Theosophical Society This was formed to facilitate and encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and was founded by Madame Blavatsky and Col.Olott of the USA, and later moved to Adyar in 1882. Apart from shrines to all faiths and the peaceful Garden of Remembrance, there is a 95-year old library which has a very good collection of rare Oriental manuscripts written on palm leaves and parchment worth viewing. Discourses are conducted here under a huge banyan tree, which spreads to almost 40.000sq. ft. of area.