Subramanya Ayer Avergal, who was then the President of the High Court of Justice of Madras, chancellor of the University of Madras and vice president of the Theosophical society from 1907 to 1911, was chosen by the Divine Hierarchy to give the first public announcement about this organization, its basic principles and its training system. Sir Subramanya Ayer was initiated as a member of Suddha Dha
rma Mandalam, on the 7th of May, 1915 and was empowered with the title of Suddha Dharma’s first initiatory authority. On the 28th of May, 1915 he received a special initiation from Swami Brahmananda, and on the 30th of April, 1923 he was admitted into the order of Anandas, during the Maha Yagna ceremony which happened at the Vaisakhi Purnima, when he was given his initiatic name of Swami Subramanyananda. In 1915, Swami Subramanyananda published a series of articles in “The Theosophy” magazine, the official publication of the Theosophical Society in India, where he made public the existence of the Divine Hierarchy of the Himalayas, known up to that moment only by the higher initiates of the organization. It is not that the existence of this Hierarchy was unknown before, but it had been forgotten and people were not aware of the existence of these dignitaries who performed different functions in order to help those who aspired to the divine enlightenment. Therefore, the existence of this Great Hierarchy as well as its way of functioning was in a way a new revelation. Suddha Dharma Mandalam or the Great White Hierarchy of the Himalayas or the Cosmic World Governing and Guiding Body had its roots established more than twelve thousands years ago during the initial period of our current era - Kali Yuga - when it has been reorganized by the Divine Chief of this Divine Hierarchy Sri Bhagavan Narayana, who describes himself as a fragment of Parabrahman, radiant with his light, and as a Rishi who came to Badari Vana, from Vishnu, for the protection of the world (Anusthana Chandrika, vol. This Hierarchy was organised by him, for the sole purpose of governing the innumerable worlds and the world process with a view to guide them towards a higher evolutionary advancement. In the Gita, by Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the Avatar of Bhagavan Sri Narayana, mention about the hierarchy is made in the sloka-- " Maharshayah sapta poorve chatwaaro manavastathaa; Madbhaavaa maanasaa jaataa yeshaam loka imaah prajaah etc ". This ceremony of reorganization took place on a full moon day of the month of Vaisakha of the year Nala (Vaisakhi Purnima), which corresponds to our month of May as described in the Anusthana Chandrika (Sanatana Dharma Dipika), vol. 1, S.D.M edition. The only aim of this organization is to facilitate a faster access of mankind to the way of the divine enlightenment. Suddha Dharma is different from other Yoga schools originated in India or other countries. It is exclusively esoteric, non-sectarian and its unique goal is to protect all human beings born on this earth planet, and to provide them with the Divine laws of conduct. These laws are meant to help men to advance on the path towards a progressive spiritualization, a progressive contact with the Divinity, and to a pure material existence. The Organization’s objective is to offer the teaching of Yoga Brahma-Vidya (the Synthetic Science of the Absolute) to all human beings without any distinction of color, s*x or any sectarian differences. The main objectives of Suddha Dharma Mandalam are to:
• Prepare men and women alike to receive the basic yogic training, which will prepare them to receive higher initiations or Deekshas, which will conduct them to the discipleship on the higher levels, in the Supreme Suddha Dharma;
• Study men's nature and that of the Universe;
• Study men's position into the cosmic existence;
• Help men coordinate his internal and external life and thus realize the supreme aim trough the Synthetic Yoga and;
• Give the "Yoga Brahma Vidya" or Synthetic Science of the Absolute, in a way to be useful to all human beings without any social discrimination. Suddha Dharma has Four Basic principles that all disciples should live by:
1 – AHIMSA - Non violence
2 – SATYA-VACHANA – Veracity or Truthfulness
3 – LOKA-KAINKARYA - Impersonal service to humanity
4 - DHYANA - Meditation
