It is not just about serving food. “Jeeva Karunya” also means looking upon your own soul-atma with compassion!
Food is the only thing for which a human will ever say, “Enough, I am satisfied.” It is the only thing capable of truly contenting every human being. When hunger strikes, nothing else matters; the mind ceases to focus on anything else.
One needs nourishment. In that moment, one needs only nourishment—nothing else will suffice. As the enlightened poetess Avvaiyar wisely said, “When hunger comes, all ten [virtues] will fly away.” When we are hungry, the body grows weary, and the spirit falters. To sustain our life, food is an absolute necessity. Just as we require mother’s milk the moment we are born, we require the “Nectar of the Divine” (Amudham) for the birth of true wisdom.
Jeeva Karunya: The Path of Compassion
From the tiny mosquito to the mighty elephant, and from plants to human beings—without food, there is no life. To sustain the soul, the Divine Mother’s Milk (the Nectar of Grace) is an absolute necessity.
Only if the body is kept healthy; only if we live a life rooted in pure moral discipline; only if we thrive on a Sathvic (Vegetarian) diet consisting of vegetables, fruits, greens, and grains; and only if we live with character and humility—can we reach the ultimate goal.
By honoring the parents who gave us birth, seeking a Gnana Sarguru (True Spiritual Master) to receive sacred Initiation (Deeksha) and Teachings, and by performing the Penance of Wisdom (Gnana Thavam) and the Charity of Wisdom (Gnana Dhanam), we can achieve the state of “Deathless Life.” We shall live as life is truly meant to be lived!
The Wisdom of Eating
We must live in such a way that no one mocks us, saying, “He lived only to eat.” Is there any benefit to mindlessly consuming food until the body becomes bloated? The only result is disease. We need good nourishment, but eating beyond our needs leads only to illness.
As the wise elders proclaimed: “Eat only after ensuring what you previously consumed has been fully digested.” This is the golden rule of health. Our ancestors—the great Seers (Gnanis)—have explicitly listed for us when to eat and what to eat. Yet, it seems we do not even know how to eat properly or correctly! We have simply become “Sapattu Ramans” (gluttons), living only for the next meal.
The Path of Pure Nourishment
For a newborn child, no food is required other than mother’s milk. To grow into a healthy and virtuous child, vegetables, fruits, rice, wheat, and the nine sacred grains (Navadhanyam) are more than sufficient.
We must strictly avoid non-vegetarian foods—such as fish, eggs, goat, beef, and poultry—which damage the body and cloud the intellect. Similarly, tobacco products must never be used. As human beings, we possess the unique capacity for conscious thought. Our contemplation must grow, and our wisdom must reach its full radiance.
The primary enemies of this intellectual clarity are bad habits, meat-eating, and alcohol. Out of ignorance, some consume these thinking they provide “good nutrition”—this is a mistake! To awaken the intellect, a Sathvic (Vegetarian) diet is the best. Indeed, Vegetarianism is the diet of the True Path (Sanmargam)!
The Sacredness of All Life
Every living creature is a creation of the Divine. How, then, can one soul kill another? Is it not a sin? The Sages have always taught: “Love every soul as you love your own.” Who gave you the authority to kill or torture another living being?
Regarding meat-eating, remember the proverb: “The deeds of the morning will bear fruit in the afternoon.” If you consume another life today, it is a truth that one day you, too, shall be killed. It is certain that you will undergo the same agony that the soul you harmed suffered. Therefore, abstain from sin!
The Law of Consequences
There is a story of a Great Soul who, in his childhood, kept a parrot trapped in a cage for his own pleasure. Later in life, despite being innocent of any crime, a King imprisoned him for 14 years. The sin he committed unknowingly as a child returned to haunt him as an adult. No matter who you are, the punishment is inevitable! When Thiru Arutprakasa Vallalar (Ramalinga Swamigal) asks in his Manu Murai Kanda Vasagam, “Did I ever cage a bird and leave it to flutter in agony?”—perhaps he was referring to the profound lesson of this saint’s life.
The Inner and Outer Circles
Vallalar clearly categorized humanity: those who kill and those who consume flesh are deemed “Outsiders” (Puravinatthar) to the path of Grace. He declares that only those who live on a pure vegetarian diet and practice the disciplined path of Samarasa Sanmargam—respecting all faiths as equal—are the “Insiders” (Agavinatthar).
