Inspired by Indian Culture and philosophy, group of westerners led by Madame H.P. Blavatsky and Colonel M.S. Olcott founded the Theosophical society in 1875 in New York USA..
In 1882, they shifted their headquarters to Adyar, Madras.
It accepted the Hindu beliefs in reincarnation and karma, and drew inspiration from the philosophy of the Upanishads and samkhya, yoga and Vedanta schools of thought.
It aimed to work for universal brotherhood of humanity without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour.
The Theosophical Movement came to be allied with the Hindu renaissance. For instance, it opposed child marriage and advocated the abolition of caste discrimination, uplift of outcastes, improvement in the condition of widows.
As a movement of westerners, glorifying Indian religious and philosophical traditions, it gave much needed self-respect to the Indians fighting British colonial rule.
