WHERE IS VALLALAR [SWAMI RAMALINGAM]?

barney · February 29, 2004

The day was January 30, 1874 and places the courtyard of an old monastery in the quiet village of Village of Mettukuppan near Vadular, Tamil Nadu. A frail looking man with gentle eyes was talking to small gathering of disciples. He was clad in a white place of cloth which covered his head and body together. His face emitted an aura of compassion and humility. Ending the discourse he rose from his from his seat and started TO walk into the building. The disciples followed him in silence. He walked towards a small room in the back of the building. As he reached the door, he turned and looked at his disciples. Raising his arms in farewell and blessing, he entered the room, closed the door and told them to lock it from the outside. The door was locked with a big padlock There was no other opening.

Earlier the saint had told his disciples that he was in the last days of his physical existence and that he would soon pass into the astral world. Now he had secluded himself in final preparation.

The news that the saint had locked himself up in a room slowly leaked out. There was much excitement because the saint had earlier been talking about the possibility of the living dissolution of his physical body. Many people believed him and now they knew that the final days had come.

It was already three months when the news reached the government at Madras. Some officials came to investigate. They ordered the door to be opened. To the great wonder and amazement of all that stood around, they found no one inside the room. A thorough inspection of the whole building was made and nothing suspicious could be found. The officials questioned the disciples and found them to be very simple and innocent people. Now it was clear that as proclaimed, the saint had achieved the unachievable. Without discarding his physical body, he had dematerialized.

The life and writings of Saint Ramalingam (Vallalar) have evidence enough to support dematerialization. They make it clear to us that the swami had been preparing all his life for this final achievement. He had been telling his followers that he would pass into eternal life not by shedding his physical body, but by changing it into a subtle, invisible, deathless body. There are frequent references in his poems first to the hope and then to the certainty of his union with God by means of acquiring a wonderful, celestial body that would he beyond death or destruction.

"Lord, take this body of mine and my spirit in exchange for Your body and Your spirit"

"…. to enable this very body of flesh to become a body of light …."

"Transmuting" this body of skin and bones, I shine with a golden form".

"You have given me a form perpetual which nothing can destroy".

"Grace, knowledge, love and an indestructible body These have been your gifts to me".

It can be seen from his life that in his later his physical body had become tenuous and translucent. Disciples have recorded that it cast no distinct shadow. It is said that several attempts were made to photograph him. But since light passed through his body no clear image could be obtained. What could be seen were only his clothing and a very misty vision of his face and limb. And to such a translucent body made so by pure living dematerialization was but a few steps allied.

Swami Ramalingam (Vallalar) say, "Life of eternal bliss is union with God. Those who have achieved this will have transmuted this impure carnal body into a pure golden body and again have the pure body transformed into supersensible, spiritual body".

This spiritual body is attainable only by leading a perfectly pure life of love and compassion. St. Ramalingam (Vallalar) led such a pure life. Purity of heart, sensitiveness to the suffering of others and boundless compassion for all living creatures-these were the three things that characterized Ramalingam (Vallalar). He was one of the gentlest of men with the most tender feelings. He never harmed a living creature. Nor could he bear the slightest harm done to the smallest of creatures. The sight of withering crops made him sad. Cruel weapons of destruction sent a shudder through his heart. Traps, snares and baits of all kinds made him tremble. His heart sank at the sight of beggars turned away from houses. Albert Schweitzer, the great humanitarian and philosopher has said, "That man is truly ethical who shatters no ice-crystal as it sparkles in the sun, tears no leaf from the tree, cuts no flowers". St. Ramalingam (Vallalar) perfectly fitted that description.

This compassion found full expression in his life. It gave him concern over the physical and spiritual well-being of people and made him undertake two major works of love One was to remove the hunger of the poor and the other, to carve out for people a path of righteous living.

Though from the mystic point of view his whole life was a preparation for liberation and final union with the Divine, he differs from many other mystics in the basic outlook of his living. He did not retire into a secluded place to work out his liberation Instead, he lived like an ordinary person among the ordinary people, sharing their daily joys and sorrows. According to him, his personal liberation was closely connected with the love of all creatures and the spiritual upliftment of people. He preached love and brotherhood among all. And he spoke of the endless love of God as Father and believed himself to be a privileged son of God who had comedown to show the path of eternal life to mankind.

