Discourse by Vallalar at Somu chettiar House,Chennai

With the eloquence he had in Tamil literature, Ramalingam’s elder brother Sabapathy used to give lectures in the houses of some rich people on their request. For this he used to receive some remuneration from them and this added solace for his family.



Thus Sabapathy entered into a contract with a rich man named Thiru Somu Chettiar at Chennai to give a series of lectures on Periapuranam.   This went on smoothly for some days. Due to his ill luck, one day he was laid down with high fever and thus he could not keep up his programme.  He was rather puzzled not knowing what to do. At the same time, he did not want to disappoint the organizer and the audience.  As his wife knew the talents of the young boy Ramalingam, as the same was not revealed to others so far, she pleaded her husband to send his brother to the place and fulfil the engagement.   The brother was totally ignorant of his younger brother’s capacity, he refused to accept her request in the first instance. But as there was no other alternative, as last he agreed to send him on his behalf.   He called on the boy and asked him to read out one or two stanzas before the audience and apologize before the organizer for his elder brother’s inability to keep up the engagement.  Even at the place of sermon, where Ramalingam ventured to inform the news of his brother’s inability, the organizer was much disappointed.



By the time, the hall was fully packed. To avoid any flutter from the audience, and as there was none to continue the lecture, with much reluctance the organized asked the boy to say something. As usual when the boy sat before the audience and began his discourse, everybody looked upon the boy as to what he would do at this young age since the subject matter was of a high nature to be handled only by elite persons.  The first word ‘Ulagelam’ beginning in ‘Periapuranam” was taken up for annotation, words gushed through his mouth as that of water flowing in a river after torrential rain.  Pin drop silence prevailed in the assembly and everybody was surprised to see the extraordinary eloquence the boy had even at this young age. There was a consensus among all that he is a God sent.  It was midnight, yet he had hardly finished explaining just two lines from the very first stanza itself.  The explanation for each word came in torrent and thus the time constraint was not at all felt by any of them. There was a considered opinion among all that the discourse should be continued by the boy himself and it was agreed by the organizer,Thiru Somu Chettiar also and the information was conveyed to his brother Sabapathy at once.  Sabapathy was very much perturbed to hear the news that there was a mass appeal for continuing the lectures by Ramalingam himself.

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His conscience pricked him and questioned himself as to how a boy who has not stepped into a school could give such astounding lectures. However he allowed Ramalingam to continue the lectures.  To verify the truth, Sabapathy himself went to the scene stood in a corner of the hall without the knowledge of others as well as his brother and heard the lectures.  He first thought that it was a dream. But his second thought brought him to conclude that it was a fact and not a dream. The lecturer was none else than his younger brother Ramalingam.   After returning home, he narrated the incident to his beloved wife, as she used to plead more about the young boy.   Both averred that Ramalingam was not a mere boy but a representative of God fully vested with His Divine Grace.  Ramalingam returned home after finishing his discourse then.



Having much regret and feeling sorry for all his discourteous behavior shown towards Ramalingam, Sabapathy embraced him with dutiful affection and requested him to pardon for all the trouble he had given in the past days.  Ramalingam stood easy as if he was not aware of difficulties as posed by his brother, but kept quiet and was praising the Almighty inwardly as he was sailing along with the current with His Grace.  These news spread like a wild fire to all places in the vicinity and people began to surround him to have a glimpse of the young boy and hear the divine voice emanating from his lips.

It was like those bees, attracted by the sweet fragrance of the lovely flowers, encircling the latter.

The building in which Thiru Arutprakasa Vallalar gave Periapuranam discourse is located at Dr. No.261, Lingi Chetty Street, Chennai. The name of the building is so called as :VALLALAR THIRUVARUL MANDAPAM’. It was owned by Thiru Somu Chettiar. 

Nearer to this building the famous “MALLIGESWARAR THIRUKOIL’ is located.

Some time back, Maraimalai Adigal Library was functioning in this building. Now it has been shifted to Kannimara Library (3rd floor).

At present, Thennindhiya Thirunelveli Saiva Siddhandha Noorpathippu kazhagam is functioning in this building. 

Lingi Chetty Street is located very nearer to Beach Station, Chennai.     Those who want to visit this building may visit.

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