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Vallalar Ramalinga Swamigal
Arutprakasa Vallalar Chidambaram Ramalingam (Tamil: அருட்பிரகாச வள்ளலார் சிதம்பரம் இராமலிங்க அடிகள்), (5 October 1823 – 30 January 1874), whose pre-monastic name was Ramalingam, is commonly known in India and across the world as Vallalar (Tamil: வள்ளலார்).
He 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 Suddha Sanmarga Sangam was spread and passed on by him not only in theory but mainly in practice by his own way of living which was itself inspiration for his followers. Through the notion of Suddha Sanmarga Sangam, the saint endeavored to eliminate the menace of caste. 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.
B) Teaching of Vallalar Ramalinga Swamigal:
He made an indelible mark in the religious history of India when he came out openly against its caste system and the negative impact it had on society. In an attempt to redress the situation he established the `Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Satya Sangam' in 1865, which means `Society for pure truth in universal self-hood'. He had also by this time shifted to a place called Karunguzhi from Chennai. His next step in establishing a practical approach to religion was the setting up of a free eating house called The Sathya Dharma Salai[8] in a place called Vadalur in 1867, where all could eat without any distinctions whatsoever. Ramalinga Vallalar abhorred non-Vegetarianism.
Ramalinga Adigal opened a temple at Vadalur on January 25, 1872, called the "Sathya Gnana Sabha" (Hall of True Knowledge), - One of the primary teaching of valallar is "Service to mankind is path of moksha". He declared that death is not natural that our life's first priority should be fight death. He declared religion in itself is a darkness. He laid a very great emphasis on being vegetarian. He said God is "Arul Perum Jothi" who is personification of mercy and knowledge. He said the path of compassion and mercy are only path to God.
In 1865 he established a poor feeding center. 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 1870 he established the Sathaya Gyana Sabai, hall of True Wisdom Forum and ensuring it was entirely secular . This place is not a temple as no offerings of fruits or flowers could be made, 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. The oil lamp lit by him is kept perpetually burning. He said that our soul is blinded by 7 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 intelligence we possess is Maya intelligence which is not true and final intelligence. Path of final intelligence is "Jeeva Karunyam".
He advocated a casteless society. Vallalar was opposed to superstitions and rituals. He forbade killing animals 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 Swami Ramalingam and follow the path of Arul Perum Jothi. The most notable living Siddhars of this age are Sri Pranasiddhar and Sri Vadapalani Paranjothi Baba.
C) Ramalinga Adigal's Literary works:
As a musician and poet, he composed 5818 poems breathing universal love and peace, compiled into 6 TirumuraigaL, 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 Vaasagam describing the life of Manu Needhi Cholan.
Jeeva Karunya Ozhukkam
Teachings
The path of Samarasam contains four disciplines :
1. a.Gnana Indriya Ozhukkam (Ozhukkam means self - control):
- Listening to the praise of God
- Preventing bad words entering our ears
- Avoiding looks of harshness and wickedness
- Abstaining from touching evil things
- Abstaining from gluttony etc.
1. b. Karma Indriya Ozhukkam:
- Speaking sweet words
- Telling no lies
- Resisting by all means from harmful deeds to other living beings
- Leading a religious life
- Associating ourselves with people of saintly character
- Maintaining a healthy body
2. Karma Ozhukkam
- The mind has to be directed to the Cit Sabhai by taking it away from other objects (Cit Sabhai is the heart in which the Divine abodes)
- Not to enquire into the faults of others
- Not to be wicked
3. Jiva Ozhukkam
- Jiva Ozhukkam is the discipline that teaches one to treat all human beings as equal, and feel the presence of oneself in all human beings.
- One must not be affected by the various distinctions as social, national, linguistic, caste, religion, etc. because the soul belongs to a different sphere where no differences exist.
4. Anma Ozhukkam
- Anma Ozhukkam is further development of Jiva ozhukkam. Here the soul looks upon all living beings alike ( not only human beings but also other beings). Here the soul feels great compassion for all the beings, considers 'Anma' as the 'Sabhai' and the 'Inner Light' as God.
End of Worldly Life
St.Ramalingam spent the last part of his life in a small hut known as "Siddhi Valaham" (place of attainment or self-realization), in a small village called Mettukuppam. Here St.Ramalingam practiced the life of a yogi and lived in isolation. Till 1874 he lived in that hut. On January 30, 1874, he disappeared from that hut. St.Ramalingam locked himself inside the room he used to occupy and expressed his desire that none should venture to open it. He also added that if the government officials persist to open it, let them be convinced of his desire of not opening it. If it is opened, the room will be found vacant, since from that moment itself he will enter the soul of everyone and lead them to the right path of Grace. These utterances proved to be final.
As forecast by the saint early, the news reached the government . The then collector of Arcot rushed to the spot along with the doctors and police. The doctor went around the room and was surprised to sense the fragrance of "Pachai Karpooram" (Bournial not combustible) against his own suspicion of scenting of foul smell in case of decayed body. The collector was informed of the experience gained by the doctor and the collector also went around the room and got the same experience as that of the doctor. He then enquired the followers assembled there to the type of work that had been carried on. Fully respecting the Saint, he gave a sum of Rs.20/- for the good work being done there and returned back to his office.