Swami Ramalingam (Vallalar) was completely free from all narrowness and psychological barriers that divided people. He believed in the perfect equality of all men before God and vehemently condemned the caste system.

He told not to entertain anything that supported caste and created conflict between man and man. He came out very strongly vested interests in organized religion who were interested more in establishing their power than in helping people to know the truth.

He makes it clear that to know God is know the living Truth of nature, and that all beliefs, dogmas and creeds that are built round the concept of God serve only to clutter up thinking and cannot lead mankind to liberation. One must brush them all a side and move ahead on the path of right understanding to know God. The living Truth of Nature which is God is nothing but Universal Love and Goodness. Unless one has compassion and Goodness of heart and the most sensitive perception of the unity of all things one cannot know God. Since conventional religion gets caught in dogmas and makes much of external observances it can never bring about a dynamic revolution in consciousness, never open up the inner springs of through which alone God is realized.

Thus he sought to which to free people from the shackles of sacred books, beliefs and rituals and emphasized the importance of right living. In the year 1865, he gathered some of his close followers and formed a society called Samarasa Suddha Sanmarka Sathya Sangam which may be termed in English as Society for Truth and Righteous Living in perfect reconciliation. Here are the basic thoughts that were behind the formation of the society.

There is only one Supreme Being and love is the only way to reach Him. All worship of minor deities and all killing in their name should be discarded.

No distinction or discrimination should be made in the name of caste, creed or religion.

All living creatures should be loved alike. Non-violence and vegetarianism are basic of compassion.

Universal Fellowship of Spiritual Living among all human beings should be cultivated. Compassion is the key to the secret of living and the only way to know God.

Giving food to the hungry is the essential mark of compassion.

The SSSSS is not a new religion founded by St. Ramalingam (Vallalar). It is a path of right living and practical goodness. Any one from any religion can join the fraternity. Only the members are expected to cultivate love for all living beings practice equality and brotherhood towards all mankind and feel perfect oneness with all things of creation.

After the formation of the Sangam Swami Ramalingam (Vallalar) Practically started living with his disciples. He was personally concerned with their spiritual advancement and he guided with the utmost kindness. During the meetings of the Sangam he emphasized the practical, day-to-day aspects of love and discouraged the tendency of making an ideal of it. An ideal he knew, was usually worshipped and not practiced.

St. Ramalingam (Vallalar) was a living example of what he taught. It was more by his personal conduct and behavior than by his teachings that his disciples came to experience what it was to love and be loved with a perfectly pure heart.

By this time Swami Ramalingam (Vallalar) had written a number of devotional poems. In them he sings of God’s grace and personal concern for Him He pours forth in the most moving language his great love for God and his unquenchable longing to be united with Him. He grieves over the ignorance and intransigence of mankind and exhorts them in a most appealing manner to leave off all their worldliness and seek the joy and benediction of God-consciousness. Written in lucid beautiful Tamil, they are a living record of the noblest feeling of one of the greatest souls whose total living was God-consciousness. Which unfolded itself in practical love and compassion.

Spirituality that secluded itself from the common people had no meaning for Swami Ramalingam (Vallalar). His God-consciousness was based on love and compassion. As already seen he was never at peace when people went without food. What was the meaning of kindness and love if one did not satisfy the hunger of a fellow human being? Moreover, food was the basic need of the body and body was the seat of the soul. Without taking care of the body how could anyone take care of the soul that dwelt in the body? Thus the very basis of spirituality was according to the Swami, the removal of hunger, since compassion seeking to remove hunger seeks to renovate the living temple of God, the body.

Out of this compassion was born the House of Charity called Satya Dharma Salai. Though St. Ramalingam (Vallalar) intended to take up a number of humanitarian works through this House, the first and foremost work he undertook was to feed the hungry.

With the of friends and well-wishers, land was a acquired at Vadular and modest building was erected to house the kitchen. Donations of food-grains and vegetables were accepted from worthy people and the kitchen started functioning. The inauguration was held in a fitting manner and people from all over the surrounding districts thronged to hear the Swami talk and to see how the kitchen worked. From the first day onwards the Dharma Salai served food to the poor and the hungry. It was simple fare that was served, but people were served to their full satisfaction. All people were treated equally without any Caste or religious discrimination.

