The origin and impact of the theosophical centre in Adyar

Abstract

One of the most interesting examples of the Theosophists' campaign of transgressive imagination in Eastern and Western culture is the movement's headquarters-The Theosophical Society International Headquarters in Adyar (Chennai, Tamil Nadu), called the "vision of hope for mankind". This remarkable project has so far failed to attract any comprehensive research or permeate the extensive sources of Theosophical literature or subject literature. The aim of this paper is to highlight the most specifi c elements of this utopia-partly imagined, partially realised-which was intended by its creators to be an inspiration for the coming new era of the world.

Nehru’s Elephant Envoys: Animal Modernity, Orientalist Gaze and India’s Soft Power

“…One could assume that Nehru’s worldview was framed since he was educated as a child in accordance with the Theosophical Society’s orientalist understanding. For suppose, if we follow the iconography of the Adyar headquarters, known as the ‘Elephant Building’, whose exterior walls are decorated with eight elephant heads, theosophist interest regarding elephant symbols will be apparent (Trzcińska & Świerzowska, 2017, pp. 9–10).…”