Art Temple is a rare book which acts as an inspiration to us all. It tells the story of Tamilmani (Ramanathan) and his struggles to establish an Art Temple dedicated to the Tamil language and to Lord Shiva. Ramanathan’s mother, the pious and chaste Visalakshi was inspired by the teachings of Swami Vivekanada. She and her husband, Sivanesam, educated their son so that he developed his talents fully. Art Temple describes the struggles of Tamilmani as he sought funds and recruited supporters to fulfil Visalakski’s dying ambition to establish an Art Temple. Vivekanada’s vision was of a community of like-minded people working together to support themselves while focusing on a temple which celebrated Tamil art and culture.
The road for Tamilmani was not easy and he had to overcome many setbacks. He was set upon by thieves and tricksters who stole his money and perverted his ideas. However Tamilmani never lost sight of his goal, even though at times it seemed everything was against him. With the aid of generous supporters in Japan, America and other countries, he was eventually able to realise his dream. He established an Art Temple where talented performers presented the beauties of his Tamil art and culture to the world. The people around the temple lived and worked to create a self-supporting community which was an example of peace and harmony. Learning, industry and spirituality were all combined.
Tamilmani helped restore the ancient Tamil language from its position as a worthless tongue, suitable only for lowly labourers, to a venerated language recognised for its beauty and flexibility. Language and culture are intertwined; by restoring respect for the Tamil language, Tamilmani helped preserve his ancient culture. By bringing Tamil arts to a wider audience, the dwellers at the Art Temple introduced the world to the amazing riches inherent in this ancient culture.
Tamilmani proved that, by keeping our goals always in mind, we can achieve our dreams despite what may seem like overwhelming obstacles and setbacks. His life is an inspiration to us all.
A warm thank you to Daye Craddock for her help in careful editing of this book and for writing the introduction.
It is a real pleasure for me to present Art Temple to you. Thank you, Dr. Shuddhananda Bharati for having transmitted Art Temple to us. With the blessing of Aum Shuddha Shakti Aum.