If you seek the Grace of the Divine, live as a person of Truth, governed by pure character and moral conduct. Realize that every life is as precious as your own! If all the world’s creatures are God’s creation, then the same Creator who made you surely commands you to love all beings with compassion. Every Sage has taught but one thing: Love.
“It is certain that those who commit the five great sins—lying, murder, lust, theft, and intoxication—will reach the desolate realms of hell. Even on this earth, they will suffer from diseases and great losses, writhing in unspeakable agony.
Jivakarunyam (compassion for life) is not just about providing food to others! Supporting the elderly, helping orphans with affection, assisting poor children with their education, donating clothes, and providing food supplies—there are so many ways to help! All of these are acts of Jivakarunyam.
Furthermore, providing the specific help and service a person needs at the exact moment they need it is also the discipline of Jivakarunyam. Extending a helping hand to save someone during a critical crisis is the highest form of compassion. Any help rendered in any way to suffering beings constitutes Jivakarunyam.
In Chennai, a kind soul has made it his mission to properly receive and cremate unclaimed bodies from government hospitals. This, too, is Jivakarunyam! Is it not compassion to show mercy even to a corpse and provide a dignified burial, honoring the body that once housed a soul? I have learned that kind people in Coimbatore are also performing this service. I am deeply moved! O Lord! Shower Your grace! Protect us!”
“In Madurai and many other towns, many kind-hearted people pack food parcels and wander the streets to find those who have lost their sanity or are mentally disturbed, just to feed them. It is said that some enlightened sages (Siddhars) wander looking like madmen! Those who seek out the physically challenged roaming the streets—those who have been forced into begging because they have no one to support them—and give them food are the truly virtuous ones. This—giving food to the hungry—is the only true Annadanam (gift of food). This is Jivakarunyam!
Those who invite only the wealthy for a meal or host lavish feasts for the sake of vanity are merely small-minded people seeking fake prestige! ‘Eat only after you are hungry.’ Hunger is the same for a billionaire and a beggar alike. You may give food to anyone; there is nothing wrong with that. But quenching the hunger of the famished is the true essence of Jivakarunyam!
Does hunger affect only humans? God provides for all living beings—birds, animals, and plants alike. Do not think, ‘Why should I provide food?’ Do what you can! Can you feed every living creature in the world? No. But give food to those you see, those near you, or any other life form or plant as much as you can! If you are able, do it!
When the poet Bharathiyar was suffering in extreme poverty, he reportedly took the little rice kept for cooking and threw it to the sparrows, watching them eat with pure joy. Is this not Jivakarunyam? King Shibi carved the flesh from his own thigh to feed a hawk just to save a dove—is this not the very pinnacle of Jivakarunyam? Having known these stories and realizing the preciousness and greatness of life, should we not live according to the moral code of Jivakarunyam? Providing food is not the only way; any help you render to other living beings with a spirit of service, expecting nothing in return, is Jivakarunyam!”
“Help! Let your hands be those that serve other living beings! Let your voice speak of the Divine to help others gain wisdom! Let your mind contemplate how to serve the needy and put those thoughts into action! Serve with the realization that service to humanity is service to God.
To emphasize how vital the discipline of compassion is for a human being, Vallalar authored a specific treatise titled ‘Jeeva Karunya Olukkam’ (The Discipline of Compassion for Life). Read it! Read it in its entirety! Read it deeply! There, Vallalar explains clearly and extensively the kind of love you must show toward every living soul.
But is it enough to show love and mercy only toward other beings? ‘Look upon your own life (soul) with compassion too!’ says Thiruvarutprakasa Vallalar. Look with mercy! Why? Because your soul is trapped in an endless cycle of birth, death, and suffering. Your soul is eternal—should you not know why you suffer? Why there is birth and death? For many, life is nothing but misery. Why? Should you not find a way for your own soul to live in bliss?
Treat your own soul with the same mercy you show others! This is Jivakarunyam. Showing mercy to other beings is Parobakaram (altruism), and it is a path to save your soul. But look at your soul with compassion—what is the way for it to be redeemed? To attain Mukti (liberation), perform Sathvicharam (Self-enquiry). Who are you? Where did you come from? Why are you here? Why this suffering? What is the way to end it? From whom can you learn this? Humble yourself before a Gnana Satguru (Enlightened Master) and seek initiation and teachings! Seek the path to save your soul.
