Adyar: Home of the Theosophical Society

Adyar, Home of the Theosophical Society

by Rodolfo Don

It has been called the flaming center of the Theosophical Society. However, we should try to make a distinction between the inner Adyar, and its external, or physical counterpart. They are different. We need to make sure that we do not get the two realities confused. Just as we make a distinction between our physical personalities and our True Self, we also need to differentiate the physical Adyar from the inner one. The external Adyar is a place of striking natural beauty. The campus borders the Adyar river to the Bay of Bengal. Just before the river joins the ocean it forms an estuary, very rich in wild life, truly a naturalist's paradise. The estate is full of magnificent trees, many of them in full bloom all year round. It is a place where Peace and Beauty reign all the time. That is the physical beauty of Adyar. Adyar is also the hierarchical structure that governs the estate, which can become rigid and obstruct the free flow of ideas and self expression. The situation can become so extreme that it even contradicts the fundamental principles of Theosophy.

The inner Adyar, very rightly called the flaming center of the Theosophical Society, is totally different. It is a link between mankind and the Spiritual Forces that try to help humanity. The external Adyar always tries to emulate the inner Adyar. It is pointless to try to define the inner Adyar since, just like Theosophy, or our True Self, it can only be realized.

You are invited to see the following pictures from Adyar, in their full size, by clicking on their icons.

1
The Adyar
banyan tree
2
The Blavatsky
bungalow
3
Young Theosophists
Building
4
One of the residences
in the compound
5
The coconut
grove
6
An Adyar
Resident

7
The coconut Grove
Other view
8
A lotus in
the pond
9
The Buddhist
Shrine
10
The Buddhist
Shrine
11
Krishnamurti's
Appartment
12
C.W.L.'s
Appartment

13
One of the
"trilithons"
14
Headquarters'
Main Building
15
The unknown
Theosophist
16
The Hindu
Temple
17
Adyar
River
18
Leadbeater
Chambers

19
Walking on
the Beach
20
The Adyar
Library
21
T.P.H.

22
International
Convention
23
Adyar River
Estuary
24
Garden of
Remembrance

25
H.P.B.
Plaque
26
Lotus
Flowers
27
Indian
Ocean
28
Olcott
Memorial
29
Statue of
the Founders
30
Listing of
all Sections

31
Main
Hall
32
Main Hall
Other view

This is a description of all the pictures:

1.- The famous Adyar banyan tree, second largest in India.
2.- Blavatsky bungalow, where the "School of the Wisdom" sessions.
3.- The building where the young theosophists meet.
4.- Izar, in front of one of the residences in the compound.
5.- A view of the coconut grove, not far from the Buddhist shrine.
6.- One of the residents of Adyar.
7.- Another view of the coconut grove.
8.- A lotus in the pond, in front of the Buddhist shrine.
9.- The Buddhist shrine.
10. Rodolfo Don sitting in front of the Buddhist shrine. Behind is the boddhi tree.
11. Krishnamurti lived in the apartment on the top floor, in the right side building.
12. In this building C.W. Leadbeater used to live.
13. One of the "trilithons" or stone arches. This one honors the Spanish theosophist Jose Xifre.
14. Main headquarters building, where the office of the president, the museum, and the archives are located.
15. This is the monument to the unknown theosophist.
16. The Hindu temple in the compound.
17. Adyar river towards the ocean.
18. Leadbeater chambers, where most visitors from the west stay.
19. Izar walking on the beach.
20. Theosophists from the Tel Aviv Lodge at the Adyar Library.
21. The same Israeli group walking towards the Theosophical Publishing House.
22. Izar giving greetings in the name of the Brazilian section at the International Convention.
23. Where the Adyar river joins the Indian ocean.
24. A view of the Garden of Remembrance.
25. Garden of Remembrance, HPB plaque.
26. Garden of Remembrance, lotus flowers.
27. Sunrise over the Indian ocean.
28. Olcott Memorial in the compound. Not far from the Buddhist shrine.
29. Statue of the two Founders in the Main building.
30. Plaque listing all the Sections of the Society.
31. Main Hall during Convention.
32. Another view of Main Hall during convention.

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1 The Adyar banyan tree	2 The Blavatsky bungalow	3 Young Theosophists Building	4 One of the residences in the compound	5 The coconut grove	6 An Adyar Resident
7 The coconut Grove Other view	8 A lotus in the pond	9 The Buddhist Shrine	10 The Buddhist Shrine	11 Krishnamurti's Appartment	12 C.W.L.'s Appartment
13 One of the "trilithons"	14 Headquarters' Main Building	15 The unknown Theosophist	16 The Hindu Temple	17 Adyar River	18 Leadbeater Chambers
19 Walking on the Beach	20 The Adyar Library	21 T.P.H.	22 International Convention	23 Adyar River Estuary	24 Garden of Remembrance
25 H.P.B. Plaque	26 Lotus Flowers	27 Indian Ocean	28 Olcott Memorial	29 Statue of the Founders	30 Listing of all Sections
31 Main Hall	32 Main Hall Other view