Chapter VI.

WORK IN INDIA.
1878-1884.
A bungalow in the native quarters of Bombay was chosen by the Founders for the Theosophical head- quarters, and before many weeks had passed, their rooms were thronged daily with native visitors, eager to discuss religious questions with Madame Blavatsky and to hear her explanations of their own ancient Scriptures. It is surely a striking testimony to the value of Theosophy that it can help equally the followers of various faiths, for just as Hindus, Buddhists, Parsees and others flocked round Madame Blakatsvy, so, in the present day, do they gather round Mrs. Besant to hear her lectures, while many earnest Christians find the greatest possible help in her words and writings. Theosophy flows out from the Source of all Religions and so each Faith is benefited by its coming.
The early days in Bombay were not easy, for Madame Blavatsky arrived in India with many misconceptions as to the British administration of India, and made no efforts to be introduced into European Society. Being a Russian, and moving solely among the natives, it was not strange that the police grew a httle suspicious as to her motives, fearing that she might be a secret agent of the Russian Government ; they accordingly annoyed her exceedingly by setting a detective to watch her movements. This was done in such a very
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obvious and clumsy way and was such an absurd proceeding, that the unfortunate detective led an unhappy life, and in a very short time no more was heard or thought of the Russian spy scare.
The early days of the Society, like the olden days when the world was young, were made happy by the frequent appearances and help of the great Founders whom Madame Blavatsky served. Thus, as Colonel Olcott tells us, at Bombay, in their peaceful retreat, he and Madame Blavatsky were visited in person by the Teachers and made to realize more strongly than ever that they were not alone in their work, but were being watched and aided at every turn.
One very important step was taken shortly after their arrival in India. Mr. A. P. Sinnett, then editor of the Pioneer, the principal Anglo-Indian newspaper, wrote asking for information about their objects and for an introduction to Madame Blavatsky. Mr. Sinnett's interest in the movement at this very early stage was of great value, for he was in touch with, and highly respected by, the best Anglo-Indian Society. The first meetings were not immediately satisfactory, owing, doubtless, to the peculiarities of her disposition, but enough ground was gone over to show that Madame Blavatsky was the possessor of, or in touch with, great stores of occult learning, and many demonstrations were given of her possession of wonderful psychic powers. During a visit which the two Founders paid to Mr. and Mrs. Sinnett at Simla there occurred the remarkable events recorded in The Occult World — the first book which Mr. Sinnett contributed to the library of Theosophical literature.
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Before long Mr. Sinnett saw through the outer pecuharities of Madame Blavatsky's temperament, and reahzed, as he himself has put it, " the splendour of her psychic gifts, her indomitable courage, which carried her through overwhelming dangers of all kinds, and her spiritual enthusiasm, which made all suffering and toil as dust in the balance compared with her allegiance to her unseen Masters." Through her he himself was given the privilege of communicating with the Masters, from Whom he received the letters upon which to base his work Esoteric Buddhism, the first book which gave any clear and orderly presenta- tion of Theosophy.
Their sphere of influence extended so rapidly, and they were so overwhelmed by correspondence, that the Founders decided to start a magazine, as an organ through which to speak. Accordingly, in October, 1879, the Theosophist was launched, and paid its way from the first.
The Founders visited many places in India, estab- hshing branches wherever they went and arousing pubhc interest in their work ; everywhere they sought to inspire the true spirit of patriotism among the natives, by explaining to them the beauty and dignity of their own religions and the greatness of their ancient nation ; in Ceylon, which was also visited, they were enthusiastically welcomed, for the people saw in them the first European champions of Buddhism. Leaving the steamer which conveyed them to Colombo, Col. Olcott writes, " We embarked in a large boat, decorated with plantain trees and lines of bright coloured flowers, on which were the leading Buddhists of the place.
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. . . on the jetty and on the beach a huge crowd awaited us, and rent the air with the united shout of * Sadhoo, Sadhoo.* A white cloth was spread for us from the jetty steps to the road, where carriages were ready, and a thousand flags were frantically waved in welcome. . . . The roads were blocked with people and our progress was very slow. At the house three Chief Priests received and blessed us at the threshold, reciting appropriate PMi verses. Then we had a lev6e and innumerable introductions ; the common people crowding every approach, filling every door and gazing through every window. This went on all day, to our great annoyance, for we could not get a breath of fresh air, but it was all so strong a proof of friendliness that we put up with it as best we could. . . . Every now and then a new procession of yellow-robed monks, arranged in order of seniority of ordination, and each carrying his palm leaf fan, came to visit and bless us. It was an intoxicating experience altogether, a splendid augury of our future relations with the nation."*
It was during these long and fatiguing tours with Madame Blavatsky that Colonel Olcott commenced the wonderful series of cures by mesmeric passes for which he became famous throughout India. This fame became almost a nuisance, because at every town or village at which they stayed the Colonel was literally besieged by applicants suffering from all sorts of pains and troubles. An incident which occurred at Tin- nevelly is typical and well worth quoting. " I had gone to the Pagoda," Colonel Olcott writes, " and was
"' * Old Diary Leaves, Vol. II., p. i^8.
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followed by at least a thousand idlers, who, for lack of better amusement, watched my every step, and exchanged opinions on my personal appearance. A yoimg man of twenty-five or thirty was brought to me through the press, by his father, with a prayer that I would restore his speech which he had lost three years before. Having neither elbow-room nor breath- ing space, I climbed up on the continuous pedestal or basement that supports a long Hne of monolithic carved figures of Hindu deities, drew the patient up after me, called for silence and made the father tell the people about the case." Then the Colonel laid his hands on the unfortunate dumb man and made seven circular passes on the head, and seven long passes, and in less than five minutes speech was restored, and the Colonel made the young man shout at the top of his voice the names of Hindu deities. A scene of intense enthusiasm followed.
In the midst of all this activity a house-boat journey made by the Founders, with some colleagues, came as a welcome change. Madame Blavatsky was in good health and spirits, and the quiet days of restful voyaging through the country, silent, save when passing an occasional town, must have been very refreshing to the two Pioneers. Their hopes at this time in regard to the future of the work on which they were engaged, were not so much that a strong and wide-spreading society might be formed, but rather that Theosophical ideas might gradually colour and influence modern thought and opinion. Com- paratively old people as they were, they could scarcely have hoped to build up the wide-branching Society
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which they nevertheless succeeded in developing in the next ten years.
The latter end of 1882 was marked by the grave illness of Madame Blavatsky at Bombay. The strain of constant labour, travelling and misrepresentation, and her natural excitability of temperament combined to bring about a collapse. She was directed to go north via Darjeehng to meet her Occult Guardians, and although she only spent two or three days with them she returned practically well again.
In their wanderings in India the Founders had always kept a look-out for a suitable home for the Society ; at the end of 1882 they came upon just the place they wanted. This was at Adyar, a suburb of Madras, where they saw and purchased the property which is now so well-known as the Head-quarters of the Theo- sophical Society and the home of its President.
(To face p. 49.)
COLONEL H. S. OLCOTT.
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