

As a musician and poet, he composed 5818 poems teaching universal love and peace, compiled into 'Six Thiru Muraigal', which are all available today as a single book called Thiruvarutpa[21] (tiru-arut-pa, holy book of grace).

Another work of his is the Manumurai Kanda Vāsagam,[22] describing the life of Manu Needhi Cholan, and Jeeva Karunya Ozhukkam,[23] a work emphasizing compassion towards all sentient forms and insisting on a plants-only diet.

Songs set to music
  • Thiruvarutpa songs of Rāmalinga swāmigal are sung in concerts and now at least 25 songs (in Thiru varut pā Isai Mālai) are given with swara-tāla notation.
  • Thāyāgi thandhaiyumai (Hamsadhwani), Idu nalla tharunam (Shankarābharanam)
  • Varuvar azhaithu vadi (Begada) and Thaen ena inikkum.

Some of his songs were set to music by Sīrkāzhi Govindharājan.[24]

Disappearance
Further information: Locked-room mystery

On 22 October 1873, Ramalingam raised the flag of Brotherhood on his one-room residence Siddhi Valāgam in Mettukuppam.[25] He gave his final and most popular lecture, about spiritual progress and, "nature of the powers that lie beyond us and move us," and recommended meditation using the lighted lamp from his room, which he then kept outside.

On 30 January 1874, Ramalingam entered the room, locked himself inside and told his followers not to open it. After opening, he said, he will not be found there. (He will be "United with Nature & ruling the actions of 'all of the alls'," as told in his poem called 'Gnana Sariyai'). His seclusion spurred many rumors, and the Government finally forced the doors open in May. The room was empty, with no clues. In 1906, records about his disappearance[26] were published in the South Arcot District's Madras District Gazetteers.

Postage stamp

The then chief minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi released postage stamps depicting Ramalingam on 17 August 2007. After that writ petition was submitted against the portrayal of Ramalingam with ‘Thiru Neeru’ (sacred ash) on his forehead. But the Madras High Court has declined to entertain that writ petition.[27]

Two biographical films were made about Ramalinga Swamigal.

Year Film Actor Note
1939 Jothi K. A. Muthu Bhagavathar Lost film
1971 Arutperunjothi Master Sridhar Young Ramalingam
A. P. Nagarajan Adult Ramalingam

See also

References
  1. friend Henry The Light Bearer. Theosophy, Timeless Wisdom speech by Stefano Martorano
  2. commemorative postage stamp on Vallalār Archived 2010-12-17 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Details on Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Sathiya Sangam
  4. Book Review by "The Hindu" on Vallalār Rāmalinga adigal varalaru
  5. Alayam: The Hindu Temple; An Epitome of Hindu Culture; G.VenkataRamana Reddy; Published by Adhyaksha; Sri Rāmakrishna Math; ISBN 978-81-7823-542-4; Page 52
  6. Arutperunjothi Archived 2008-09-16 at the Wayback Machine, Tamil Nadu Text books online
  7. Devnath, Lakshmi (2 February 2001). "Compassion is the essence of Saint Rāmalingam's philosophy". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. Early life of Saint Vallalār
  9. Kolappan, B. (3 October 2018). "First printed Tirukkural to be republished after 168 years". The Hindu. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  10. N. V. Subbaraman (2015). வள்ளுவம் வாழ்ந்த வள்ளலார் [Valluvam Vaalndha Vallalar]. Chennai: Unique Media Integrators. ISBN 978-93-83051-95-3.
  11. M. P. Sivagnanam (1974). திருக்குறளிலே கலைபற்றிக் கூறாததேன்? [Why does the Tirukkural not speak about art?]. Chennai: Poonkodi Padhippagam.
  12. ""The Hindu" article on Vallalār". Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. Image of Sathya Dharma Salai
  14. Prasad, S. (8 September 2022). "At Sathya Dharma Salai, the homeless are fed for the past 155 years". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  15. "Vallalar, practical philosopher". The Hindu. 4 May 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  16. "Beyond philosophy". The Hindu. 18 May 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  17. Details about the seven veils described by Vallalār Archived 2011-04-09 at the Wayback Machine
  18. "Jnanarnava Tantra," Chapter Twenty One Archived 2006-04-08 at the Wayback Machine
  19. Official website Kandha kottam temple kandhakottam.tnhrce.in, Chennai Kandha kottam at Kaumaram.com
  20. Dinamalar newspaper- Kandha kottam photos
  21. Tamil Nadu Public service commission included Thiru arut pa in syllabus
  22. Manumurai Kanda Vāsagam Archived 2011-04-09 at the Wayback Machine
  23. Details on Jeeva Karunya Ozhukkam Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  24. Sirkazhi Govindarajan from "The Hindu" newspaper
  25. "Article in "The Hindu" narration on Siddhi Valakam". Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  26. The image of engraved stone in Vadalur about the Madras District Gazette's note describing the Rāmalingam's disappearance incident, that took place on 30 January 1874
  27. "The Hindu" article about Rāmalingam stamp's writ petition rejected by court

Further reading
  • Annamalai University's complete compilation of Thiruvarutpa in all six thirumurai in 10 Volumes Third edition of Thiruvarutpa released
  • Srilata Rāman. "The Spaces In Between: Rāmalinga swāmigal (1823-1874), Hunger, and Religion in Colonial India," History of Religions (August 2013) 53#1 pp 1–27. DOI: 10.1086/671248
  • Arut Prakasa Vallalār, the Saint of Universal Vision by V.S. Krishnan, published by Rāmanandha Adigalar Foundation, Coimbatore 641006
  • Richard S. Weiss. 2019. The Emergence of Modern Hinduism: Religion on the Margins of Colonialism. California: University of California Press.
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