The oven lighted by Vallalar about 142 years ago, on May 23, 1867 in the Sathya Dharma Sala never extinguishes and continue to burn till today. Vallalar started the Annadhana – feeding the poor. The oven is 21 feet long and 2.5 feet deep. As the oven should not extinguish, the temple does not buy match box at all. Though no cooking is done during the nights, a staff of the temple would be putting firewood to keep the oven alive. The feeding is being continued for the past 142 years since it was started. All provisions and other materials such as rice, sugar, salt etc. are supplied by devotees. The feeding is done five times a day – 6.00 a.m., 8.00 a.m., 12.00 a.m., 5.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m.
Locked Room: This is known as Tirukappitta Arai (room). Vallalar hoisted the Sanmarga flag (flag of righteousness) in the year 1873 at Siddhi Valaga, at Mettukuppam near Vadalur and preached his principles to his disciples. Later, he lighted a lamp in Siddhi Valagam and advised all to worship it as God. Vallalar entered this room on 19th of Thai month (January-February) in the year 1874 and got united with the Jyothi. The room is called Tirukappitta Arai – locked room. No photo of his accurate appearance is available. What is presently formed is on the white clothes he wore and on his glittering fair complexion.
The room is opened on the second day of Thai poosam. The hymn sung by him named Tiru Arutpa is brought to the room in a palanquin. The room will be opened at 12.00 a.m. The devotees can have darshan through the window of the room till 6.00 p.m. This is the room where Vallalar attained Samadhi.
His manuscript of Arutperunjothi Agaval (Agaval is one of the literary form in Tamil). Devotees can have the darshan of his idol, the Jyoti lighted by Him, the Wisdom Throne, (Gnana Simmasanam)
Vallalar was staying in the house of one Tiruvengadam from where he published the first four Thirumurai of his Arutpa. He would be writing during nights. Once, Tiruvengadam’s wife left a water bowl near him by oversight which Vallalar used as oil for the lamp and the lamp also performed well. During his Karunguzhi days in Thiruvengadam’s house Vallalar had Mustache also and a picture of this could be seen in the temple.
The Annadhanam is a daily ritual here. The Theenchuvai canal is on the Karunguzhi-Mettukuppam way. This was created by Vallalar to manage water scarcity. Those suffering from any disease spill the Theechuvai water on head for a cure. The Charity place is also near where feeding is done to all irrespective of the numbers coming in.
There are many paintings pertaining to the life of Vallalar in his Marudur house where he was born. Even birds are fed. The first feeding will be for the crows. There is also a home for the aged near the Satya Darma Shala. Vallalar’s disciple Kalpattu Iya Samadhi is here. All the aged people waiting their ends are taken care of here.
The worship slogan is "Arutperunjothi, Arrutperunjothi, Thaniperungarunai, Arutperunjothi – Blissful spark of the lamp, blissful spark of the lamp, all merciful, blissful spark of the lamp."
Vallalar’s disciple, Thozhuvur Velayutha Mudaliar called him Tiru Arut Prakasa Vallalar, meaning that his Guru was all charitable and bright.
Based on the fact that man breaths 21 thousand 600 times a day, a chain having a similar number of joints (kannis) is tied around the Sathya Gnana Sabha. Only coconut oil is used for lighting the lamps.
Courtesy: Dinamalar
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