CHIDAMBARA DHARSHAN

Five months old baby Ramalingam was taken to Chidambaram Temple by his parents for offering prayers to Lord Nataraja. As usual the priest lit the camphor and offered it to the Lord at the Sanctum Sanctorum. No sooner the light appeared, the five months baby Ramalingam laughed loudly and gazed at the empty space created by the curtain lifted. The significant of this incident was that the Almighty revealed the secrecy and showed his true form as the GREAT DIVINE GRACE LIGHT (ARUTPERUNJOTHI).

FAMILY SHIFTED TO CHENNAI

When Ramalingam was six months old baby his father Ramayya Pillai demised. She left the maruthur along with her five children to her parental house at Chinnakavanam near Ponneri, north to Chennai in Thiruvallore District. After some years, again she moved to Chennai with her children in search of better lively hood. They lived at Sevenwells street in the Mint Area. Her eldest son Sabapathy Pillai was well educated under the ablve scholar, Kancheepuram Sabapathy Mudaliar and started giving religious discourses to run the family.

SCHOOL EDUCATION

When Ramalingam was five years old he was sent to Sabapathy Mudaliar to attain formal education. Ramalingam was very quiet in the class room and showed no interest in his studies. But one day it happened to hear a new and fresh beautiful Tamil poem with full of substance of high order sung by young Ramalingam has bound less wisdom and he was already taught everything by the grace of the Almighty and nobody could teach him anymore. This was misunderstood by his elder brother who was also his guardian that Ramalingam was unfit for studies and an irresponsible boy.

COMPOSING GRACEFUL SONGS AT YOUNG AGE

Young Ramalingam started composing Divine poems while his peers were playing in streets joyfully. His poems were fresh and pretty as roses, sweet as nectar, choked with Bhakthi Rasam. They were innovative and revolutionary. His poems thrown new light on oriental spiritualism and religious philosophies and gave new directions. His poems attracted great scholars, religious heads, yogis intellectuals and illiterates all alike.

DARSHN OF MURUGA IN THE MIRROR

Sabapathy, the elder brother was worried about his younger brother Ramalingam's career and wanted to correct him by threats and punishments. Ramalingam spent most of his time at the temple and temple tanks. Pappathi Ammal the sister-in-law of Ramalingam was so affectionate to him and took care to feed him without her husband's knowledge. On one of the death anniversary days of his father Ramayya Pillai, it was conducted in style with the rituals and the poor feeding. Young Ramalingam was missing in that ceremony and starved without food while many people were fed with varieties of delicious dishes at his home. Sabapathy and his wife Pappathi Ammal both were very sad for missing their young kid in such an important occasion. Somehow she was able to catch Ramalingam in the evening and fed him with remaining food. He saw his sister-in-law in tears. She conveyed her feelings to him warmly and asked him to stay at home and to devote his attention towards his studies. His Graciousness Ramalingam was allotted a room in the upstairs. He got a mirror in his room and started praying Lord Muruga sitting in front of the mirror by performing poojas. He used to close the doors of his room and confined to his room all the time. He never came out of his room except for taking bath and food. He used to meditate deeply.

THE MAIDEN DISCOURSE

Sabapathy was used to give religious discourses. Once he agreed to give series of discourses on 'Periapuranam' the biography of 63 Saiva Saints. The organizer Somu Chettiar a rich and strict man. After few days Sbapathy became ill and was unabe to fulfill his commitment. He did not know what to do. He was so worried. Then his wife suggested him to send Ramalingam to continue the discourses. It looked ridiculous to him and he Ramalingam to continue the discourses. It looked ridiculous to him and he did not agree. At last after much persuasion he agreed to send Ramalingam reluctantly. He strongly advised him to behave properly with the rich organizer and to omplete the day's pooja by reading out one or two stanzas. The young boy taken up the word " Ulagelam " which was the first word in " Periapuranam " for annotation, words came out eloquently just as waterfalls flows. The language, style substance and versaliity were so amazing and wonderful the extraordinary geniusness and unparalleled audience of the young boy made the audience stunned and everybody came to a conclusion that he was none but DIVINE GRACE sent by the Almighty.

ADOPTION BY THE ALMIGHTY

At the age of nine his Graciousness young Ramalingam was adopted by the Almighty voluntarily when he was so innocent. The Almighty gave him all the wisdom needed to attain the Divinity. At the age of twelve he began practicing true Divine life.

