Quiz on Principals of Sutha Sanmarkam

Quiz Competition 2025
Vallalar Sanmarga Sangam, in collaboration with Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU), is organizing this competition. Students who wish to participate must register online in advance. Registered students can attend the event in person at APU on May 3rd.
Participants are required to watch the video uploaded on the website, absorb the key ideas, and reflect on them. During the competition, they will be expected to recall these concepts and answer quiz questions based on them.
Through this competition, students will enhance their listening and retention skills. Additionally, they will gain a deeper understanding of pure Sanmarga principles, history, and the life of Ramalinga Adigalar.
Life History of Ramalinga Adigal: Part 1 (22:30 Minutes)
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB-cwi9f1B4
MP3 Recording:
Vallalar Peruman: The Siddhar transformed his body as Light
Among the great Siddhars, the one we must remember today is the revered Ramalinga Vallalar Peruman. He is widely celebrated as Vallalar and is known for his deep connection with Arutperunjothi (the Supreme Divine Light) and boundless compassion.
Life History
Vallalar Peruman was born on October 5, 1823 (Purattasi 21, Sunday). His parents were Chinnammaiyar and Ramayya Pillai.
Since South India is considered the land of Shiva, the newborn was named Ramalingam. Around the same time, in North India, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was born in 1836. Many believe that both were divine light forms descended to earth.
Siddhars’ Practices
Siddhars are known for performing three significant mystical feats:
- Transforming iron into gold.
- Separating and reassembling their body parts (Navakandam).
- Dissolving their physical body into the five elements.
Vallalar Peruman achieved all these mystical transformations. He was not only a spiritual master but also a healer, using herbal medicine to cure diseases and help humanity.
Miraculous Events
Vallalar Peruman was believed to have the power to create gold. People were astonished when they saw bricks, clay, and iron turning into gold upon his touch.
One of his disciples once saw his body split into separate parts inside his meditation room. However, within moments, Vallalar reassembled himself. This mystical ability is known as Navakandam.
During his final moments, Vallalar locked himself inside his room and disappeared into divine light. When the room was later opened, a fragrance of camphor filled the air, and his body had dissolved into the five elements.
The Secret of Chidambaram
As a child, Vallalar visited the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple and smiled during the Deepa Aradhana (lamp offering).
The Chidambara Rahasyam (Secret of Chidambaram) reveals that Lord Shiva’s true form is the infinite sky (Aakasha Tattva), a truth known only to enlightened Siddhars.
The Five Elemental Forms of Lord Shiva
Vallalar understood the divine connection between Lord Shiva and the five elements:
- Earth (Mann) – Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram
- Water (Neer) – Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval
- Fire (Agni) – Agni Lingam, Thiruvannamalai
- Air (Kaatru) – The ever-burning lamp in front of the Shiva Lingam
- Space (Aakasha) – The Divine Light at Chidambaram
Siddhars realized this secret, and Vallalar Peruman spread this knowledge to guide humanity on the spiritual path.
A Great Spiritual Leader
Vallalar Peruman was a master of devotion and wisdom. His teachings of love and compassion continue to inspire people. Even today, he remains an eternal light guiding the world toward spiritual enlightenment.
Life History of Ramalinga Adigal: Part 2 (22:30 Minutes)
Youtuib Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2v92Za0090
MP3 Recording:
Reflections on the Life of Ramalinga Vallalar Peruman
As we reflect on the life of Ramalinga Vallalar Peruman, we remember that this great Siddhar lived for 51 years. At the young age of nine, he stood in Kandhakottam and sang devotional hymns.
His songs were deeply rooted in universal justice and moral values. He emphasized:
- "Never spend a day without reading and learning."
- "Never speak ill of others."
- "Never forget your mother, even for a day."
- "Never associate with deceitful people."
Through his hymns, he guided children towards righteousness and instilled moral values in them. His famous verses, such as "Mother and father are the first known gods; worshipping temples is highly beneficial," reflect his noble thoughts and spiritual wisdom.
Vallalar also sang about true friendship, saying:
- "One must seek the company of virtuous people and be surrounded by those who think of the divine."
- "Never befriend those who speak one thing in their hearts and another in public."
- "Your greatness should be spoken of by others, and you should never resort to falsehood."
At a young age, Vallalar did not wish to pursue formal education. He dismissed it as "worldly education meant for trade, not true self-learning." Instead, he dedicated himself to spiritual exploration. This led his elder brother, Sabapathy Pillai, to deny him food and expel him from the house.
Ramalingam then went to the Thiruvottriyur Temple, where he worshipped Lord Shiva. It is said that when he composed and sang "Vadivudai Maniikkam Malai", Goddess Ambal herself provided him with food, signifying the depth of his devotion.
Vallalar faced many turning points in his life. He endured hardships in his childhood and remained dedicated to selfless service. His sister-in-law, Parvathi, deeply moved by his suffering, once tearfully asked, "Where does this poor child eat?" This touched his elder brother’s heart, who later welcomed Vallalar back home.
Even today, the wisdom and teachings of Vallalar continue to illuminate the lives of many. His path of divine light serves as a guiding force, leading people toward a life of righteousness and purpose.
This competition will be conducted individually, and the participants will be divided into four age groups:
Category 2: Ages 7 to 9
Category 3: Ages 10 to 12
Category 4: Ages 13 to 15
Category 5: Ages 16 and above
The competition is scheduled for Saturday, 3rd March 2024 at Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU). Each participant must attend the event at the specified location according to their assigned schedule for that day.
Each participant will remain in their assigned classroom for the specified duration. They will receive multiple-choice question sheets along with one or two subjective questions based on their category. All questions must be answered within the given time limit.
The judges will determine the students' scores. The judges' decision is final.
Students who wish to participate, please click the button on the homepage of the website to register. Students who do not register before 28th March 2025 will not be accepted on the day of the competition.