Chidambaram Ramalinga Swamigal (A) Thiruvarutprakasa Vallalar

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திருவருட் பிரகாச வள்ளலார் (எ)

இராமலிங்க அடிகள்

Ramalinga Swamigal

In remembrance of his 201th birth anniversary, we at TIT have taken the privilege and have gathered some information about this great saint who endeavored to eliminate the caste system and hails from Tamilnadu of India.

Praising Arutprakasa Vallalar (Ramalinga Adigal) on his birth anniversary, Tamilnadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that hereafter, the anniversary would be observed as ‘Thanipperunkarunai Day’ (Supreme Mercy Day).

Tamilnadu government 14 member panel to celebrate 200th birth anniversary of Vallalar— The committee successfully undertook works to celebrate the birth anniversary of Vallalar for 52 weeks from October, 2022, to this October 2023.

Chidambaram Rāmalingam
Ramalinga Adigalaar
Born	5 October 1823 Marudur, South Arcot District, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India)
Disappeared	30 January 1874 (aged 50) Mettukuppam, South Arcot District, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India)
Parent(s)	Chinnammai (mother) Rāmayyā Pillai (father)
Relatives	Sabhapati (brother) Parasu Rāman (brother) Sundarammal (sister) Unnamulai (sister)

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

The Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Sathiya Sangam 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. 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 advocated the concept of worshipping the flame of a lighted lamp as a symbol of the eternal power.

coined the famous spiritual slogan — “Arutperunjothi Arutperunjothi Thaniperunkarunai Arutperunjothi! (Supreme Grace Splendor, Supreme Unique Mercy) — which is now used by his followers.

Vallalar's multifarious powers:-

The Benefactor
Journalist
Narrator
Social reformer
Siddhamaruthuvar
A great orator
Gnostic teacher
Prophet
Author of the books
The benefactor of hunger
Editor
Teacher
Language Researcher (Tamil)
Characteristic

Contents:-

1 Early life

1.1 Childhood and divine experiences

2 Teachings

3 Chennai Kandha Kottam

4 Literary works

4.1 Songs set to music

5 Disappearance

6 Postage stamp

7 Movies on his life history

8. Manumurai kanda vasagam, enna pavam saitheno song lyrics.

Early life:-

Rāmalingam's parents were Rāmayyā pillai and Chinnammai . They were a family in Marudhur, a village in the old South Arcot district, near Chidambaram. Rāmalingam 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 Rāmalingam.

Childhood and divine experiences:-

Once, Rāmalingam'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 Rāmalingam 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".

In 1824, his father Rāmayyā pillai died. Because of his untimely demise, Chinnammai shifted her residence to her mother's place at Chinna kāvanam, Ponneri. Saint Rāmalingam was a small child when he again relocated with his mother to Chennai in 1826. He and his mother lived with his eldest brother Sabhapati and his wife at 31/14 Veerasamy Pillai Street at Sevenwells area of Chennai, Till date this residence was exhibited for public, which is in the area near Chennai Kandha kottam Kandha swāmi temple. After Rāmalingam 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 Rāmalingam his daily meal. His kind sister-in-law, however, secretly gave him food and persuaded him to study seriously at home. In return, Rāmalingam 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.

At one time, Rāmalingam 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. Rāmalingam's mental and spiritual growth progressed rapidly. Rāmalingam says thanks to the Divine by:

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

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

Rāmalingam 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 Thiru vāsagam. 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 possibly due to his supposed physical transformation.

His Teachings:-

At the age of 35 Rāmalingam left Chennai during 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 9 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", meaning "Society for pure truth in universal self-hood".

Rāmalingam 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. 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.

"The Sathya Dharma Salai" in Vadalur.

Annaiya aduppu still cooks for thousands of persons who come to dharma salai.

In 1867, Rāmalingam established a facility serving free food named "The Sathya Dharma Salai" in Vadalur. There all people are served free food without any caste distinctions. The land for the facility was donated by kind, generous people and those registered documents are available for seeing by the visitors. The free facility continues its service till the present time. Rāmalinga disliked people eating non-vegetarian foods, about which he said:

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

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

"Sathya Gnana Sabha" (Hall of True Knowledge) at Vadalur.

Jothi darisanam

On 25 January 1872, Rāmalingam opened the "Sathya Gnana Sabha" (Hall of True Knowledge) at Vadalur. One of the primary teachings of Valallar 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 a very great emphasis on being vegetarian. He said God is "Arul Perum Jothi" who is personification of Grace or mercy and knowledge. He said the path of compassion and mercy are the only path to God.

In 1867 Rāmalingam established a center for feeding the poor people. 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. Around 1872 he established the "Sathya Gnana Sabai", 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 were 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 Gnāna sabai. Those who are below 12 years or those who are above 72 years alone were expected to enter Gnāna sabai and do poojas. The oil lamp lit by him is kept perpetually burning. He said that souls are blinded by seven veils.

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 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 Rāmalingam and follow the path of Arul Perum Jothi.

