AN EXTRACT OF SWAMI RAMALINGAM LIFE (வடலூர் இராமலிங்க சுவாமிகளின் வரலாற்றுச் சுருக்கம்)

 AN EXTRACT OF SWAMI RAMALINGAM LIFE(PUBLISHED IN SOUTH ARCOT DISTRICT GAZETTE-1878 SOUTH ARCOT MANUAL By J.H.GARSTIN, I.C.S.COLLECTOR OF S.A.DISTRICT, FIRST EDITION. 1678 SECOND EDITION, 1906 AS SOUTH ARCOT GAZETTEER By W.FRANCIS, I.C.S.COLLECTOR OF SOUTH ARCOT DISTRICT PAGES 316 &317 PARVATIPURAM
        A VILLAGE OF 1,189 INHABITANTS LYING 23 MILES SOUTH WEST OF CUDDALORE ON THE VRIDHACHALAM ROAD. THE PLACE IS CONNECTED WITH ONE RAMALINGA PARDESI, A SOMEWHAT CURIOUS EXAMPLE OF A LATER DAY SAINT WHO HAS BEEN ALMOST DEIFIED By HIS FOLLOWERS

       BORN IN 1823 IN THE CHIDAMBARAM TALUK OF VELLALA PARENTS IN HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES, HE DEVELOPED. WHILE STILL LITTLE MORE THAN A Boy,AN UNDENIABLE TALENT FOR VERSIFICATION AND HIS POEMS BROUGHT HIM INTO NOTIE. THEY DEALT WITH RELIGIOUS
MATTERS;SOME OF THEM,LIKE THOSE OF THE FAMOUS SAIVITE SAINTS OF OLD WERE COMPOSED IN EULOGY OF THE MERITS OF THE DEITIES OF CERTAIN SHRINES SUCH As THE TEMPLES IN TIRUTTANI IN NORTH ARCOT AND TIRUVOTTIYUR NEAR MADRAS:OTHERS TOOK FOR THEIR SUBJECT THE BEAUTIES OF THE HIGHER LIFE.IT WAS THESE THAT LED To HIS BECOMING GRADUALLY REGARDED AS A SPIRITUAL GUIDE AND TEACHER. AFTER VISITING MANY OF THE WELL-KNOWN SACRED PLACES OF THE SOUTH. HE FINALLY SETTLED AT KARUNGULI. THE NEXT VILLAGE TO PARVATHIPURAM. AT ITS HEIGHT HIS INFLUENCE MUST HAVE BEEN VERY REAL, HIS ADMIRERS AND DISCIPLES, WHO INCLUDED EVEN
LEVEL-HEADED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, ARE SAID TO HAVE CHANGED THEIR RESIDENCES AND GONE TO LIVE WHERE THEY COULD BE CONSTANTLY NEAR HIM. ABOUT 1872,THE CURIOUS OCTAGON-SHAPED SABHA WITH THE DOMED ROOF WHICH IS To BE SEEN AT VADALUR, A HAMLET OF PARVATHIPURAM. WAS ERECTED BY HIM FROM SUBSCRIPTIONS. IT IS SAID THAT THE SPOT WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE FROM IT ARE VISIBLE THE FOUR GREAT TOWERS OF NATARAJA’S SHRINE AT CHIDAMBARAM. IT IS NOT AN ORDINARY TEMPLE, THE DETAIL OF THE WORSHIP IN IT BEING UNUSUAL RAMALINGA PARADES SEEMS TO HAVE PERSUADED His DISCIPLES THAT THEY WOULD RISE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD AND HE CONSEQUENTLY URGED THAT BURIAL WAS PREFERABLE To CREMATION.EVEN BRAHMINS ARE SAID To HAVE BEEN BURIED IN THIS BELIEF AND PEOPLE WHO DIED IN OTHER VILLAGES WERE IN SEVERAL CASES BROUGHT TO VADALUR AND INTERRED THERE. IN 1874 HE LOCKED HIMSELF IN A ROOM STILL IN EXISTENCE IN METTUKUPPAM(HAMLET OF KARUNGULI)WHICH HE USED FOR SAMADHI OR MYSTIC MEDITATION INSTRUCTED HIS DISCIPLES NOT TO OPEN IT FOR SOMETIME. HE HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN SINCE AND THE ROOM IS STILL LOCKED. IT IS HELD BY THOSE WHO STILL BELIEVE IN HIM THAT HE WAS MIRACULOUSLY MADE ONE WITH HIS GOD AND THAT IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME HE WILL REAPPEAR To THE FAITHFUL WHATEVER MAY BE THOUGHT OF HIS CLAIMS TO BE A RELIGIOUS LEADER, IT IS GENERALLY ADMITTED BY THOSE WHO ARE JUDGES OF SUCH MATTERS THAT HIS POEMS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED,STAND ON A HIGH PLANE, AND HIS STORY IS WORTH NOTING AS AN INDICATION OF THE DIRECTIONS WHICH RELIGIOUS FERVOUR MAY STILL TAKE

I ATTAINED EVER INDESTRUCTIBLE DEATHLESS BODY, AS GRANTED BY
THE APPEAL TO ARUTPERUN JOTHI.

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