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❖ மறைமலையம் - 22
introduced into it, and the book grew four times in size of its first edition and appeared in June, 1926, in its full and final form.
Again, from the time my Tamil work on: 'Personal magnetism:’ began to appear part by part in my magazine: ‘Unansagaram', demands for it in a complete book - form increased som much that towards the end of 1926. I found it no longer possible to delay its publication. and so, I took up that most Useful work, completed and published it in book - form in February, 1927.
In the middle of 1923, a hot controversy was opened in the Tamil papers on the subject whether the Velala people should be included in the Vaisya, the mercantile caste or in the Sudra, the slave caste of the Aryan classification. I was called upon to decide this moot point, and consequently a critical and historical study of that interesting question was made on the basis of facts gathered from Tamil and Sanscrit Literatures. I traced the origin and growth, the rank and station of the velala community and the results were published in a book-form in Nov., 1923. The copies of the first edition having sold off in three years and half, the second edition was called for early in 1927, and was, with a few more additions, published in july, 1927.
Besides these interruptions caused by literary works, many a public function, which I was called upon to perform, delayed the present work still more, Every now and then I had to go to Perur, thanjavur, Tiruchi, Madras and Thiruppathirippuliyoor for presiding over the grand annual celebrations and Thiruppathirippuliyoor for presiding over the grand annual celebrations of Tamil sangams and Saiva Siddhanta Societies that were held in those places.
In the midst of Such varied activities, I was also for a time striving my utmost to print my English lecture on 'Saiva Siddhanta as a philosophy of practical knowledge', but the printing of it could not be finished as yet, since some of its parts require expansion which I can do only after my present literary works leave my hands.
