Adyar

Theosophical Society

About:

The Theosophical Society was founded by Madame H. P. Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott in New York in 1875. In 1882, the headquarters of the Society were established in Adyar, near Madras (now Chennai) in India.

Theosophy was a philosophy combining mysticism and spiritualism (with heavy influences from Buddhist and Hindu thought) with metaphysics. The Society was fashioned as a 'brotherhood' promoting unity. The Society was also concerned with preparing the world for the coming of the 'World Teacher' when he arrived on Earth.

Published works:

The Theosophical Society produced a number of periodicals, see http://www.austheos.org.au/indices/pindex.htm

They include:

Lucifer (1887-1897), ed. by H. P. Blavatsky and then Annie Besant.

The Theosophical Review (1897-1909), ed. by Annie Besant and G. R. S. Mead.

The Herald of the Star (1912-1927), nominally ed. by Jiddu Krishnamurti.

The Star Review (1928-9), ed. by Emily Lutyens.

Secondary works:

Besant, Annie, Theosophy (London: T. C. & E. C. Jack, 1912)

Ransom, Josephine, A Short History of the Theosophical Society (Adyar: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938)

Sinnett, A. P., The Early Days of Theosophy in Europe (London: Theosophical Publishing House, 1922)

Date began:

01 Jan 1875

Precise date began unknown:

Connections:

George Arundale, Annie Besant, Mohini Chatterjee, C. Jinarajadasa, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Charles W. Leadbeater, Emily Lutyens, Jiddu Nityananda, A. P. Sinnett, William Butler Yeats.

Archive source:

Theosophical Society Achives, Adyar, India

The Theosophical Society in England, London

The College of Psychic Studies, South Kensington

Tags for Making Britain:

Currupumullage Jinarajadasa

About:

C. Jinarajadasa was born of Buddhist parents in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1875. He was 'discovered' by Theosophist C. W. Leadbeater in 1889, who believed that Jinarajadasa was the reincarnation of his recently deceased younger brother, and brought him to England.

Jinarajadasa, known as 'Raja' to friends, graduated in 1900 from St John's College, Cambridge, where he coxed the college eight. He married the English feminist Dorothy Graham in 1916.

Jinarajadasa travelled the world lecturing on behalf of the Theosophical Society. He became President of the Theosophical Society in 1945, resigned in 1952, and died in the USA in 1953.

Published works:

The Meeting of the East and the West (Madras, 1921)

Seven Veils over Consciousness (Adyar, 1952)

Date of birth:

16 Dec 1875

Connections:

George Arundale, Annie Besant, Esther Bright, Dorothy Graham, Jiddu Krishnamurti, C. W. Leadbeater, Emily Lutyens, Jiddu Nityananda.

Secondary works:

Bright, Esther, Old Memories and Letters of Annie Besant (London: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1936)

Lutyens, Emily, Candles in The Sun (London: Rupert Hart-Davis, 1957)

Country of birth:

Ceylon