Shri Ramalinga Swamy

• 10 Oct 2023

Source: PIB

Why in News?

India celebrated the 200^th birth anniversary of Shri Ramalinga Swamy, also known as Vallalar, on 5th October, 2023.

What are the Key Contributions of Shri Ramalinga Swamy?

• About:
  • Shri Ramalinga Swamy was a prominent Tamil poet in the 19^th century and a member of the "gnana siddhars" lineage.
    • He was born in the village of Marudhur in Tamil Nadu.
• Vision of Social Reforms:
  • Vallalar's vision transcends religious, caste, and creed barriers, recognizing divinity in every atom of the universe.
    • Vallalar was strongly against the caste system and initiated the 'Samarasa Vedha Sanmarga Sangam' in 1865, later renamed 'Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Sathya Sangam.'
  • He established 'The Sathya Dharma Salai,' a free food facility in Vadalur, Tamil Nadu in 1867, serving all people without caste distinctions.
  • In January, 1872, Vallalar opened the 'Sathya Gnana Sabha' (Hall of True Knowledge) in Vadalur.
• Philosophical Beliefs and Teachings:
  • One of Vallalar's primary teachings was "Service to Living Beings is the path of Liberation/Moksha."
  • According to Suddha Sanmarga, the prime aspects of human life should be love, connected with charity and divine practice, leading to pure knowledge.
  • Vallalar believed that the intelligence possessed by humans is illusory (Maya) intelligence and not accurate or final.
    • He emphasized "Jeeva Karunyam" (Compassion for living beings) as the path of final intelligence.
  • He forbade killing animals for the sake of food and advocated feeding the poor as the highest form of worship.
  • He also believed that God in the form of Grace is the personification of Mercy and Knowledge.
    • And, Mercy is a path to God.