History

The Poona Lodge of  Theosophical Society was established during the visit of Mme Helene Petrovna Blavatsky and Col Henery Steel Olcott to Pune, on invitation of Judge N.D.Rhandalawala. Dr. Annie Besant laid the foundation stone on February 6, 1926 and the building was consecrated by her two years later. Regular meetings are held here twice a week (Tuesday and Friday, 6.30 p.m.) and are open to all who seek the subtle, sublime and finer truths of life. The word 'Theosophy' is made up of two Greek rods: 'Theos' meaning 'Divine' and 'Sophia' meaning 'Wisdom'. Together they mean 'Divine wisdom' an exact translation of the well known Sanskrit term 'Brahmavidya'.

Theosophy proclaims the one truth that there is 'One Life' from which 'All Proceeds'. This one life (called Iswara, God, Allah, Ahur Mazd) is pervading all life and form, seated in the hearts of all living living things everywhere and hence 'Universal Brotherhood' is a fact in Nature. The Theosophical Society only affirms this One Truth in its first object.

The study of comparative religion, philosophy and science reveals to the earnest, unprejudiced student that the fundamental truths in all religions are the same and therefore, moral precepts which arise out of the basic teachings of every religion are identical. Such an awareness can be a basic building unit for national integration, religious harmony and peace in our country. The pursuit of the 'third object' is by the more devoted and earnest members of the Theosophical Society. Here emphasis is on meditation, as a balanced and creative way to a harmonious life.  

Aims

1) To form a nucleus of universal brotherhood of humanity, without any distinction of caste, colour, creed, race, religion and sex.                                                  

2) To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science.

3) To investigate the unexplained laws of nature and powers latent in men.

Founders

The two principal founders of were Mme H. P. Blavatsky and Col Henery Steel Olcott. Helene Petrovna Blavatsky was born in 1831 in the princely Russian family of Hahns.

Both Mme Blavatsky and Col Olcott sacrificed wealth and position for Theosophy

Mme Blavatsky and Olcott publicly proclaimed that the Theosophical Society was founded at the inspiration and direction of the two liberated (Jeevan Mukta) rishis/mahatmas, wearing Indian bodies and residing in their ashrams in the Himalayas (somewhere in Tibet)

In 1879, Mme Blavatsky and Col Olcott came to India and found, to their dismay, that the natives were not only yoked under the colonial power, but that the native religions were losing their ancient lure.

They toured India and started talking of the native religions from public platforms, drawing attention to the Truth, and their teachings. They took to religious education to educate the Indians in their own religions and founded Sanskrit pathshalas and Buddhist schools in Ceylon -a part of India then.

They firmly believed that religious education was the foundation of patriotism and high moral character.

During his tours of Indian towns, Olcott came across manuscripts engraved on palm leaves, etched on metals, plates, terecotta, painted on leather or hides. These, he realised, were the original treatises of great scholarships and merit. He at once gauged their value for the benefit of scholars and pundits and earnestly started collecting them from his meagre resources. Olcott founded the Adyar Library of Oriental Research and thanks to him, today a collection of more than 3000 Sanskrit, 1500 Japanese and Pali documents are preserved for posterity. Adyar Library is one of the highly respected and productive research libraries in the world today.

In 1915, Annie Besant, on the orders of her spiritual teacher (a great Indian rishi) entered politics. She undertook a whirlwind tour of India visiting villages and brought about an almost impossible union of all the political parties agreeing for home rule, and took part in preparing the political Constitution Bill. In  fact, her works and the endeavours of earlier theosophical leaders came in handy for the later political freedom movement. The stage was set for enacting the further sequence.