While the quest for material well-being goes on, the sacred tradition of India also runs parallel to it, sustaining it and providing a tenable reason to live, to serve others and to strive for spiritual upliftment. The thread of spiritualism runs through the centuries, holding diverse millions together. This civilization, which has derived strength and sustenance in moments of cataclysmic churning, has witnessed the spirit of oneness in the entire country, thanks to its sages and saint poets. Sri Siddhar Swamigal was one such beam of radiance who, in the glorious tradition of socially committed saints and sages of India, led the masses towards enlightenment.

Siddhar Swamigal was born on 15 May 1904, at Srinivasanallur, a small village near the temple town of Kumbakonam in Tanjore district to Sri Rathnaswamy and Smt. Dhana Lakshmi Ammal in a family of Siddhars. They were masters of Upanishads and Vedic scripts and were well versed in the study of medicinal plants and herbs, and were physicians as well. His Guru, Sri Sivananda Sivalinga Perumanaar, initiated him at the age of 8 and gave him 'brahma deeksha '. He studied extensively and  mastered the works of eighteen Siddhars of Tamil Nadu. Married at a very young age, he and his wife were blessed with a daughter and a son. Young Siddhar Swamigal was deeply influenced by the strict self-discipline of his grandfather and his scholarly father.

Siddhar Swamigal was a deep thinker and spiritually inclined from a young age. On 19th May 1944, Om Siddhar Swamigal had an intense spiritual experience while meditating. From that day forth, he devoted his life and activities to social service with a renewed zeal and vigour. He developed a strong following. He advised his devotees to face any challenge in a straight forward manner. In his teachings, he emphasized universal love and peace and the importance of Guru Bhakti. He was full of love and compassion towards his fellow beings in the village. He spent two decades and more in Mayiladuthurai, a small town in the district of Thanjavur, hence was popularly known as Mayiladuthurai  Sidhar Swamigal.

In a world torn by conflicts and in a society rife with divisions on the basis of caste and creed, Siddhar Swamigal spread the message of peace and harmony. He initiated the concept of Open Space Meditation which, according to him, was a way to overcome one's limitations, to transcend mental barriers and to derive strength from the vast openness of space. The need for world peace was astutely sensed by him long ago when he said that individuals need to be at peace for the world to be at peace. He exhorted his disciples to transcend narrow and divisive social barriers in their spiritual evolvement and develop universal consciousness, drawing on the immense spiritual powers within.

With the objective of spreading divine bliss or 'Santhosham' all over the  world, Sri Siddhar Swamigal found the Omkara Ashram in 1960 in Mayiladuthurai. His entrusted its responsibility to his prime disciple, Swamy Omkarananda before attaining his final peace on 31st August  1964.

Omkara Ashram, which is a non-religious organization has been spreading the message of universal peace and brotherhood and has been engaged in social service. The Ashram holds World Peace Conferences and Mass Rallies for world peace. Special emphasis  is given to providing food to the poor. The Ashram also has among its objectives the emancipation of destitute girls, providing them a home, education and medical care. Plans are underway to set up a hospital for aged women. The Ashram has branches in many places in South India with Pondicherry serving as the hub of its spiritual activities and it has spread out to the Far East and the United States of America.

The Department of Posts honours the work and life of Sri Siddhar Swamigal through issue of this commemorative postage stamp.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India