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{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{infobox person
|name = A. J. Appasamy
|image = File:Appasamy.jpg
|birth_name = Ayyadurai Jesudasen Appasamy
|birth_date = 3 September 1891
|birth_place = Palayamkottai, Tamilnadu
|death_date = 1975 (aged 84)
|occupation = Bishop
}}
'''Aiyadurai Jesudasen Appasamy''' (3 September 1891 – 1980) was an Indian [[Christian theologian]], and [[bishop]] of the [[Church of South India]] in [[Coimbatore]], Tamil Nadu. He was a member of the 'Rethinking Christianity Group', and sought to reconcile Christian with Hindu philosophies. He interpreted Christianity as 'bhaktimarga'.

==Early life and studies==
Aiyadurai Jesudasen Appasamy was born in Palayamkottai [[Tamil Nadu]] (south India) on 3 September 1891, to Christian parents<ref>Gurukul Theological Research Group of the Tamilnad Christian Counsel. ''A Christian theological approach to Hinduism: being studies in the theology of A.J. Appasamy, V. Chakkarai and P. Chenchiah'', 1-2.</ref> His father had been a [[Shaivism|Shaivite]] before coming to the Christian faith at the age of 24. A. J. Appasamy often wrote of the influence of his father and his family on him.<ref>Appasamy, A.J. "My Theological Quest – The Need for an Indian Theology", in ''The Christian Bhakti of A.J. Appasamy – A collection of his writings'', Francis, T.D, 134-136.</ref><ref>Wagner, H. ''Erstgestalten einer einheimischen Theologie in Südindien – Ein Kapitel indischer Theologiegeschichte als kritischer Beitrag zur Definition von "einheimischer"'', 11.</ref> After becoming a Christian his father studied both Christianity and [[Hinduism]]. In his 67th year he became consumed with a passion to see God, learnt meditation from a Hindu [[guru]], began to practise [[yoga]] regularly, had mystical experiences,<ref>Gurukul Theological Research Group of the Tamilnad Christian Counsel. ''A Christian theological approach to Hinduism: being studies in the theology of A.J. Appasamy, V. Chakkarai and P. Chenchiah'', 1.</ref> and emphasised the value of the prayer of [[Dhyana in Hinduism|dhyana]] (contemplation) as a method of attaining truth. His son, A.J. Appasamy, was aware of some danger but also of ‘the immense value’ of this view of prayer; he was convinced that this practice of yoga had made a profound, positive difference to his father's life.<ref>Appasamy, A.J. "My Theological Quest – The Need for an Indian Theology", in ''The Christian Bhakti of A.J. Appasamy – A collection of his writings'', Francis, T.D, 137-138, 141.</ref>

In 1915 A. J. Appasamy went to study philosophy and religion in the U.S.A. at Harvard University, and later in Britain at Oxford University, where he received a doctorate of Philosophy. It seemed evident to Appasamy that ‘if the Christians in India are to make any impact upon national life, they must be well-educated men who are quite familiar with the literature of the country, though they may not follow the Hindu religion.’ He came to this conclusion from a comparison with the role of Christians in ancient Rome.<ref>Appasamy, A.J. "My Theological Quest – The Need for an Indian Theology", in ''The Christian Bhakti of A.J. Appasamy – A collection of his writings'', Francis, T.D, 144.</ref> The influence of ‘many great scholars and inspiring teachers’, such as [[J. N. Farquhar]], [[B. H. Streeter]], [[Friedrich von Hügel]], [[William Temple (archbishop)|William Temple]], [[Friedrich Heiler]] and [[Rudolf Otto]], led him to the conclusion ‘that we had a good deal to learn from the life and experience of the [[bhakti]] writers of India.’<ref>Appasamy, A.J. "My Theological Quest – The Need for an Indian Theology", in ''The Christian Bhakti of A.J. Appasamy – A collection of his writings'', Francis, T.D, 145, "The Christian Task in Independent India", 95-96.</ref>
Another influence which began at this time was that of the sadhu [[Sundar Singh]], who visited Oxford in 1920. Appasamy came to know Sundar Singh well, and collaborated with B.H. Streeter in writing a book on him, ''The Sadhu'' (1921).<ref>Boyd, R. ''An Introduction to Indian Christian Theology'', 119; 132-133.</ref>