This is the Jivakarunyam that all Sages have proclaimed. Every Sage first loved their own soul and received Divine Grace. Through penance (Gnana Thavam), they empowered their souls, and only then did they serve others. ‘Only if there is something in the pot will it come into the ladle!’ (A Tamil proverb meaning you can only give what you have).
First, see to your own spiritual progress. Only if you have wealth can you help others financially. Similarly, only if your soul has received Divine Grace can you look upon other lives with true compassion and help them. Because Vallalar performed intense penance and received the grace of the Arutperunjothi (The Great Effulgent Grace), and became one with the Divine, he ‘withered whenever he saw a withering plant.’ Love and mercy must manifest from within you! For your soul to become the very embodiment of love and mercy, perform Gnana Thavam! Look upon your own life with compassion!
Vallalar looked at his own soul; he practiced spiritual discipline from the age of nine. He did it continuously until his penance bore fruit. God, with more tenderness than a mother who feeds her child, took him into His fold. He received Grace and his physical body was transformed into a Body of Light.
Jesus too performed intense penance for many years before becoming the Son of God. He raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, and performed many miracles only because he first surrendered his soul to God and received salvation. Prophet Muhammad gained the divine quality of showing mercy even to enemies by meditating upon Allah. It was he who sowed the seeds of love among the fierce Arab tribes and led them to worship Allah. It was his soul-power! Even when people pelted him with stones and chased him away, he showed them mercy, cleared their ignorance, and made them realize Allah. He looked at his own soul with compassion and performed penance—that is why he stood as an embodiment of love. On the cross, Jesus prayed to forgive those who crucified him. This is Jivakarunyam! This is the manifestation of Love!
Emperor Ashoka, who had conquered Kalinga, was defeated by the weapon of Love. He realized the power of Love and felt remorse for his warmongering. He vowed never to kill another living being and embraced Buddhism. Was it not compassion for living beings that made Ashoka a true human? Buddha was the one who renounced everything upon seeing the suffering of living beings. Is this not Jivakarunyam? Buddha is the very definition of renunciation!
Because Jivakarunyam is the only way to receive God’s Grace, Vallalar firmly states that the path of Wisdom (Gnana Margam) and the Righteous Path (Sanmargam) are nothing but the discipline of Jivakarunyam. In his book, he clearly defines it: ‘Jivakarunyam is to live a life of Divine Worship, driven by the soul-melting melting empathy (Atma Urukkam) that arises within a soul regarding the welfare of other souls.’“
“The ‘Eye of Soul-Wisdom,’ which recognizes a person in pain as our own brother or as a fellow sufferer, has been dimmed by the cataract of ignorance (Agnana Kasam). Furthermore, the ‘spectacles’ of the mind and senses, meant to aid our vision, have become thick and opaque, reflecting no light. Because of this, we have become blind to the suffering of others.”
Vallalar clearly states that Jivakarunyam has vanished because humans exist in this state. Conversely, if one possesses Jivakarunyam, it is proof that their “Soul-Vision” is clear. Those who look upon their own soul with compassion and perform penance (Thavam) to remove the thick veil covering their mind and senses are the true practitioners of Jivakarunyam.
By receiving initiation (Deeksha) and teachings from an Enlightened Master (Gnana Sarguru), we realize that our eyes are the “Divine Feet of God.” By performing Gnana Thavam—meditating upon, feeling, and melting into the light within the pupils—the seven veils obscuring the eye are removed, allowing us to behold the Soul-Light (Atma Jyoti). Only those who look upon their own soul with compassion will see this light!
Jivakarunyam is the primary tool to attain God’s Grace. In fact, that is its very nature. To reach God, first love the soul that shines within your own eyes. This is Gnana Thavam. Through this penance, you will know yourself. You will realize that the soul (Jiva) is indeed the Divine (Siva). At that stage, your nature becomes pure Love. You will wither upon seeing even a withering plant. This is the state of Wisdom—the state of a Sage.