WORSHIP AT THIRUVOTTRIYUR

His Graciousness Vallalar started to visit daily Thiruvottriyur Siva Temple, the oldest temple in south India. He wrote and sung many number of songs in praise of Thiruvottriyur Siva and the Deity Vadivudai Ammai. One day he returned home at late night and fell asleep on the pail with acute hungry. The temple deity Vadivudai Amman came to him in the guise of His sister-in-law and fed him with nectar. He also visited Siva temples in and around Chennai such as Thiruvalithayam Thiru Mullaivayil etc.

VELAYUTHANAR AS STUDENT

In the year 1849 Thozhuvur Velayatha Mudaliar, a 17 years old young scholar came to Vallalar and gave him hundred poems written by himself in the style of the Sangam Literature and lied that those were old Sangam verses and sought his criticism on the poems in order to test his knowledge. But Vallalar promptly that those were not Sangam poems but written by a beginner who did not know even the grammar properly. Then Velayuthanar realized his mistake and prayed pardon and to accept him as his student. Vallalar gracefully accepted him.

MARRIAGE

Vallalar did not like to marry. His complete liking rested at the feet of the Almighty. Due to the fate and the compulsion of his close relatives and well wishers he agreed to marry. He wedded Dhanammal, daughter of his own sister. Later he confessed with the Lord that he touched a lady (to tie sacred thread namely Thali), but not had family relationship with her.

STEWARDSHIPS

Eminent – Scholars and religious heads became his students and disciples. Among them Thozhuvur Velayutha Mudaliar stood first. He published "THIRU ARUTPA" from first to fourth parts (Thirumarai) the collection of songs sung by his Guru Vallalar.

LITERARY WORKS

Vallalar wrote 'Manumuraikanda Vacchagam' and 'Jeevakarunaya Ozhukkam', both in prose. He published three books namely Ozhivilodukkam, Thondaimandala Sathakam and Chinmaya deepikai. He also gave 'Foreword' to the literary works done by other scholars.

MOVING AWAY FROM CHENNAI (1858)

His Graciousness Vallalar was fed up with the busy materialistic Chennai life. He needed calm and quiet country side life in order to practice divinity. So he decided to leave Chennai and set on piligrimage to Thillai that is Chidambaram in 1858.

STAY AT KARUNKUZHI

In Chidambaram he met Venkata Reddiar. Venkata Reddiar requested him to stay at his home in Karunkuzhi a small near Vadalur. There he lived for nine years from 1885 to 1867. He used to visit Chidambaram Nataraja Temple very often. He wrote many poems in Venkata Reddiar's house in Karunguzhi.

LIGHTING WITH WATER

One night while His Graciousness Vallalar was writing poems, the light became dim. He poured water in to the lamp instead of oil. But the light was lit on uninterruptedly throughout the night. It signified the greatness of the Thiru Arutpa. He was so concerned about the sorrows of the humanity. His face was looked grim and His heart was melted. He was always in tears. He wept for the other's sufferings. Due to His supreme compassion which was unparalleled and unique by itself, He was glorified with reference as THIRU ARUTPRAKASA VALLALAR. The songs sung by him was called 'THIRU ARUTPA' (the songs of the Divine Grace).

JEEVAKARUNYA OZHUKKAM

There is no suffering more painful than hunger, especially for the helpless poor. It is everyone's responsibility to willingly, sincerely, and promptly feed the hungry with compassion, as if feeding the Almighty. This is known as Jeevakarunya Ozhukkam. Jeevakarunya Ozhukkam is defined as not thinking, speaking, or doing harm to any living being. Instead, we should protect and save all living beings from pain and suffering. This compassionate service is the key to unlock and enjoy the treasure of eternal bliss. The human body is not meant to perish. Death is not natural; it is unnatural. Death, which means the destruction of the human body, occurs not by fate but due to impure thoughts, words, deeds, habits, and the lack of sincere efforts to safeguard the body. It is recommended to bury the dead body instead of performing rituals based on religions, faiths, castes, or traditions.

SATHIYA DHARUMA SALAI

His Graciousness Vallalar established Dharuma Salai on 23.05.1867 to feed the poor with food and thus removing the hunger of helpless poor. In other words this Salai can be considered as a workshop which trains people to become fit to serve others with selflessness, sincerity, politeness, humbleness and obedience. SATHIYA DHARUMA SALAI is a rich resourceful place that imparts Divine qualities and Grace of the Almighty.

