Tamil Nadu Timeline

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Disappearance of Vallalar

· Vadalur

Disappearance of Vallalar
Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

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

Ramalinga Swamigal went into a room on 30 January 1874, locked the door and instructed his followers to leave it closed, telling them he would not be found within. Rumours multiplied about his seclusion, and in May 1874 the government ordered the doors broken open. Inside, the room was empty, with no sign of him. An account of the disappearance appeared in the South Arcot district gazetteer of 1906. The Sanmarga movement and the Vadalur institutions he established are kept going by his followers.

Related events

  1. 1823

    1. 5 Oct 1823ChidambaramReligion

      Birth of Ramalinga Swamigal (Vallalar)

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

  2. 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.

  3. 1867

    1. 1867VadalurSocial Reform

      Vallalar opens the Sathya Dharma Salai at Vadalur

      At Vadalur, Ramalinga Swamigal opened a free kitchen for the needy of every caste and lit a stove that was never to be put out.

  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. 1876

    1. 1876 to 1905AdichanallurCulture

      Excavations at Adichanallur

      The ancient burial site of Adichanallur near Tirunelveli drew attention in 1876 and was excavated by Alexander Rea between 1899 and 1905.

  6. 1882

    1. 1882AdyarReligion

      Theosophical Society moves headquarters to Adyar

      Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott moved the headquarters of the Theosophical Society to Adyar in Madras.

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