“Rare, rare is it to be born as a human!” Because the human body is uniquely capable of reflecting Soul-Wisdom and Divine Grace, and because we do not know when such a birth will occur again, we must realize this body was taken solely to attain the bliss of liberation (Mukti). We must seek the path, and that path is our Vision (the Eyes). To reach our soul, our eyes are the gateway. Loving the eyes, increasing the inner light, and removing the seven veils to reach the Soul-Light is the Bliss of Mukti. This practice is Gnana Thavam. To gain wisdom, wake up! Stay awake! Stay conscious! Be present within your vision! This is Jivakarunyam!
First, look to the Path (the Eye) to save your own soul. Then, look at other beings. This is not selfishness; it is the ultimate public service. If one soul is saved, the whole world benefits! Without getting entangled in trivial matters, redeem your soul and help the world through that redemption. This is true Jivakarunyam. Only because Vallalar attained wisdom could he teach the world the “Great Life Without Death.” Have the benefits Buddha, Jesus, and Prophet Muhammad gave to the world been small? Only one who is empowered can help or guide others.
Do not just offer empty words; perform Gnana Thavam to show it in action! Providing food is not enough; food is not the entirety of life. Everything is needed, but human life is not meant to be lived just between the kitchen and the toilet! Do you know there is such a thing as a Puja (prayer) room? In many homes, a prayer room doesn’t even exist. Even if it does, it is kept locked, used only on Tuesdays, Fridays, or special occasions!
“Be Hungry! Be Alone! Be Awake!” he said.
Vallalar, who built the Dharma-shala (the Free Alms House) and fed the masses, said, “Be Hungry.” What does this mean? He did not mean for us to starve or stay hungry without food! Do not go without eating; he said that is to torture the soul (Jivan). He advised us to consume pure, Satvic, vegetarian food as per our needs. If so, then his “Be Hungry” was not about the stomach’s hunger. Then what was it about?
It was about the Hunger of the Soul! The soul, which has suffered through countless births, yearns for the day it will be liberated from this cycle of birth and death. Its true need is the Bliss of Liberation. This is the Soul’s Hunger. Feed that! O human, what you truly need is this spiritual hunger! Realize your soul! Look for the way to attain Great Bliss! He built the Dharma-shala so that for one who is possessed by spiritual hunger, the hunger of the stomach should not be an obstacle. Thus, the Dharma-shala was built to remove the hunger of the soul, just like the Sathya Gnana Sabai (Hall of True Wisdom).
Did he tell us to eat well and then “Be Alone”? Even the greatest devotee feels lethargic after a heavy meal! If you starve, you faint; if you eat too much, you fall into a stupor and sleep. Whether you have food or not, there is confusion/illusion (Maya). To remove this delusion, perform Sathvicharam (Self-Enquiry). Gathering with others is Satsang; being alone to reflect is Sathvicharam. Think: “Who am I?” To contemplate this, you must be alone. A crowd will not do, sir! Be hungry with spiritual longing! Be alone with a thirst for knowledge!
Will you get Wisdom? You need Jivakarunyam! Look upon your own soul with compassion. For your struggling soul to find rest, you must “Sleep without sleeping.” Be Still. Look at the light in your two eyes where the soul shines! To gain wisdom, stay “Awake,” stay conscious, and perform penance (Thavam). You must perform Gnana Thavam with your eyes open and alert. To gain wisdom, “Be Awake!”
If you are hungry, alone, and awake in this spiritual sense, you will reach the state of Moksha (Salvation). For that, Jivakarunyam is necessary! Looking at your own soul with compassion and performing Gnana Thavam—that is the true Jivakarunyam! That is the achievement of the Soul!
We can help others in so many ways. Food is just one of them. Giving food alone will not bring wisdom! It may bring a degree of love by quenching the hunger of those without means. But is “a degree” enough? Love must overflow and become mercy. Mercy is what manifests as compassion. It was because he had this mercy that he “withered upon seeing the withering plant.” He built the Dharma-shala! Because he was the embodiment of compassion, Thiruvarutprakasa Vallalar Ramalinga Swamigal stands as the Gnana Satguru, creating the Sathya Gnana Sabai, gifting us the Thiruvarutpa, and showing us the “Eye” that guides us toward the Great Deathless Life. It is only because of the merit (Punyam) we have earned that we are even able to know this today!
“O members of the Sanmarga Sangam! I bow at your thiruvadi-feet and make this humble request: Jivakarunyam (compassion for life) does not end with providing food! It is after that act that the real ‘Jivakarunya Olukkam’ (The Discipline of Compassion) begins. Help whoever you can, in whatever way you can—that is altruism (Parobakaram). But is that enough? No, it is not!
