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== Association with Theosophical Society ==
== Association with Theosophical Society ==


In 1879 he met [[H. S. Olcott]] and [[H. P. Blavatsky]] in Bombay, after they had just established the [[Theosophical Society]]'s temporary Indian headquarters there. Damodar joined the Society on August 3, 1879, giving up his [[caste]]. In 1880, he officially became a [[Buddhist]] while in [[Sri Lanka]], taking [[Pancha Sila]] along with [[H. S. Olcott|Col. Olcott]] and [[H. P. Blavatsky|Madame Blavatsky]].<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref name="ReferenceC">Henry Steel Olcott, 'Old Diary Leaves', Vol. 2 , 1900</ref> His actions displeased his family and led to conflict, due to them desiring him to return home and live with his wife who was betrothen to him in his childhood, or face the consequences of being cut out of his will. In response to this, Damodar gave up an income of 50,000 Indian rupees to provide for the future of his would-be wife, and continued to live and work with the Theosophical founders.<ref name="ReferenceC"/> "After meeting H. P. B. his interior vision gradually opened and again he knew the Guru of his childhood vision, his Master K. H., which sealed his devotion to heosophy; his remarkable psychic powersmade him the centre of many phenomena; between 25-27 Nov. '83 visited the ashram of his master to undergo certian training; from frail, timid,deferential, he returned bronzed, robust, bold, energetic."<ref>The International Theosophical Year Book 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938): 200.</ref>  
In 1879 he met [[H. S. Olcott]] and [[H. P. Blavatsky]] in Bombay, after they had just established the [[Theosophical Society]]'s temporary Indian headquarters there. Damodar joined the Society on August 3, 1879, giving up his [[caste]]. In 1880, he officially became a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] while in [[Sri Lanka]], taking [[Pancha Sila]] along with [[H. S. Olcott|Col. Olcott]] and [[H. P. Blavatsky|Madame Blavatsky]].<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref name="ReferenceC">Henry Steel Olcott, 'Old Diary Leaves', Vol. 2 , 1900</ref> His actions displeased his family and led to conflict, due to them desiring him to return home and live with his wife who was betrothen to him in his childhood, or face the consequences of being cut out of his will. In response to this, Damodar gave up an income of 50,000 Indian rupees to provide for the future of his would-be wife, and continued to live and work with the Theosophical founders.<ref name="ReferenceC"/> "After meeting H. P. B. his interior vision gradually opened and again he knew the Guru of his childhood vision, his Master K. H., which sealed his devotion to heosophy; his remarkable psychic powersmade him the centre of many phenomena; between 25-27 Nov. '83 visited the ashram of his master to undergo certian training; from frail, timid,deferential, he returned bronzed, robust, bold, energetic."<ref>The International Theosophical Year Book 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938): 200.</ref>  


Damodar wrote a number of excellent articles for [[The Theosophist (periodical)|''The Theosophist'']], which were compiled by [[Sven Eek]] in   
Damodar wrote a number of excellent articles for [[The Theosophist (periodical)|''The Theosophist'']], which were compiled by [[Sven Eek]] in   

Revision as of 19:55, 24 April 2012

Damodar K. Mavalankar (born September 1857 in Ahmedabad) was an Indian Theosophist and a chela of Mahatma Koot Hoomi.[1][2][3]

Early life

He was born in the family of the Karhâda Mahârashtra caste of Brâhmanas,[4] a wealthy Indian family. Apart from learning the tenets of his religion by his father from an early age, he also received a very good English education.[4] When he was ill as a child, he met his guru Koot Hoomi who promised to take him under his protection.[5]

Association with Theosophical Society

In 1879 he met H. S. Olcott and H. P. Blavatsky in Bombay, after they had just established the Theosophical Society's temporary Indian headquarters there. Damodar joined the Society on August 3, 1879, giving up his caste. In 1880, he officially became a Buddhist while in Sri Lanka, taking Pancha Sila along with Col. Olcott and Madame Blavatsky.[2][6] His actions displeased his family and led to conflict, due to them desiring him to return home and live with his wife who was betrothen to him in his childhood, or face the consequences of being cut out of his will. In response to this, Damodar gave up an income of 50,000 Indian rupees to provide for the future of his would-be wife, and continued to live and work with the Theosophical founders.[6] "After meeting H. P. B. his interior vision gradually opened and again he knew the Guru of his childhood vision, his Master K. H., which sealed his devotion to heosophy; his remarkable psychic powersmade him the centre of many phenomena; between 25-27 Nov. '83 visited the ashram of his master to undergo certian training; from frail, timid,deferential, he returned bronzed, robust, bold, energetic."[7]

