an organization founded in New York in 1875 by Mrs. H.P.Blavatksy, who was of Russian origin, and Colonel H.S.Olcott, with the object of promoting universal brotherhood of humanity and the study of comparative religion and philosophy, and above all to engage in practical exploration of the mystic or occult aspects of life and reality.
In 1879 its headquarters were moved to India as the home of ancient wisdom and established in Adyār near Madrās. Its syncretic teachings contain many tenets of Hinduism, particularly the doctrine of rebirth or reincarnation and of final liberation, but it also incorporates the purely European concept of evolution presented as an ideal of steady progress towards the final spiritual goal of perfection, on the part both of the individual and of mankind as a whole, thus representing a kind of spiritual darwinism. Its founders and most subsequent representatives supported Indian endeavours to gain political independence and the Society was instrumental in encouraging the self-confidence of Hindus in the face of strong activities by Christian missions, and it helped greatly in improving the standing of Hinduism among world religions. It has been and still is important for Hindu studies, even on the academic level, by maintaining a vast collection of religious manuscripts and promoting research into Hindu religious sources and the publication of its results.
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