If your soul is to merge with the Lord of the Great Effulgent Grace (Arutperunjothi), your body must transform into a Body of Light, just like Vallalar’s. To achieve this, providing food and having a compassion heart are not enough! You must perform Gnana Thavam (spiritual penance) so that your own life-force (Jiva) shines as the Great Effulgent Grace. That is the true Discipline of Compassion. While Jivakarunyam is altruism toward others, the Discipline of Compassion is the path that guides you to reach your own Soul. This is Sathvicharam (Self-Enquiry).
Look upon your own life with compassion! To do that—just as our Divine Master, Thiruvarutprakasa Vallalar Ramalinga Swamigal, instructed—it is best to have your ‘Middle Eye’ (the Third Eye/Inner Vision) opened by a qualified Preceptor (Acharya). Only he who has found a Guru becomes a person of true character! The Guru is truly the Supreme Brahman. Bow to the Guru! Offer your soul to the Guru! Receive Deeksha (spiritual initiation)!”
“‘He who conquers death is a true Sanmargi!’ Vallalar has stated this clearly. All those who merely provided food eventually died! In that case, they were not true Sanmargis. One must remain deathless! To attain this deathless state, look at what the Siddhars (Sages) have said—’Milk the cow! Milk the nectar from the crown! Consume it!’ Through Gnana Thavam, we must catch the divine light shining in our two pupils to reach the seat of the soul located at the center of our head. If we travel that path, we reach the place where the three lights (Sun, Moon, Fire) merge into one. There, making the Chitsabha and Porsabha (the inner halls of wisdom) our own, we can behold the Soul-Light—the Arutperunjothi—once the seven veils are removed!
At that moment, by the grace of Mother Vaalai (the primordial energy), nectar will drop from our crown into our throat. He who consumes that nectar will never die! Gray hair, skin wrinkles, and old age will vanish! Hunger and thirst will cease! He is the true Sanmargi! He is the Siddhar! He is the Sage! Vaalai is the Mother who grants this nectar. All Sages attained wisdom only by her grace. One day, Goddess Vadivudaiyamman—in the form of Vaalai—fed Vallalar this nectar and blessed him. We too must receive the grace of Vaalai!
We must witness the Jyoti Darshan (Vision of Light) within ourselves! Vallalar established the Sathya Gnana Sabai (Hall of True Wisdom) and asked us to behold the Jyoti Darshan there, only to explain how it looks and manifests within us. If you witness the Jyoti Darshan at Vadalur, it will become clear! Wake up and look within! This is a rare feat that no one in the world has done before. Until now, the temple built by Saint Manickavasagar at Avudayar Koil was considered a marvel—there is only a pedestal in the sanctum, explaining that the Lord is formless. Vallalar, who always held Manickavasagar in high regard, went a step further and showed the Jyoti Darshan at Sathya Gnana Sabai as the ultimate conclusion of Wisdom! The Sathya Gnana Sabai is the result of Vallalar’s love, mercy, and compassion for the world. It is the ‘Gift of Wisdom’ given to humanity as a fruit of his Jivakarunya Olukkam. He who understands this shall attain wisdom!
What can be said of the ignorant ones who spend their time merely providing food without understanding this peerless wisdom? Everyone who utters the name of the peerless Sage Thiruvarutprakasa Vallalar must attain wisdom! They must become a ‘Body of Light’ (Oli Udal)! At the very least, they must be in the spiritual pursuit of becoming one! This is my desire. Do not waste time! See everyone in the world as your brothers and sisters, transcending the barriers of caste, religion, race, and language. This is the path of Samarasa Sanmargam. Worship the Light with devotion! Do not engage in dry arguments about ‘Pure Sanmargam’ and ‘Impure Sanmargam.’ Do not wander around in disguises wearing veils like Vallalar; instead, perform Gnana Thavam to attain the Body of Light like him! Follow the Discipline of Compassion. ‘Is my path not the one that destroys death?’—Was it not Vallalar who said this? Understand this!