Damodar wrote a number of excellent articles for The Theosophist, which were compiled by Sven Eek in Damodar: The Writings of a Hindu Chela. The compilation also includes some very interesting correspondence with William Quan Judge, A. P. Sinnett, and Mrs. Josephine W. Cables, of Rochester, New York, and various reports and other documents. All are dated in the range 1879-1886.

He continued his work in this way until February 23, 1885, when he went to Tibet to join his Master, wearing Tibetan disguise that was brough the the frontier by his escort. Confirmation was sent by the ashram in June 1886 stating that Damodar was alive and safe.[8][9]

Mahatma Letters

Damodar's signature on Mahatma Letter No. 142b (Barker no. 14b)

Under the direction of his master Koot Hoomi, Damodar wrote to A. P. Sinnett. His letters appear in The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett as number 142a (Barker no. 14a) and number 142b (Barker no. 14b). He provided information to Mr. Sinnett about the existence of the Mahatmas, and about initiation fees for members of the Theosophical Society.

Writings

These are some of the articles written for The Theosophist. They are available online at the Theosophical University Press online:[1]

  • "The Swami of Akalkot" January, 1880.
  • "Castes in India" May, 1880.
  • "The Vedantasara" September, 1883.
  • "Vedantism and Buddhism" August, 1884. Comment by "An Enquirer" on "The Vedantasara" with Damodar's Note appended.
  • "Kavya Dosha Vivechana" October, 1883.
  • "The Work of the Branches" Supplement to The Theosophist, January, 1884.
  • "The Work of the Branches" Supplement to The Theosophist, March, 1884.
  • "Oxford Mission Shots at Occultism" Supplement to The Theosophist, January, 1884.
  • "White and Black Magic" Supplement to The Theosophist, February, 1884.
  • "Contemplation" February, 1884.
  • "Contemplation" April, 1884. Comments on previous article by "F. T. S." with Damodar's Note appended.
  • "Contemplation - II" August, 1884.
  • "The Philosophy and Science of Vedantic Raja Yoga" March, 1884. Edited by Babu Siris Chandra Vasu, B. A., F. T. S.
  • "The Metaphysical Basis of 'Esoteric Buddhism' May, 1884.
  • "The 'Occult World' and the 'Spiritualist' August, 1881.
  • "Pert Questions and Plain Answers" May, 1882.
  • "Answer to * * * 's Misconceptions" May, 1882.
  • "Seeing Bright Light with Closed Eyes" Supplement to The Theosophist, September, 1883.
  • "Can Females Become Adepts?" October, 1883.
  • "'Phenomena'" Supplement to The Theosophist, April, 1884.
  • "The Best Food for Man" April, 1884.
  • "Esoteric Buddhism and Hinduism" June, 1884.
  • "The Astral Body" January, 1885.
  • "Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott" Supplement to The Theosophist, December, 1881.
  • "The Work of the Theosophical Society" Supplement to The Theosophist, March, 1882.

Notes

  1. ↑ Sri Raghavan Iyer, 'Damodar K. Mavalankar'
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sven Eek (comp.), Dâmodar and the Pioneers of the Theosophical Movement, Theosophical Publishing House (TPH), 1965
  3. ↑ The International Theosophical Year Book 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938): 200.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Damodar K. Mavalankar, 'Castes in India', The Theosophist , May 1880
  5. ↑ The International Theosophical Year Book 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938): 200.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Henry Steel Olcott, 'Old Diary Leaves', Vol. 2 , 1900
  7. ↑ The International Theosophical Year Book 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938): 200.
  8. ↑ Henry Steel Olcott, 'Old Diary Leaves', Vol. 3, 1904, pp. 265-6
  9. ↑ The International Theosophical Year Book 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938): 200.


Additional resources

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