Tamil Nadu Timeline

ReligionEast India Company rule

Birth of Ramalinga Swamigal (Vallalar)

· Chidambaram

Birth of Ramalinga Swamigal (Vallalar)
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Ramalinga Swamigal, the Tamil saint-poet known as Vallalar, was born at Marudur near Chidambaram.

Ramalinga Swamigal, known as Vallalar, was born on 5 October 1823 at Marudur near Chidambaram. After his father's death his family moved to Chennai in 1826, where he grew up. He later preached Jeevakarunyam, compassion for all living beings, and opposed caste distinctions. In the 1860s he founded the Samarasa Vedha Sanmarga Sangam and a free feeding house at Vadalur that still functions.

Related events

  1. 1833

    1. 1833 to 1851SwamithoppeReligion

      Ayya Vaikundar begins his mission

      Ayya Vaikundar began the teachings that gave rise to Ayyavazhi, a movement that challenged caste rules in southern Travancore.

  2. 1851

    1. 2 Jun 1851SwamithopeReligion

      Ayya Vaikundar's mission ends

      Ayyavazhi tradition records that Ayya Vaikundar's earthly mission ended on 2 June 1851.

  3. 1865

    1. 1865VadalurReligion

      Vallalar starts the Samarasa Vedha Sanmarga Sangam

      Vallalar, or Ramalinga Swamigal, formed a fellowship of devotees against caste distinctions, which was later renamed the Samarasa Suddha Sanmarga Sathya Sangam.

  4. 1872

    1. 25 Jan 1872 to 30 Jan 1874VadalurReligion

      Vallalar opens the Sathya Gnana Sabhai at Vadalur

      At Vadalur, Ramalinga Swamigal (Vallalar) opened the Sathya Gnana Sabhai, which taught compassion for every living being regardless of caste.

  5. 1874

    1. 30 Jan 1874VadalurReligion

      Disappearance of Vallalar

      Ramalinga Swamigal shut himself in a room and told followers not to open it; when officials broke in that May, nobody was inside.

  6. 1929

    1. 1929ChidambaramEducation

      Annamalai University founded

      Annamalai University was established at Chidambaram through the endowment of Annamalai Chettiar as a residential university.

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