After returning to India in 1922 Appasamy became an editor of the Christian Literature Society. This enabled him to continue his studies, turning to Sanskrit texts as well as Tamil; for which he turned to Sanskrit pandits. He was particularly interested in ‘how [[Ramanuja]] had constructed into a theological system his deep personal experience of God.’<ref>Appasamy, A.J. "My Theological Quest – The Need for an Indian Theology", in ''The Christian Bhakti of A.J. Appasamy – A collection of his writings'', Francis, T.D, 146. Boyd, R. ''An Introduction to Indian Christian Theology'', 119.</ref>

==Christian Ministry==
From 1932 to 1936 Appasamy was teaching in Bishop's College in Calcutta (Kolkata). There, he made extra study of the neo-Hindu movements in India, such as the [[Brahmo Samaj]] and the [[Ramakrishna Mission]].<ref>Appasamy, A.J. "My Theological Quest – The Need for an Indian Theology", in ''The Christian Bhakti of A.J. Appasamy – A collection of his writings'', Francis, T.D, 146.</ref>

After 1936 he worked several years in a village of seven hundred people at a night school for adults.<ref>Appasamy, A.J. ''The Christian Task in Independent India'', 49; 108-109.</ref> He was also concerned in the IMC ( International Missionary Conference) in Tambaram in 1938. He associated himself with the ‘Rethinking Christianity Group’, of which [[P. Chenchiah|Pandippedi Chenchiah]] and [[Vengal Chakkarai|V. Chakkarai]] were leaders.<ref>Schouten, J.P. ''Jezus als goeroe – Het beeld van Jezus Christus onder hindoes en christenen in India'', 108.</ref>

In 1946 he became an archdeacon.

From 1951 until his retirement in 1959 he served in the newly formed [[Church of South India]] as bishop in [[Coimbatore]] diocese, Tamil Nadu.

In his works Appasamy mentions all kinds of people: some as illustration, some to disagree with and some as examples to learn from. These are some people whom he admires: St. [[John the Apostle|John]], St. [[Paul the Apostle|Paul]], St. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]], [[Ramanuja]], St. [[Bernard of Clairvaux]], [[Manikkavacakar]], St. [[Francis of Assisi]], [[Julian of Norwich]], [[Thomas à Kempis]], [[Kabir]], [[Martin Luther|Luther]], [[Tukaram]], [[George Fox]], [[John Wesley]], [[John Henry Newman]], [[H.A. Krishna Pillai]], [[pandita Ramabai]], [[M.K. Gandhi]], [[C.F. Andrews]], [[Albert Schweitzer]], Sadhu [[Sundar Singh]]. Some with whom he often disagrees are [[Adi Shankara|Shankara]], [[Meister Eckhart|Eckhart]], [[Henry Suso|Suso]], [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|Chaitanya]].

Appasamy was a forerunner of inter-faith dialogue and cooperation, and influenced theologians such as [[Paul David Devanandan|Paul D. Devanandan]] and M.M. Thomas. He had many Hindu, Muslim and Sikh friends.<ref>Francis, T.D. "A.J. Appasamy: An Advocate of Indigenous Christian Theology" in ''A.J. Appasamy, Christianity as bhakti marga – a study of the Johannine doctrine of love'', xiv.</ref>

He died in 1975.<ref>Wagner, H. ''Erstgestalten einer einheimischen Theologie in Südindien – Ein Kapitel indischer Theologiegeschichte als kritischer Beitrag zur Definition von ‘einheimischer Theologie’'', 106.</ref>

==Select publications==
In 1964 Appasamy listed his more important books.<ref>Appasamy, A.J. "My Theological Quest – The Need for an Indian Theology" in ''The Christian Bhakti of A.J. Appasamy – A collection of his writings'', Francis, T.D., ed., 147.</ref> Here we follow his list, with some additions.