Chennai Kandha Kottam:-

Kandha kottam Kandaswāmi Temple is located in the Parry's Corner neighbourhood of Chennai city. Rāmalingam and his mother lived with his eldest brother Sabhapati and his wife 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. Rāmalingam 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, and Pamban swāmigal are found. The locality where he lived, has been renamed as 'Vallalār nagar'.

Literary works:-

'Six Thiru Muraigal',

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 (tiru-arut-pa, holy book of grace).

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

Disappearance:-

Further information: Locked-room mystery

On 22 October 1873, Rāmalingam raised the flag of Brotherhood on his residence Siddhi Valāgam in Mettukuppam. 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.

Siddhi Valāgam in Mettukuppam.

On 30 January 1874, Rāmalingam 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 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 Rāmalingam on 17 August 2007. After that writ petition was submitted against the portrayal of Rāmalingam with ‘Thiru neeru’ (sacred ash) on his forehead. But the Madras High Court has declined to entertain that writ petition.

Movies based on his life history:-

1939 - Jothi

Jothi (alternatively titled Sri Jyothi Ramalinga Swamigal) is an Indian Tamil language film directed by T. R. Raghunath and was released in 1939. It is the life story of Saint Ramalinga Swamigal popularly known as Vallalar.

1971 - Arutperunjothi

Arutperunjothi is a 1971 Tamil language Indian biographical film of Ramalinga Swamigal (popularly known as Vallalar) directed by A. T. Krishnaswamy,^[starring Master Sridhar, A. P. Nagarajan, K. A. Thangavelu, M. Saroja, Devaki, T. S. Balaiah. It was released on 5 June 1971.

மனு முறைகண்ட வாசகம்/ Manu Murai Kanda Vasagam

42 sins that we should never do, recommended by him, is really heart touching.. please read the below song..

நல்லோர் மனத்தை நடுங்கச் செய்தேனோ!

வலிய வழக்கிட்டு மானங் கெடுத்தேனோ!

தானங் கொடுப்போரைத் தடுத்து நின்றேனோ!

கலந்த சினேகரைக் கலகஞ் செய்தேனோ!

மனமொத்த நட்புக்கு வஞ்சகஞ் செய்தேனோ!

குடிவரி யுயர்த்திக் கொள்ளை கொண்டேனோ!

ஏழைகள் வயிறு எரியச் செய்தேனோ!

தருமம் பாராது தண்டஞ் செய்தேனோ!

மண்ணோரம் பேசி வாழ்வழித்தேனோ!

உயிர்க்கொலை செய்வோர்க்க உபகாரஞ் செய்தேனோ!

களவு செய்வோர்க்கு உளவு சொன்னேனோ!

பொருளை இச்சித்துப் பொய் சொன்னேனோ!

ஆசைகாட்டி மோசஞ் செய்தேனோ!

வரவுபோக் கொழிய வழியடைத்தேனோ!

வேலையிட்டுக் கூலி குறைத்தேனோ!

பசித்தோர் முகத்தைப் பாராதிருந்தேனோ!

இரப்போர்க்குப் பிச்சை இல்லையென்றேனோ!

கோள் சொல்லிக் குடும்பங் குலைத்தேனோ!

நட்டாற்றிற் கையை நழுவவிட்டேனோ!

கலங்கி யொளித்தோரைக் காட்டிக்கொடுத்தேனோ!

கற்பழிந்தவளைக் கலந்திருந்தேனோ!

காவல் கொண்டிருந்த கன்னியை அழித்தேனோ!

கணவன்வழி நிற்போரைக் கற்பழித்தேனோ!

கருப்பமழித்துக் களித்திருந்தேனோ!

குருவை வணங்கக் கூசிநின்றேனோ!

குருவின் காணிக்கை கொடுக்க மறந்தேனோ!

கற்றவர் தம்மைக் கடுகடுத்தேனோ!

பெரியோர் பாட்டிற் பிழைசொன்னேனோ!

பக்ஷியைக் கூண்டில் பதைக்க அடைத்தேனோ!

கன்றுக்குப் பாலு‘ட்டாது கட்டிவைத்தேனோ!

ஊன்சுவை யுண்டு உடல் வளர்த்தேனோ!

கல்லும் நெல்லும் கலந்து விற்றேனோ!

அன்புடையவர்க்குத் துன்பஞ் செய்தேனோ!

குடிக்கின்ற நீருள்ள குளந் து‘ர்த்தேனோ!

வெய்யிலுக் கொதுங்கும் விருக்ஷ மழித்தேனோ!

பகைகொண்டு அயலோர் பயிரழித்தேனோ!

பொதுமண்டபத்தைப் போயிடித்தேனோ!

ஆலயக் கதவை அடைத்து வைத்தேனோ!

சிவனடியாரைச் சீறி வைதேனோ!

தவஞ் செய்வோரைத் தாழ்வு சொன்னேனோ!

சுத்த ஞானிகளைத் து‘ஷணஞ் செய்தேனோ!

தந்தைதாய் மொழியைத் தள்ளி நடந்தேனோ!

தெய்வ மிகழ்ந்து செருக்கடைந்தேனோ!

என்ன பாவம் செய்தேனோ! இன்னதென்றறியேனே!

-Ramalinga Swamigal

we will try to collect more information about him and his teachings and share with you shortly...

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