Honor all religions and Sages! Vallalar is not the only one who came to reform this world. Our sacred land, Bharat (India), is a virtuous land where many Sages, including Agastya and other Siddhars, have appeared through the ages. Our Vallalar belongs to the lineage of this holy assembly that has come age after age. Devotion to Vallalar is necessary, but do not slander others for it! The Vedas, Puranas, Epics, Bible, Quran, and all the sacred texts that have appeared so far speak of the same Almighty God. Whether in Sanskrit, Tamil, Arabic, or Hebrew, they all speak of God! Just as ‘Thanneer’, ‘Vellam’, ‘Neeru’, ‘Paani’, and ‘Water’ all refer to the same thing, the enlightened ones in various languages spoke only of the One God. He who does not understand this is a fool! How can the One God be spoken of as different? Love is God! Does love have a religion, a caste, or a language? ‘Can any bolt bar the gates of Love?'”
“Swami Vivekananda participated in the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, USA. He began his speech with ‘Sisters and Brothers!’ With that very opening, he proclaimed the essence of India’s Sanatana Dharma! If all the people of the world are sisters and brothers, then the one God who created the universe is the Mother and Father to us all. This is true Wisdom. It is to make the world realize this and flourish in prosperity that every Sage has labored so hard.
If you ask whether people have understood this even now, the answer must be ‘No.’ If the world understood this wisdom, would there still be fights over caste, religion, language, race, and nations? First, let people of all faiths stop claiming, ‘Only my religion is superior!’ How can there be a difference between those who spoke of the same one God? Did they not all preach Love? Did they not all speak of Gnana Thavam (spiritual penance) to clarify the intellect? Then how can they differ?
The world is one! The Lord of the world is one! ‘Every city is my hometown, and every person is my kin.’ ‘One humanity and one God.’ ‘May all beings live in bliss!’ Are these not the finest teachings? These are the holy words that must reside in the hearts of the world’s people—phrases that should be etched in letters of gold! Read them! Realize them! Refine yourselves! Act! Live and let live! Perform Gnana Thavam! Share the gift of Wisdom!
‘May the vow of non-killing flourish throughout the world!’
The Sathya Dharmashala (True Alms House) was established by Vallalar on May 23, 1867. From that day to this, for over 150 years, it has continuously provided food to all who come. The hearth lit by the Great Saint’s own hands is still burning today! Every day, devotees who come to Vadalur partake of the meal. The lamp lit by Vallalar also continues to shine brightly. Come! Partake of the Prasadam!
The Sathya Gnana Sabai (Hall of True Wisdom) was opened by Vallalar on January 25, 1872, on the day of Thai Poosam. For the first time, the Jyoti Darshan (Vision of Light) was shown to everyone. The virtuous witnessed it! The Great Saint called the Sathya Gnana Sabai a ‘Natural Explanation.’ The Sabai is an external symbolic representation of the experience one must attain internally! If the seven veils of ignorance within us are removed, we can behold the Arutperunjothi—the Great Effulgent Grace—which is our Soul-Light. Then, True Wisdom will shine! Vallalar said, ‘I beheld the Sathya Gnana Sabai within me; I attained the perfection of Sanmargam.’
The ultimate goal of Sanmargam is to remain deathless! He who conquers death is a Sanmargi. Our Vallalar is the supreme Sage who attained the ‘Siddhi of the Three Bodies.’ He gained the Oli Udal (Body of Light) and the Eternal Body. On Friday night, January 30, 1874, at Mettukuppam, in the ‘Siddhi Valagam’ room, he locked himself in and merged inseparably with the Lord of the Great Effulgent Grace. He attained the Great Deathless Life and became a peerless Sage.
Vallalar is our Guru! The True Enlightened Master! The world’s only true spiritual website: www.vallalyaar.com“
“The love you show toward all living beings! The altruism you show toward the needy! As the Great Saint (Vallalar) said, one must bow before an Enlightened Master and perform Gnana Thavam in this manner: ‘Thinking and thinking, feeling and feeling, melting and melting, until the heart is filled with love and an outburst of tears drench the body.’
Only if you increase the light shining in your eyes to reach your soul—only if you perform this spiritual practice and show mercy toward your own life (Jivan)—will your soul be saved and liberation (Moksha) be attained! Mother Vaalai will then grant the nectar and bestow perfect wisdom and grace. Look upon your own life with compassion! The doors to the House of Liberation will open! You can become the Great Effulgent Grace (Arutperunjothi)! Vallalar will remain by your side and protect you!
