Vallalar - The Eternal Light of Compassion is an in-depth, scholarly yet accessible exploration of one of Tamil Nadu’s most revered saints—Ramalinga Swamigal, popularly known as Vallalar. This book offers a comprehensive biography, detailed analysis of his teachings, and an insider’s guide to the unique spiritual traditions at Vadalur.
Tracing Vallalar’s formative years, his extraordinary spiritual awakening, and his remarkable establishment of the Sathya Gnana Sabhai—a temple devoted solely to the worship of the eternal flame or ArutperumJyothi—the book reveals how Vallalar’s vision combined mysticism and social reform like few before him.
Through richly expanded chapters, readers will discover:
• The spiritual and philosophical depth of Vallalar’s hymns, ThiruArutpa
• The revolutionary practice of Annadhanam, feeding the hungry as sacred worship
• The rituals, festivals, and pilgrimages that continue to draw thousands to Vadalur
• Vallalar’s radical message of compassion, equality, and universal religion beyond caste and creed
• Testimonies from devotees affirming the continued living presence of Vallalar’s grace
This book serves as both a practical guide for pilgrims and a profundity-filled resource for spiritual seekers, scholars, and anyone interested in compassion-focused traditions. It invites readers into the luminous world of Vallalar’s eternal light, inspiring a life lived in mercy and unity.
Whether approached as devotional literature, cultural heritage, or a universal call to kindness, The Eternal Light of Compassion stands as a timeless beacon, lighting pathways of hope and harmony in turbulent times.