SATHIA GNANA SABAI (25-01-1872)

His Graciousness Vallalar constructed the Sathia Gnana Sabai, an octagonal Hall of Wisdom, in 1871. It represents the perfect model of our physical body (pindom) and the universe (Andam). By removing illusions one by one, the Hall reveals the dazzling manifestation of the Great Divine Grace Light (Arut Perun Jothi) during Jothi Darshan. This divine vision is celebrated every 27 days on the auspicious star of Poosam, coinciding with Thai Poosam during the month of Thai. His Graciousness Vallalar encouraged us to witness Jothi Darshan at Gnanasabai on every Poosam day to attain divinity.

SIDHIVALAGAM: (1870)

His Graciousness Vallalar went to stay in the Sithi Valagam, in a tiny village called Mettu Kuppam 6 kms away from Vadalore to avoid disturbances by his affectionate followers. In the words of His Graciousness Vallalar, "Sithi Valagam" is a place where you can get crores and crores and of times of "GOOD" than your parents, brothers and sisters, friends, close relatives and wellwishers can give you. It is obsolute fact that I promise you. This is the Order of the Almighty. Sithi Valagam is the most holiest place in the Universe. The Divine Grace is so vibrant here. One can get what he wished to.

SATHIYA GNANA DEEPAM

In the Sidhivalage Thiru Maligai, Vallalar lit the Divine Light of True Wisdom (Sathiya Gnana Deepam) and worshipped it in his sacred room for nearly four years from 1870. He then placed the Sathiya Gnana Deepam outside the room, instructing his disciples to consider it as the Almighty and worship it with true love and compassionate service to all living beings. Today, the same Sathiya Gnana Deepam continues to spread the uninterrupted Divine Light of Grace. Meditating at the feet of the Gnana Deepam allows one to experience the Divine Grace. This Light is unique in its color and size compared to all other lights.

SANMARGA FLAG (22-10-1873)

Vallalar delivered the Holy Address (maha Upadesam) to the world by hoisting the Sanmarga Flag with yellow color at the top and white at the bottom in Sithivalagam, Mattukuppam. Through this act, he declared his triumph in attaining Blissful Eternal Life with a deathless body. No one in history had achieved this before; saints, religious founders, and their gods had all passed away and their bodies perished. Vallalar became the first to attain Eternal life with his physical body preserved. The Sanmarga Flag symbolizes the emergence of Sanmargam, where people will begin living Eternal Life with a Deathless Body. During the Sanmarga Flag Hoisting ceremony, Vallalar explained with supreme compassion that anyone can attain a deathless life through the grace of Arut Perun Jothi. When our souls are filled with extreme compassion and our sense of self disappears, the grace of the Almighty comes to us. Unity and oneness with all living beings are essential, and shedding illusions and differences is crucial for developing this feeling of oneness. Attachment to religion, faith, rituals, caste, language, and territory hinders compassionate service. The cessation of killing lives and consuming flesh is of utmost importance. Ultimately, the feeling of oneness leads to compassionate service, which brings forth the grace of the Almighty and bestows Blissful Eternal Life.

MUTHEGA SIDHI

Vallalar transformed his physical body into SUTHA DEGAM, a body of complete purity in the form of pure gold. This golden body was then transformed into PRANAVA DEGAM, which is in the form of light. Finally, the body of light was transformed into GNANA DEGAM, representing pure wisdom and the great intellectual space of Divine Grace. The Space of Grace (Arul Veli) is invisible and transcends boundaries. It has no color, smell, or limitations. Space permeates everything and cannot be created or destroyed. Vallalar attained the Gnana Degam, the body of the space of Divine Grace, from which he could perform the five great professions of the Almighty: creation, preservation, destruction, veiling, and bliss. He became synonymous with the Almighty, attaining Eternal life with a deathless body. Efforts to photograph Vallalar were unsuccessful, as no image appeared and the film seemed exposed to light. His physical body had undergone transformation into the body of Space of Divine Grace, which cannot be perceived by materialists. Vallalar explained that a body transformed into the Gnana Degam would not produce any bodily effluents or cast a shadow. It would not be affected by fire, water, air, or weapons. The legs would not touch the ground, and the body would be immortal and indestructible. Curious followers observed Vallalar closely and witnessed him passing through walls, the absence of his shadow under the bright sun, his ability to see and communicate with people in distant places, his lack of need for food or drink, and the unique fragrance that surrounded him.

ATTAINMENT OF ARUTPERUNJOTHI

On 30.01.1874 ( Tamil month Thai 19, Srimuga year ) night His Graciousness Vallalar stepped into His room and asked His desciples to lock his room and instructed them that He wanted to stay inside the room for some time. He also added that none should try to open the door. If the Govt. Authorities persist to open it, the room will be found vacant since the Almighty should not let Him down and ultimately He would enter the soul of every living being and lead them to the path of Divine Grace.

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