*[with B. H. Streeter] ''The Sadhu: a study in mysticism and practical religion'' (1921) [On Sundar Singh]
*''An Indian Interpretation of Christianity'' (1924)
*''Christianity as bhakti marga: a study of the Johannine doctrine of Love'' (1926; 2nd. ed. 1930). [Based on his Oxford University doctoral thesis of 1922, 'The Mysticism of Hindu Bhakti Literature especially in its relation to the Mysticism of the Fourth Gospel', with further study].<ref>Appasamy, A.J. ''Christianity as bhakti marga – a study of the Johannine doctrine of love'', vii.</ref>
*''Indian studies, edited by A. J. Appasamy'' (1926)
*''Temple Bells: readings from Hindu religious literature, edited by A. J. Appasamy ...'' (1930) [Bhakti poems.]
*''Church union: an Indian view'' (1930)
*''What is moksa? A study in the Johannine doctrine of life'' (1931). [The conclusion of his enlarged thesis. He focuses on the Johannine doctrine of love and devotion with reference to Hindu bhakti literature. The Gospel and Letters of John would provide a basis for his later theology of Christian bhakti.]<ref>Francis, T.D. "A.J. Appasamy: An Advocate of Indigenous Christian Theology" in A.J. Appasamy, ''Christianity as bhakti marga – a study of the Johannine doctrine of love'', ix.</ref>
*''The Johannine doctrine of life. A study of Christian and Indian thought'' (1934)
*''Christ in the Indian Church. A primer of Christian faith and practice'' (1935). [Explains Christianity simply for young people entering, or growing up in, the Church.]<ref>Gurukul Theological Research Group of the Tamilnad Christian Counsel ''A Christian theological approach to Hinduism: being studies in the theology of A.J. Appasamy, V. Chakkarai and P. Chenchiah'', 2.</ref>
*''The cultural problem'' (1942) (=Oxford pamphlets on Indian affairs; 1)
*''The Gospel and India's Heritage'' (1942). [Written for the National Christian Council, relating the Gospel to Indian traditions, especially bhakti.]<ref>Gurukul Theological Research Group of the Tamilnad Christian Counsel ''A Christian theological approach to Hinduism: being studies in the theology of A.J. Appasamy, V. Chakkarai and P. Chenchiah'', 3.</ref>
*''Our main problem'' (1943)
*''The Christian Task in Independent India'' (1951)
*''Behold, I stand at the door and knock'' (1954)
*''A Spiritual awakening in south India'' (1955)
*''The Cross is Heaven. The life and writings of sadhu Sundar Singh'' (1956)
*''Sundar Singh: a biography'' (1958)
*''My theological quest'' (1964)
*''Write the vision! Edwin Orr's thirty years of adventurous service'' (1964)
*''Tamil Christian Poet: the life and writings of H. A. Krishna Pillai'' (1966)
*''A Bishop's story'' (1969)
*''The Theology of Hindu Bhakti'' (1970). [Mainly on the bhakti theology of Ramanuja and its relevance to Christian experience.]<ref>Francis, T.D. "A .J. Appasamy: An Advocate of Indigenous Christian Theology" in A.J. Appasamy, ''Christianity as bhakti marga – a study of the Johannine doctrine of love'', x.</ref>
*''The Christian Bhakti of A.J. Appasamy – A Collection of his writings'' (1992). [Published by T.D. Francis, for the Christian Literature Society, on 1.‘Inner life’, 2. ‘Christian theology: an Indian perspective’, 3. ‘Hinduism’, 4. ‘Christ and Hinduism’.]

==Further reading==
*K. Baago, ''Pioneers of indigenous Christianity'' (1969)
*Tamilnad Christian Council. ''A Christian theological approach to Hinduism, being studies in the theology of A. J. Appasamy, V. Chakkarai and [[P. Chenchiah]]'' (1956)

==References==
{{reflist}}

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[[Category:1891 births]]
[[Category:Harvard Divinity School alumni]]
[[Category:Church of South India clergy]]
[[Category:Indian Christian theologians]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:Anglican bishops of Coimbatore]]

Aiyadurai Jesudasen Appasamy - Revision history

>JJMC89 bot III at 06:23, 1 June 2021