Theosophical Society History - General Knowledge (GK) of Modern India
'Theosophy' is the basic knowledge inherent in all religions, but it appears only when those religions are free from their respective superstitions. In fact it is a philosophy which presents life intelligently and tells us that 'justice' and 'love' are the values which give direction to the whole world. Its teachings, without dependence on any external phenomenon, reveal the hidden spiritual nature in man.
Also Read this History GK: Annie Besant and the Theosophical Society - General Knowledge of Modern India
What is 'Theosophy'?
Theosophy is a Greek word which literally means "God's knowledge". It refers to those esoteric philosophies and seeks to gain direct knowledge about them, which are related to the presupposed mysteries of existence and nature, especially of the divine/divine nature. In essence, it refers to the hidden knowledge that leads one to enlightenment and salvation. Therefore, the purpose of 'Theosophy' is to investigate the origin of the universe, humanity and the universe.
The Theosophical Society was founded by Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Alcott in New York in 1875, but the roots of this philosophy in Indian society and culture began to flourish only in 1879. Its branch in India was established in the Madras Presidency, headquartered at Adyar. was in This movement was promoted in India by Annie Besant. Theosophy was based on the following three principles:
- Spirit of Universalism
- Comparative Study of Religion and Philosophy
- Research of Natural Laws to Understand Unexplained Mysterious Laws
The 'Theosophists' respected all religions equally. They were against conversions and believed in purity of conscience and cult mysticism. The Theosophical Society was an integral part of the revival of Hinduism in India, which brought social harmony to some extent. According to Annie Besant, “India has no future without Hinduism. Hinduism is the land on which the roots of India are rooted, and India will be like a tree if it is separated from it. be uprooted."
The 'Theosophists' also tried to abolish the caste and untouchable system and expressed faith in the philosophy of assimilation. He worked sincerely to bring social acceptance to the marginalized society. He wanted to improve their conditions by educating the socially unacceptable sections. That is why Annie Besant established many education committees and strongly advocated modern education. Education, philosophy and politics were some of the subjects on which the Theosophical Society worked.
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Modern India