Sathya Gnana Sabai (, ), is a temple constructed in 1872 by saint Sri Raamalinga Swaamigal, also known as Vallalaar, in the town of

Vadalur Vadalur is a town and 2nd-grade municipality in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. It is from Chennai, the state capital of Tamil Nadu. History Ramalinga Swamigal, often called Vallalar, established the Satyagnana Sabha, Vadalur, Sathyagnana S ...

Cuddalore district Cuddalore District is one of the 38 List of districts of Tamil Nadu, districts in the States and union territories of India, state of Tamil Nadu in India. History Since ancient times, the old town has been a seaport. Through the centuries, Cu ...

, In the Indian state of

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...

. The temple is open to people of all

castes A caste is a fixed social group into which an individual is born within a particular system of social stratification: a caste system. Within such a system, individuals are expected to marry exclusively within the same caste (endogamy), foll ...

except those who eat meat, who are allowed to worship only outside. Ramalinga wrote in detail about the '' pooja'' to be performed in Gnana Sabhai — visitors below 12 or above 72 years of age were expected to enter Gnana Sabhai and do ''poojas.''

Design

It is an octagonal structure; its ''sanctum sanctorum'' is concealed from the main hall by seven curtains that are parted only on Thai Poosam day. The four towers of the Chidambaram Nataraajar temple are visible from the ''sabha''. Sathya Gnana Sabha consists of three sabhas: * The Chirchabai (சிற்சபை) which represents the moon or the left eye of people, * The Porchabai (பொற்சபை) or golden sabha which represents the sun or the right eye * The third Gnana sabha (ஞான சபை) which represents the third eye or the wisdom of people. The octagonal shape represents the 8 bones in the human skull. Only two Saints established Sangha (''sabha'') in Indian and World history. One is

Gautama Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist lege ...

, another is Saint Vallalar. All Saivite madams are primarily for religious pupils, to which common people go only when a need arises. In contrast, a Sabha is a place where common people can go, join, organize and interact with spiritual people. Vallalar stated in a poem: The Dharma saalai is nearby; free food is offered to thousands of people there. The Dharma saalai has a stove that was lighted by Vallalar, which is still used for cooking. The ''jeeva samaadhi'' of Kalpattu Ayyaa is also near. He was the second ''san maargi'' attaining ''dheekshai'' from Vallalar.

Notes

References

Hindu temples in Cuddalore district Octagonal buildings in India {{TamilNadu-hindu-temple-stub