God is One! All the people of the world are His children. To reach the soul that shines within the center of our head, our eyes are the internal gateways. The world must realize this! We have explained these secrets and metaphors clearly. There is no caste, religion, race, language, or nation! We are all humans. If you look (within), you shall attain wisdom!
‘Jivakarunyam is the Key to the House of Liberation’ To gain wisdom, stay awake! Our eyes are the Divine Feet of the Lord. One Humanity! One God!”
- Original Name: Ramalingam
- Title of Honor: Thiruvarutprakasa Vallalar (The Philanthropist of Divine Grace-Light)
- Birth Date: October 5, 1823 (Tamil Year: Subhanu, 21st of Purattasi, Sunday, Chithirai Star)
- Place of Birth: Marudhur (7 miles from Vadalur)
- Father: Ramaiya
- Mother: Chinnammai
- Siblings: Sabhapati, Parasuraman, Sundarammai, Unnamulai Ammai
- Marriage & Wife: Married Dhanammal (The daughter of his sister, Unnamulai)
- Life Span: 1823–1874 (51 Years)
- Attainment of Siddhi (Merging with the Light): January 30, 1874 (Tamil Year: Srimuga, 19th of Thai, Friday)
- Institutions Established:
- Sanmarga Sangam (1865): The Society for Universal Righteousness.
- Sathya Dharmashala (1867): The True Alms House for feeding the hungry.
- Siddhi Valagam (1870): The Hamlet of Spiritual Attainment.
- Sathya Gnana Sabai (1872): The Hall of True Wisdom.
- Literary Work: Thiruvarutpa (Holy Songs of Divine Grace) – Compiled into 6 Volumes (Thirumurais).
- Ultimate Achievement: Maranamailla Peruvazhvu (The Great Deathless Life) – He transformed into Light.
- Deities Worshiped: Lord Murugan, Lord Shiva.
- Revered Guru: Thiru-Gnana Sambandar (One of the four great Saivite saints).
- Revered Text: Thiruvasagam.
- Final Enlightenment: He became a Sage who attained Bhakti (Devotion), Mukti (Liberation), and Gnana Siddhi (Perfection of Wisdom) as a devotee of the Arutperunjothi (The Great Effulgent Grace).
Authored by Spiritual Leader Gnana Satguru Sivaselvaraj
The secrets of divine wisdom and metaphorical explanations that have remained hidden from the world until now are presented in these books in an easily understandable way.
- Kanmani Maalai 1 & 2 (Garland of the Pupil of the Eye)
- Arulmani Maalai (Garland of Grace Beads)
- Sri Bhagavathi Anthathi (Hymns to the Divine Mother)
- Ashtamani Maalai (A collection of 8 spiritual works)
- Jyoti Haiku Anthathi (Verses on the Divine Light in Haiku style)
- Sanatana Dharmam (The Eternal Way of Life)
- Vallal Yaar? (Who is the Philanthropist?)
- Yesu Ezhupathu (Seventy Verses on Jesus)
- Gnana Kadal Peer Mohammed (The Ocean of Wisdom: Sufi Saint Peer Mohammed)
- Thiruvarutpa (4 Volumes) (Commentaries/Explanations on Vallalar’s works)
- Saagaakkalvi (Education for Immortality)
- Manthiramani Maalai (Garland of Sacred Mantras)
- Thiruvarutpa Thaen (The Honey of Divine Grace Songs)
- Agara Ugara Maalai (6 Books) (The Garland of Alpha and Omega/Beginnings and Endings)
- Gnanamani Maalai (4 Books) (Garland of Wisdom Beads)
- Thiruvasaga Manimaalai (The Garland of Sacred Thiruvasagam Verses)
- Parama Patham (The Supreme Abode/State)
- Anmaneya Orumaipaadu (Soul-Love Unity/Universal Brotherhood)
- Who is Philanthropist Vallalar? (English Edition)
- Spiritual Education for Deathlessness (English Edition)
- Gnanam Pera Vizhi (Awaken/Watch the Eye to Gain Wisdom)
- Jivakarunyam (Compassion for Life)
- Moovar Unarntha Mukkan (The Three-Eyes Realized by the Trinity)
- Ulagaguru Vallalar (Vallalar: The Global Teacher)
- WORLD GURU VALLALAR (English Edition)