Context:
PM addressed on the occasion of 200th birth anniversary of Shri Ramalinga Swamy also known as Vallalar.
Shri Ramalinga Swamy – Details
Facts:
- A prominent Tamil poet in the 19th century.
- A member of the “gnana siddhars” lineage.
- Vision – It unites all people by rejecting caste divisions and celebrating the divine presence in every aspect of the universe.
Social Reforms:
- Initiated the ‘Samarasa Vedha Sanmarga Sangam’ in 1865 (renamed Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Sathya Sangam – Society for pure truth in universal self-hood)
- Established ‘The Sathya Dharma Salai,’ a free food facility in Tamil Nadu in 1867, serving all people without caste distinctions.
- In 1872, Vallalar opened the ‘Sathya Gnana Sabha’ (Hall of True Knowledge).
- A devout practitioner of bhakti, vehemently opposed practices rooted in birth, class, status, or privilege, disregarding the ‘Puranas,’ ‘Vedas,’ and ‘Agamas.’
Philosophical Beliefs and Teachings:
- Primary teachings –
- Service to Living Beings is the path of Liberation/Moksha
- God is ‘Arul Perum Jyothi,’ who is the personification of Grace or mercy and knowledge.
- Mercy is a path to God.
- His Mantra – Arut Perum Jyothi – Arut Perum Jyothi – Thani Perum Karunai – Arut Perum Jyothi
- 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.
Literary Works:
- Thiruvarutpa: A compilation of poems that encapsulate his spiritual insights and experiences.
- Manumurai Kanda Vasagam
- Jeeva Karunya Ozhukkam
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
With reference to culture history of India,consider the following statements:
1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
4. Annamacharya kirtnas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venketshwara.
Which of the statement is given above are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Tyagaraja’s songs and compositions are full of devotion to his god Rama. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
Tyagaraja was born on 14th May 1767 in the village of Thiruvayaru in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu whereas
TaḷḷapākaAnnamācārya (or Annamayya) (22 May 1408 – 4 April 1503) was a 15th-century Hindu saint. Hence statement 3 is not correct.
