The Theosophical Society was founded in New York on 17 November 1875. Since 1882 its International Headquarters (often referred to as `Adyar`) has been located in Adyar, Chennai (formerly Madras), India. The Theosophical Society is composed of students, belonging to any religion in the world or to none, who are united by their approval of the Society`s Objects, by their wish to remove religious antagonisms and to draw together people of goodwill whatsoever their religious opinions, and by their desire to study religious truths and to share the results of their studies with others.