Bhārata Samāj

Bhārata Samāj, or "The League of the Children of India," is an organization that was created in the 1920s by Theosophists in South India. Their idea was to simplify some rituals of Hinduism that had become needlessly complicated over time. Charles W. Leadbeater wrote a book outlining the revised ritual, Bhārata Samāj Pūja, which involved congregational worship. C. Jinarajadasa contributed this Foreword describing its history:

In 1920 some Theosophists living in South India created the Bhārata Samāj, "The League of the Children of India". Their purpose was to see if it was possible to simplify certain rituals of Hinduism, particularly that of the Upanayana, or "thread ceremony" (which consists of placing the triple thread on boys of the three castes, Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya), and especially too the ceremony of marriage. Little by little from ancient days the marriage ceremony became subdivided into three or four parts, to be done on separate days. As the relations of the bride have to be invited and given hospitality during these days there is an enormous amount of expense involved. The Bhārata Samāj considered that in both these cases of ceremonies it was possible to extract the really important Vedic verses of consecration, and condense the ceremony within two hours at the most. This work of re-shaping Hindu rituals can only be done by Brahmins, who are the immemorial custodians of the Hindu sacraments. At the time the Director of the Adyar Library was Pandit A. Mahādeva Sāstri, a very distinguished Sanskrit scholar, a Brahmin, and well versed in all the ancient traditions. Under his leadership shortened rituals were created, and the Bhārata Samāj used them, and many have been glad of the shorter forms. These forms were integrally the same as those in the ordinary form, that is to say, nothing whatever was added that was not in the ancient Sanskirt version, but unessentials were omitted.

The Bhārata Samāj considered that their work could be strengthened if they had a special Bhārata Samāj Temple in the Headquarters Estate at Adyar. The Executive Council of the Society leased them a small plot of ground, and Hindu Theosophists began collecting funds for the Temple. The novel idea in this Temple is that there is no image whatsoever of any aspect of Diety, but only a Light burning, for Light is recognized by all Hindus of all the various divisions of Hinduism as a symbol of God. The Temple was to be ready for the Jubilee Convention in December 1925.

Bhārata Samāj Pūja