Theosophical Society, Chennai

Theosophical Society of Chennai is one of the major places of attraction of the city. There are plaster figures of H.P. Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott. The society was first established in New York and later shifted to India. It is located at a tranquil spot on the banks of river Adayar. There is a library at the Theosophical Society which is almost 100 years old.

The Theosophical Society in Chennai was established on 17th November, 1875 in New York and later the society headquarters was shifted in India. The Theosophical Society, Chennai, is located on the banks of the Adayar River. The main objective of the Theosophical Society in Chennai is to spread the message of Universal Brotherhood. The objective of the society is based on the belief that life and its various forms is inseparably one. The permanent Headquarters and the Spiritual Center of the society was founded at Adayar in Chennai in 1882.

History of Theosophical Society

The Theosophical Society was established by Colonel H.S. Olcott, the President-Founder and Madame Blavatsky, the co-founder. The Theosophical Society does not impose any belief on the members because they are tied together by a mutual search for desire and truth to know about the aim and meaning of existence.

The founders of the Theosophical Society came to Bombay, India in the year 1878. Mrs. Annie Besant who was a Freethinker and Social Reformer, joined Theosophical Society in 1889 and came to India in 1894. Convention lectures were commenced by her at Adayar. Mrs. Annie Besant gave a great leadership in making Theosophy practical. The society and its objectives developed considerably with Annie Besant and H.S. Scott who traveled to many corners of the globe giving speeches on brotherhood.

After the death of H.S. Olcott in 1907, Mrs. Annie Besant

was made the president of the Theosophical Society. During 1925 December, Jubilee Congress was held at Adayar Theosophical Society to mark its fifty years. Annie Besant became the president of Theosophical Society for the fourth time in 1928.

Theosophical Society Emblem

There are many symbols which constitute the emblem of the Theosophical Society. The emblem of the society has the following symbols:

The Ankh
The Serpent
The Interlaced Triangles
The Aum
The Swastika

Theosophical Society of Chennai

There is a banyan tree covering an area of about 40,000 square feet at the Theosophical Society, which serves as the spot of giving of discourses. There are many temples in the surroundings of the society. The tourists to Chennai can see a Buddhist shrine that is one of the striking landmarks of the campus. The three objectives of Theosophical Society are:

Encouragement of the study of Philosophy, Science and Comparative Religion
Forming of a nucleus of Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, which would exclude differentiation of creed, race, sex, color and caste
Investigation of unexplained laws of Nature and the potential powers of man

Address of the Theosophical Society

The Theosophical Society,
Chennai,
Adayar 600020

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