Satyagnana Sabha, Vadalur

Sabai
Sathya Gnana Sabai
Country	India
Founded by	Ramalinga Swamigal (Vallalar)

Sathya gnana sabha in Vadalur, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India.

Sathya Gnana Sabai (Tamil: சத்திய ஞான சபை, romanized: Cattiya ñāṉa capai, lit. 'Hall of True Knowledge resp. Hall of Wisdom') is a temple constructed on 25 January 1872 by the saint Sri Raamalinga Swaamigal also known as Vallalaar in the town of Vadalur in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is an octagonal structure; the sanctum sanctorum of this temple is concealed from the main hall by seven curtains which are parted only on the Thai Poosam day. All the four towers of the Chidambaram Nataraajar temple are visible from the sabha.

The temple is open to people of all castes except those who eat meat, who are only allowed to worship from the outside. Ramalinga himself wrote in detail about the pooja to be performed in Gnana Sabhai — visitors below 12 or above 72 years of age alone were expected to enter Gnana Sabhai and do poojas.

The Sathya gnana sabha consists of three sabhas:

• The Chirchabai (சிற்சபை) which represents moon or left eye of people,
• The Porchabai (பொற்சபை) or golden sabha which represents the sun or right eye of people and
• The third Gnana sabha (ஞான சபை) which represents the third eye or the wisdom of people.

Entrance to the Sathya Gnana Sabha. The sign above it reads, "only those who have renounced meat and murder should enter".

The building was built in an octagonal shape which represents the 8 bones in the human skull. Only two Saints established Sangha (sabha) in Indian and World history. One is Gautama Buddha, another is Saint Vallalar. All Saivite madams are primarily for religious pupils, to which common people only go when a need arises. But a Sabha is a place where common people can go, join, organize and they can interact with spiritual people. Vallalar mentioned in a poetry as given below:

எச்சபை பொதுவென இயம்பினர் அறிஞர்கள் அச்சபை யிடங்கொள்ளும் அருட்பெருஞ் ஜோதி

• Transliteration: Eccapai potuveṉa iyampiṉar aṟiñarkaḷ accapai yiṭaṅkoḷḷum aruṭperuñ jōti

• Translation: This sabha is a common place for every one, who follows San maargam (good way)

Near the Sathya gnana sabha there is the Dharma saalai where free food is offered to thousands of people every day. The Dharma saalai has a stove which was lighted by Sri Raamalinga swaamigal (Vallalar), which is still being used for cooking. Near the Dharma saalai, there is the jeeva samaadhi of Kalpattu ayyaa. He was the second san maargi attaining dheekshai from Vallalar.

References

• Tourist Guide to Tamil Nadu. Sura Books. ISBN 81-7478-177-3, ISBN 978-81-7478-177-2.