Tamil saint, Tamil Poet, Social worker, and Spiritual Leader.
Birth
Vallalar (Ramalinga Swamigal) was born on 5th October 1823 to Ramayya Pillai and Chinanammai in Marudhur of Cuddalore District in Tamil Nadu.
Vallalar’s Family
His father had five children and Vallalar (Ramalinga Adigalar) was the fifth child. His parents had two elder sons (Sabhapati and Parasu Raman) and two daughters (Sundarammal and Unnamulai).
Beginning of spiritual career
When Vallalar was a five month old child, his parents went to Chidambaram Natarajar Temple, where the child was happy while the Priest was offering the Deepa Aradhana. This instance was the strong spiritual experience for Vallalar.
Life Career of Vallalar
Vallalar’s father Rammayya Pillai died in 1824. Then his mother Chinnammai moved to a native Chinna Kavanam (Ponneri) with Vallalar. In 1826, Vallalar was a little kid, when his mother again shifted his house to Chennai.
When he was 5years old, the elder brother of Vallalar started his education. He always went to the Kandha Swami Temple in the nearby area. In 1865, he began the “Samarasa Vedha Sanmarga Sangam”. In 1867, he started a service for free food with the “the Sathya Dharma Salai” in Vadalur. This “Samarasa Suddha Samarga Sathya Sangam”, which means “Society for pure trueness in universal self-hood” in 1872. Later he made the initiation for the free food.
His preaching was that “Service to Living Beings is the way to Moksha (freedom from birth). He was saying that death is unnatural and everyone should fight against death. To him, religion was darkness and he gave preference to the vegetarians.
He gave his final speech or lecture on the spiritual growth and “power beyond us” on 22nd October 1873. He gave the suggestion to his followers to perform meditation using the lamp from his room. On saying this, he kept the lamp outside.
Spiritual Experience
When he had been a child, his elder brother Sabhapati thought to punish Vallalar to teach the discipline. For this, Sabhapati told his wife not to give food to Vallalar. But his wife gave food to Vallalar secretly and made him to study at home. For this, Vallalar asked for his room with a mirror and the lighted lamp. He kept that lamp in front of the mirror and began his meditation. He did meditation by focusing on the light, which made the Vallalar as spiritual. During this meditation, he saw the Lord Muruga’s vision. Later he saw the spiritual and mental growth in his life.
Vallalar’s significant works
Vallalar spent his total time at the “Kandha Kottam Kandha Swami” Temple. He was the composer of the song “Deiva mani malai” at this Temple. His 5818 poems teach the universal love and global peace, which he had made into “Six Thiru Muraigal”. The other work made by him, was the Manamurai Kanda Vasagam” and “Jeeva Karunya Ozhuakkam”.
Literary works of Vallalar
He was the composer of the 5818 poems within 6 Thirumuraigal. This six Tirumuraigal is available in the single book “Tiruarutpa”.
Vallalar’s Arulperumjothi Preaching
Vallalar said the God is “Arul Perum Jothi” and god is the incarnation of Knowledge and mercy. He said that humanity and grace are the only way to God. In 1867, he started a center to feed the poor people with food. He told that souls are made blind by the seven veils.
Physical Transformation of Vallalar
He got the divinity after the attainment of three transformations (Pranava Body, Pure body and Gnostic body).Only the saint could attain these three transformations. Like in the story in Indian sages, initially Vallalar human body began to transformation to the perfect body. Then his Perfect body got the transformation into the Grace body. Later his Grass body was transformed into the Bliss Body. This Bliss Body will have the feel to be present everywhere.
Ramalinga Adigalar (Vallalar) Policies
Vallalar (Ramalinga Adigalar) had several policies while he was living. The below given are the few of the policies of him.
- The dead should only be buried, instead of burning.
- Treat all the souls as equal.
- There must be general aim.
- No killing of life.
- All living organisms are relations to us. So do not hurt them.
- No idol worship should be made and no sacrifice must be done in their name.
- The people who suffer in hunger must be given food irrespective of the religion, caste or ethnicity.
- Do not eat meat.
- Do not differentiate anyone by caste, language and religion.
- All people in the world are brothers or sisters.
- God is one, who is “Arutperumjothi”.
Vallalar’s rules
The three of Vallalar are Remain hungry, Remain awake and Remain alone.
Institutions of Vallalar
In1867, he began the Dharma saalai. Later he began the Siddhi Valaagam in 1870 and Sathya Gnana Sabai in 1872.
Success
In 1872, he began the “Sathya Gnana Sabai”, which means the hall of True Wisdom Forum and this place was temporal. This Sathya Gnana Sabai was not a Temple and here there is no offering of flowers and fruits done. No one get blessings here and this place had been open to people from all the communities, except who had taken meat for food. Vallalar had been always against the caste system as that had given numerous effects on the society.
Honor of Vallalar
The place where he lived with his brother in Chennai, (nearer to Kandha Kottam Kandhaswami Temple at the Paris Corner) was named Vallalar Nagar in honor of him. On 17th August 2007, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu released a postal stamp in honor of him.
Death
Vallalar vanished on 30th January 1874 at the age of 50 in Mettukuppam near Vadalur of Cuddalore District in Tamil Nadu. His followers believe that his disappearance is due to the spiritual powers while he was living. Vallalar told in one of his poem that he will be unfound after opening the Door and shall be united with Nature. His vanish was exactly similar to the other saints in India.