Theos-Talk Archives (October 1997 Message tt00199)

> This is very interesting, what you say about: Sri Ramalingaswamy
> in S.  India.  Can you tell us more about him.

I am writing this from my memory and the fact in general are
accurate.  When I find time, let me track down more specific
recorded info.

Sri.  Ramalingaswamy's period precedes that of founding of TS in
1875.  As a young boy he was unusal in that he was very
devotional.  Not educated formally and reasonably literate in the
native language of Madras viz.  Tamil.  He composed many verses
in praise of God.

At one point in his life, may be when he was in early 20s, he
started a society - Samarasa Sanmarga Sangam - the prime
objective was to propogate Universal Brotherhood -- everyone
being equal with no distinction of caste, creed, race, sex,
color.  This was very revolutionary when caste distinctions were
very strong and had very negative effect on the society due to
discrimination.  There were very few who supported his efforts.
After a time he gave up and closed the organization.  He stated
that he opened up the business and there being no customers, he
had to close.  At that time, he told his close followers that a
time is going to come soon when people from Russia and America
will be sent by the Mahatmas beyond Himalayas and then everyone
will listen.  While he was still in his 20s one day he told his
followers that he has to retire or some such thing.  He entered
into a small one room building with no windows and asked that the
front door to be sealed and no one should open it until after 6
months.  As it is very common in India for Hata Yogis to perform
all sorts of "miracles" no one thought anything unusual.  Lo and
behold when they opened up the front sealed door after 6 months,
nothing was inside.  Sri Ramalingam just disappeared.

When HPB and Olcott was in Madras, one of the followers of
Ramalingam told the above story to them in view of HPB and Olcott
telling the public that the real founders of TS were the two
Adepts who resided somewhere in the Himalays region.  What
astounded HPB was that Ramalingam was privy to the plans of the
Adepts several years *before* HPB herself got orders to go to US
and find Olcott and start TS.  Some in the TS in India feel that
Ramalingam himself must have been an Initiate due to the fact
that information of this nature -- regarding future plans to
start TS, is not likely to be divulged in such advance.

There are also two very interesting facts about Ramalingam.  In
India, monks do not wear any footwear.  He always wore a tennis
shoe.  Secondly, he always covered his head with a white cloth
and was clean shaven, which again is not normal for a monk.  It
is said that what made him cover his head was that he was very
very handsome young man and once in public a young lady came and
embraced him.  In S.  India, public embracing between men and
women in a no-no, even between husband and wife.  For a monk it
is totally wrong.  After that incident, he always covered his
head with a white cloth.

Today, in the village where Ramalingam started the society, there
is a temple.  What it has is seven white veils surrounding a
light.  It is to symbolize the spirit covered by seven veils.  No
rituals, no formal priests, nothing.

Hope these details interests some.

> Also your references to the book "Is this Theosophy", By Ernest
> Wood, are very informative.  I have tried to save in a file your
> informative references, articles and historic text.  But lost it.

If you need any info, just post a msg.  Myself or others will be
able to gladly provide you with info.

> May I have your permission to copy mail from you, into our
> Majordomo mail-list theos-N@isholf.is - which is about to start
> working.

You are surely welcome to use the material.  Anything I post
anywhere can be used by anyone for any purpose they deem fit.  No
need to ask me.  Just when it is useful to anyone, a note may
make me feel good (a selfish trait!).