Vethathiri Maharishi
Indian yoga guru and philosopher
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Through Philosophy, Yoga and Weaving
Early life and family
Vethathiri was born into a Mudaliar Tamil family on August 14, 1911, in Guduvancheri near Madras in the Madras Presidency (now part of Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu). He was the eighth child of his parents Varadappan and Chinnammal, who were weavers. In 1916, he was enrolled for schooling at the age of five but had to drop out of school due to the poor economic situation of the family and extreme poverty.
At the age of 12, he met A. Balakrishna, who introduced him to spirituality, Advaita philosophy and devotion to God. He moved to Madras after accepting a job at a private company. There he met S. Krishna Rao, who trained him in traditional Siddha and Ayurveda medicine. Vethathiri passed the Ayurvedacharya examination conducted by the Government Medical Council to qualify as a physician and served as an aide during the Second World War. He met seer Paranjyothi, who initiated him into Kundalini Yoga and taught him philosophy and meditation techniques.
At the age of 23, he married Logambal. He engaged in multiple businesses till his late 30s and worked as a clerk with the postal department before embarking on a spiritual life.
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Spiritual life and yoga
While studying scriptures and reflecting on the concept of self-realization over the years, Vethathiri was inspired by Ramalinga Swamigal, after which he became more deeply involved in spirituality. He investigated social injustices, which motivated him towards a moral life with charity to share one's possessions equitably with others. He preached attaining a state of knowledge through self-realization and peaceful living.
Vethathri practiced Kundalini Yoga and developed a Simplified Kundalini Yoga (SKY), combining it with kayakalpa and simple exercises to teach it to the general public. In 1958, he founded the World Community Service Centre (WCSC) in Chennai. The WCSC was established as a non-profit, non-religious and philanthropic organization and has an ECOSOC consultative status with the United Nations. The organization operates meditation centers internationally and teaches his practices. S. K. M. Maeilanandhan serves as the President of the WCSC since 1997 and was awarded the civilian honour of the Padma Shri in 2013 for his contributions to social service.
In 1984, he established Arivu Thirukkoil (Temple of Consciousness) at Aliyar in Coimbatore district which became the center of his teaching and practices during the later part of his life.
Teachings
Vethathiri taught that "Individual Peace leads to World Peace" and emphasized that world peace is possible only when individuals live peacefully in co-existence. He believed that peace percolates to one's immediate family and society, and eventually to the whole world. He gave 14 practical points to achieve this goal, collectively termed as Vethathiriam. He integrated scientific practices with spirituality and medicine. He was referred to by followers as pāmara makkaḷil tattuvañāṉi, a Tamil phrase translated as "the Common Man’s Philosopher".
He taught that the fundamental cause of human misery is the lack of self-awareness and awareness about the relationship with others. He emphasized education as a basis for physical and mental maturity. According to Vethathiri, introspection leads to self-awareness, and yoga practices help in develop the necessary strength and character to attain it. He notes that Universe is made up of space which evolves consistently with various objects in it made up of smaller particles. According to Vethathiri, time, matter, and energy are manifestations of space and gravity itself is a manifestation of compression of particles within space.
Death
Vethathri Maharishi died on 28 March 2006 after a brief illness followed by a heart attack.
In popular culture
In 2010, India Post released a commemorative stamp honoring Vethathiri Maharishi on his hundredth birth anniversary.
Former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam appreciated Maharishi's contributions and was quoted as saying that "VETHATHIRI Maharishi enlightened thousands and thousands of people with the light of consciousness."