In Suddha Dharma, Bhagavan Narayana is the Adhishthata of this Mandalam and has the position of Director. Sri Yoga Devi is the Goddess of Yoga, the consort and Shakti of Bhagavan Narayana; she is the Center of Power from which flows constantly the Divine love that connects in eternal brotherhood, the hosts of Mahatmas, Siddhas, Maharishis, and all other beings in this world. She is the Sutratma, which interpenetrates Suddha Dharma Mandalam like the thread that keeps the beads of a rosary together. Naradeva is the secretary of the Mandalam and the representative of humanity. This Divine Hierarchy has seven Hierarchs who act in conjunction with them, each one being the Lord of one world (the seven planes of the universe; they are: Narada, the Lord of the Satya-loka, the imparter of the highest spiritual wisdom; Vamadeva, the Lord of the Topo-loka, the giver of Yoga Brahma Vidya to humanity according to the necessities of the cyclic time; Kasyapa, Lord of Jano-loka, who directs the Acharyas of Yoga; Chandabhanu, Lord of Mahar-loka who looks for the effectiveness of the work of Yoga Brahma Vidya; Kaladeva, Lord of Svar-loka, whose work is to destroy the obstacles blocking the easy flow of the Yoga Brahma Vidya Science; Subramanya, the Lord of Bhuvar-loka and the giver of Suddha-tatwa in his function of purifier of all; Devapi, the Lord of Bhur-loka being the direct representative of Bhagavan Narayana and the Lord of all who spread and teach Yoga Brahma Vidya. )
Under the direction of these seven Hierarchs there are eighteen secretaries forming a total of 126 beings, which have reached the level of Siddhas and are known as 'Yatas' (according to the Bhagavad Gita), their names are in the Sanatana Dharma Dipika (Anusthana Chandrika vol. 1 S.D.M). Besides them, there is a group of 32 Siddhas known as Siddha Nayakas who are under the direct orders of Bhagavan Narayana, and execute as a group the work to impart the knowledge of Yoga Brahma Vidya through the whole extension of our world. The initials of the name of these Siddhas are in the Suddha Dharma Siddha Mantra:
namaste naradeväya namo näräyanäya ca
badaré-vana-näthäya yoginän pataye namah
Adhyatma Yoga or Suddha Raja Yoga is the method used by the Mandalam to bring the human consciousness to higher level of consciousness, and to conduct the human being to a direct and progressive contact with his spirit (Atman) inside himself and with the Supreme Consciousness which interpenetrates the whole universe. This Yoga is purely mental and meditative. The teachings brought to light by Suddha Dharma is known in its totality as Yoga Brahma Vidya because Brahma Vidya without Yoga (Suddha Raja Yoga) is nothing more than the verbal knowledge of the great teachings of the Upanishads and other Sacred books. Only through Yoga one can know his Real Self. The final objective, which this Adhyatma Yoga advocates, even as starting point of aspiration is the direct contact with the Ishwara in the fourth plane of consciousness, technically known as Turiya or Avyaktam as praised in the scriptures as Paramatman, Vasudeva, Sac-chid-ananda-rupa, the one source of all cosmic emanations and processes. This yoga is the transcendence of Gnana, Bhakti and Karma (knowledge, devotion and action) through the contact with the Parabrahman, and is the process that helps one to contact the ultimate reality that transcends Pravritti and Nivritti dharma (external and internal dharma). Quoting Hamsa Yogi:
"The term RAJA means Paramatman or the Supreme and the Universal I, which is situated in the fourth state of consciousness. The word YOGA or "union" denotes proximity to this Supreme and Universal I (Paramatman)". The correct practice of these yoga principles take the students to the highest levels of spiritual progress, bringing to their hearts the divine happiness and peace that interpenetrate the entire universe. The methodology used to teach this system is given gradually to the disciple and it conducts to the direct realization of the Eternal Truth. OTHER IMPORTANT DATES AND FIGURES WORTH NOTING IN SUDDHA DHARMA HISTORY:
After the externalization of Suddha Dharma by Swami Subramanyananda, it is worth noting the participation of many other important sages and Yogis who have greatly contributed with their tireless work for the growth and spread of Suddha Dharma Mandalam. They are:
Pandit K. Srinivasacharya, Second External Initiatory Authority, a great erudite man, the descendent of a family of great wise men in India; he worked side by side with Swami Subramanyananda in the difficult and important work to structure and divulge Suddha Dharma to the world, translating many Sanskrit texts given by the Masters of Suddha dharma, some unknown to the world. Sri Janardana, the Third initiatory Authority, developed a great work to spread out Suddha Dharma principles and philosophy through the magazine "The Suddha Dharma". He was the president of the Suddha Dharma institution for many years and worked very hard in publishing and also he rendered commentaries on Suddha Dharma literature and principles. He has published some of the most important articles, such as, The Four Essays on Suddha Raja Yoga. Sri Janardana was a great Suddha Soul and has worked tirelessly for Suddha Dharma until the moment of his Maha-samadhi. Sir R. Vasudeva Row - BA., B.L. was a great Suddha Dharma institution after the Maha-samadhi of Pandit Srinivasacharya, in 1929.
