Jothi Ramalinga Swamigal
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Jothi Ramalinga Swamigal also familiarly known Vallalar (October 5, 1823 - January 23, 1873) was born, as Ramalingam, in a village near Chidambaram in the modern state of Tamilnadu, India. He taught spirituality and established charitable institutions until his death and (according to belief) ascension in the village of Mettukuppan.
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[edit] Infant Ramalingam
Vallalar's father was Ramaiya Pillai and his mother Chinammai. Believers say that as an infant of six months old, when Vallalar was taken to the holy shrine of Chidambaram, he burst into laughter when the auspicious camphor fire was lit before the deity. Chidambaram is considered to be the abode of the Cosmic Dancing Aspect of Lord Shiva, the third in the Trinity of Hinduism.
[edit] Discovery of his spirituality by the brother
As a child Vallalar lived in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. Vallalar did not have any formal education. However, at the age of nine he composed a hymn, "Deivamani Malai" (Garland of Songs), devoted to Lord Kandan. It was his elder brother who discovered his spiritual greatness. As a boy he refused to be educated at school or at the feet of a master, even when the brother punished him by expulsion from home for days and months. Instead he would be found sitting at the altar in a temple quietly in meditation. Finally this born-enlightened agreed to study at home all by himself within the confines of a room. But he was soon discovered to be only meditating and not studying. What pleasantly surprised the elder brother and his wife, who showed a mother's affection on Ramalingam, was that he could sing beautifully in devotion to God.
[edit] Fame spreads
One day the brother sent him as a proxy for himself in the task of giving an exposition of Peria Puranam an epic poem by Sekkizhar narrating the episodes connected with the 63 Shaiva Nayanmars. Ramalingam did this so well that the audience thereafter preferred to have him for the discourses in future rather than the learned elder brother. The latter tasted the boy's delightful expositions by secretly listening to him during such discourses. The fame of the boy spread. People started offering him monetary gifts, which resulted in his disappearance and living as a renunciate (Sannyasi).
[edit] Arut-perum jothi, tanipperum karunai
Though he obliged his brother by marrying, he never lived a married life. His wife was so moved by the obvious glow of spirituality in him that she cooperated with him in his celibacy and in his service of spreading message of eclecticism in the world. His worship of the flame in the lamp as the expression of divinity, gave him the name of Jothi Ramalinga Swamigal. 'Jothi' means lighted flame. In 1872 he constructed a prayer hall at Vadalur (20 miles from Chidambaram) for worship on an eminence from which the four temple towers of Chidambaram would be visible. When he was about 32 he moved to Karunguli, a village near Chidamabaram. Later he lived in Vadaloor and finally at Mettukuppan.
[edit] Achievements
His expositions, his compassion for the downtrodden, his love to one and all of the human as well as the animal kingdom, and his spotless disciplined life even as a youth, brought forth thousands of disciples from far and wide. Miracle-cures were performed by him in plenty. He advocated a casteless society where everyone would uniformly seek the Grace of the Holy Light through the all-pervading Light within their own selves. His was a voice which refused to heed any but the voice of one's pious conscience. His prayers included not only the routine plea to God to show us the Light within, not only the universal prayer for the cleansing of our minds but also the unusual and unique prayer, in compassion, of asking for the dead to be revived by the Lord. He composed thousands of verses breathing universal love and peace, which are all available today as a single six-volume work called 'Tiru-arut-paa', (Holy Poems Sweeter than Nectar).He is today considered as one of the greatest Tamil poets of the 19th century, in spite of his total lack of any formal education.
[edit] Institutions
Vallalar established a number of institutions that survive today. In 1865 he established the Dharma Salai 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. Today, even after over 120 years, the fire has not been put out and the needy are still fed. When he was about 32 Vallalar moved to Karunguli, a village near Chidamabaram. Later he lived in Vadaloor and finally at Mettukuppan.