The kitchen functioned without break. It fed hundreds of people daily. Hungry and destitute people who might otherwise have starved found succor there. Even today, after more than hundred years, the kitchen continues to feed the poor. It also caters to the needs of the several visitors to Vadular which has now become a place of pilgrimage. As a mark of respect to St. Ramalingam (Vallalar), the fire that was started by his own hand on the first day was not allowed to die and it still continues to burn in the kitchen without break.

Another important work undertaken by St. Ramalingam (Vallalar) was the design and construction of the Gnanasabai (Shrine of Divine Knowledge) at Vadular. There are no images inside, but a large mirror is placed in the centre of the hall and it reflects the light of a big perpetual lamp placed strategically on one side. Swami Ramalingam (Vallalar) has always wanted people look upon God as Light the slogan he constantly used to inspire people with love of God is in Tamil,

Which means Grand Light of Mercy with Singularly great Compassion. Hence the light in the centre of the hall. People look at the light reflected on the mirror and meditate upon God.

When the House of Charity started functioning at Vadular, Swami Ramalingam (Vallalar) was there to pay personal attention. He lived in the House for four years and afterward he chose as residence an old monastery building at the village of Mettukuppam lying close to Vadular, The building came to be known as Siddhi Valakam later.

His close disciple during those days was Purushotham Reddy. He attended to the needs of the Swami. Purushotham later requested the Swami to initiate him into mysteries of Yoga. The Swami answered him thus. "To awaken the hidden powers of the body through yoga is not necessary for all. Of course you will encounter strange things and see some light. But this will enhance your pride and mislead you. So instead of practicing yoga you must learn to all living creatures as truly as you love yourself. When you achieve this you will have achieved everything".

Having ascertained himself that his final goal was within his reach he gathered his disciples and delivered his last sermon. It was his final message to the world. In it he went briefly through the gradual evolution of his understanding and his final clarity. He had passed through many stages before at last he arrived at the truth. Now that he had come upon the final truth, it dawned on him that the various stages through which he had passed were quite irrelevant. It was not necessary that other; also should pass through those stages. They could know the ultimate truth from him. Thus he called he called upon them.

"Do not depend upon sacred books of any kind. They do not tell you of God in plain language. They are all intent upon hiding the truth.

"You need not go after siddhis (yogic achievements) either. For even a small achievement you may take eight or ten years. It is sheer waste of time. It distracts you from God. In your pursuit of the incidental you will lose sight of the essential.

Do not follow any creed or faith. You have no time to waste. Through them you will never experience the Living Truth of Nature or Reality which alone will lead you to a life of incomparable greatness.

I myself am a witness to this truth. For you know what a great faith I once had in the Saivam. See how that faith has completely gone now.

Now God had exalted me to the utmost eminence. It is the outcome of giving up everything. If you too can give up everything you will have the greatest gain.

God has revealed to me that truth and mercy alone matter. Mercy or compassion-to into which you must experience oneness with everything. Unless you have this oneness, you will not know compassion and without compassion you cannot reach the highest state.

I have knowledge now that beyond the heavens. It is so because I am one with everything. If you too like me and feel this oneness then everything will be given to you.

Like the religious zealots, the religious philosophers too are confused. Do not believe them either. No one has said anything clear about God.

For God is something which everyone must personally experience. Without this personal experience you cannot know God or love Him.

"And what is perfect bliss? It is perfect knowledge which is nothing but perfect compassion".

This in brief is the essence of his final message After the sermon he gave disciples all necessary instructions. Then he walked into the room as already described and that was the end of his physical existence.

His work still continues. He heads, the Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Sathya Sangam which has branches all over Tamil Nadu, Malaysia, Singapore, other parts of the world and opportunity is provided for sincere people to benefit by their birth. The House of Charity still continues to feed the poor. The Gnanasbhai is also open as a place of Assembly of the Elite. Swami Ramalingam’s (Vallalar) message has laid down the right foundation we need to bring about a society where there are no divisions and conflicts of any kind, where compassion is only religion and right living the only path, and where people will live in perfect harmony by knowing God as the living Truth of Man’s real Nature.