Around 1870 he established the Gyana Sabai, Seat of Eternal Wisdom. This is not a temple in the formal sense. An oil lamp is kept perpetually burning. 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, representing 21,600 inhalations by a normal human being.
[edit] Teaching
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. Endearing love towards God was his only penance. Although he is credited with a number of miracles (some of them recorded in the British administrative archives) he urged his followers to pay scant regard to miracles.
His teachings go from simple basic ideas and then slowly go in depth about meditation. He eventually concludes that the reason for us to meditate and practice beliefs like non-killing and so is to help everyone in the world to reach god. The experience of seeing god can be only attained through measures of helping others. And the main reason for us humans to live is to help other reach god. When we humans reach god, we have the capabilities of god. We become unified with god. But at the same time we are different from god. The god is like the one original light. When we merge into light, we have the same capabilities of god, but the original flame of god is still existent and different from us who have merged into it.
[edit] A Profile
Adherents believe Vallalar was a saint who performed miracles, had extraordinary personal characteristics and ascended to become one with the light upon his death. Vallalar was tall and frail with piercing yet benign eyes. His hair was matted and he wore a single piece of white shroud. During his last decade, he abstained from taking food completely. His body never cast a shadow--an extraordinary case of being visible yet transparent.
The main gist of his teachings is similar to Trinity of Christianity. The father, son and holy spirit. The Jyothi that is mentioned in his teachings is the holy spirit or the Shabd of his perfect guru. The father- the one supreme lord, son- the perfect guru and holy spirit - the guru in the higher dimensions that guides the disciple during the internal travel or meditation. He talks to about seeing the peacock in the sky and the peacock turned into singing bird. The meaning of the sentence is the light turned into divine melody as the disciple progresses in spirituality.
Swamigal was against idol workship and practised compassion with all living beings.
[edit] Final Spiritual Ascension
He called his followers on 1873-01-23 and gave them his final discourse. Later he entered his room. He told his followers, "I shall enter this room and be here for some time. Do not open for the next 16 days. Presently I am in this body. Now I shall be everywhere. Don't be short of faith and open this door. In case the authorities order it to be opened, MY FATHER shall take care of it." Saying so he closed the door but did not lock it. The popular belief is he disappeared from there into eternity.
The next day the British collector of that district came to investigate. Later the collector wrote that he had an extraordinary feeling and did not feel that it was necessary to open the door. He bore the expenses for feeding the poor that day.
According to Indian government records, he went into a room without any windows and had his followers guard the entrance. The British official who came then made an official statement that Ramalinga Swamigal had 'disappeared'.
[edit] In his memory
To remember him and receive the spiritual Light which he showed to the countless thousands who congregated at his prayer hall while living, devotees gather at Vadalur every year on the Thai poosam day -- corresponding to the English calendar month of January-February, when the moon is nearest to the star called Poosam, known as the beehive cluster in the constellation of Cancer. The mantra that will rent the air from the congregation on these days will be "Arut-perum jothi; Arut perum jothi; tanip-perum karunai" -- meaning, Blessed Holy Light, Omni Gracious Infinite Light; Unique Immense Compassion!
[edit] Message of Eclecticism
It is the eclecticism of devotees like Jothi Ramalinga Swamigal in the South (of India), like Kabir in North India, and the lives and teachings of twentieth century spiritual proponents like Shirdi Sai Baba, Ramakrishna, Sri Aurobindo, Ramana Maharshi and Sathya Sai Baba that constitute the authority and authenticity for the well-known Hindu belief, namely: All Faiths are valid; it is the attitude that matters -- not the rituals, not even the physical expression of the philosophy that one adheres to.
[edit] The Maha Mantra
Arut Perum Jothi Arut perum Jothi
Taniperum Karunai Arut perum Jothi
The above Mantra is given to Vallalar by Almighty. The English translation of which is:
O Great Effulgence of Grace!
O Great Effulgence of Grace!
O Great Unique Immence Compassion!
O Great Effulgence of Grace!
