Sree Vidyadhiraja Parama Bhattaraka

Sree Vidyadhiraja Parama Bhattaraka Chattampi Swamikal (1853–1924) was a Hindu sage and social reformer. His thoughts and work influvenced the launching of many social, relegious, literary and political organizations and movements in Kerala and for the first time gave voice to those who were marginalized.

Chattampi Swamikal denounced the orthodox interpretation of Hindu texts citing sources from the Vedas. Swamikal along with his contemporary Nārāyana Guru, strived to reform the heavily ritualistic and caste-ridden Hindu society of the late 19th century Kerala. Swamikal also worked for the emancipation of women and encouraged them to come to the forefront of society. He said that the enslavement of women was a manifestation of male arrogance. Swamikal promoted vegetarianism and professed non-violence (Ahimsa). Swamikal believed that the different religions are different paths leading to the same place. He strongly opposed the conversion activities of the Christian missionaries but was not against Christianity. Chattampi Swamikal throughout his intellectually and spiritually enriched life maintained a large number of friends from different regions of Kerala . He authored several books on spirituality, history, and language staying with these friends.

He was born on 25th August 1853 at Kollur, a suburban village of Trivandrum in southern Travancore. His father was Vasudeva Sharma, a Namboothiri, from Mavelikkara and mother Nangamma a lady from Kollur. He was formally named Ayyappan. But he was called by his pet name Kunjan by all and so was later known as Kunjan Pillai. As his parents were not able to provide him formal education, he leaned letters and words from children of his neighbourhood who attended schools. Also he learned Sanskrit by overhearing the classes at a Brahmin house nearby. Knowing his thirst for learning an uncle took him to the traditional school conducted by Pettayil Raman Pillai Asan, a renowned scholar and writer who taught him without any fee. It was there that he earned the name Chattampi on account of his assignment as the monitor of the class. The school served as a meeting place for many scholars of that time and it facilitated Kunjan to acquaint himself with many great men. He also could learn Tamil from Swaminatha Desikar and philosophy from Professor Sundaram Pillai during his study at the gurukulam. Kunjan Pillai was introduced into the science of yoga by the Thykattu Ayyavu a scholar and yogi who used to give lectures at the Gurukulam. A wandering sadhu who came to the village temple initiated him into spiritual world by giving the Balasubramanya Mantra. Mastering this mantra gave him a new vigour and zeal and he assumed the name Shanmukhadasa due to his deep devotion of Lord Subramanya.

As the burden of supporting the family fell on him, Kunjan Pillai took to many manual works. For some time he worked as a document writer. He stood first in a test for clerical posts in Government Secretariat Thiruvananthapuram conducted by Sir T Madhava Rao the then Divan of Travancore State. But he left the service after a short while as it prevented his wanderings and studies.

He spent many years learning under a great scholar Subba Jatapadikal in the village named Kalladiakurichi in southern Tamil Nadu. There he acquired deep and extensive mastery of all sastras in Tamil and Sanskrit. He also learned Siddha medicine, music, and martial arts. During this period he was greatly influenced by the works of Kodakanallur Sundara Swamikal a great advaitin. He later translated his work Nijananda Vilasam containing the cream of Vedanta into simple Malayalam to guide spiritual aspirants. He studied under a Christian priest and a Muslim saint and also spent months with many avadutas in Southern Tamil Nadu. At the end of his wanderings and quest he was led to self-realization by an avaduta whom he met at Vadaveeswaram in Tamil Nadu. He returned to Kerala as a great scholar and saint.

Disciples and Friends

In 1882 at the Aniyoor Temple near Vamanapuram Chattampi Swami met another young man Nanu Asan who was in search of spiritual guidance. By then Kunjan Pillai was well versed in yoga and spiritual matters and their meeting proved to be the start of a profound and cherished companionship, although the two were of different temperaments. In those days Nānu Āśān was a soft-spoken introvert while Kunjan Pillai an outspoken extrovert. They lived and travelled for many months together. Later Swamikal took Nānu Āśān, to his guru Thykkattu Ayyavu.

After completing Nānu Āśān's studies under Ayyavu Swami they left him and wandered together together in southern Tamil Nadu where they met many saints and scholars. It was with Chattampi Swamikal that Nārāyana Guru made his first trip to Aruvippuram, which was chosen as Nārāyana Guru's abode for meditation and spiritual activities. He was led to self realization at this beautiful and serene place and there Guru established a Siva temple the first such move by any from the lower caste in the region. Chattampi Swamikal, did not stay there for long, although the two maintained their contacts, respect and regard for each other throughout their life.

Chattampi Swamikal has got many disciples Grihastha disciples like Bodheswaran, Perunnelli Krsihnan Vaidhyan, Velutheri Kesavan Vaidhyan etc. as well Sanyasi disciples like Narayana Guru, Neelakanta

Toward the end of his life Swamikal settled down at Panmana, a village in Kollam district. After prolonged illness, Swamikal attained Maha Samadhi on May 5, 1924. His mortal remains were enshrined at his Samadhistanam at Panmana. This site is today called Panmana Ashramam, which is a centre for social service and spiritual practices.

Teachings of Chattampi Swamikal

• Avoid boastful thoughts about your physical achievements and material accumulations. Contemplate over the ultimate reality of existence. That alone will give meaning to life

• The whole universe is the manifestation of the one. The apparent differences between different objects are only an illusion. An understanding of this truth will lead to liberation and salvation

• This universe is the manifestation of but one mind. Alienation between one mind and another mind is unnatural. The mind of man is in no way different from the mind of any other creature

• Enslavement of woman is a manifestation of male arrogance. It is against all canons of justice and ethics. It is criminal, immoral

Works of Chattampi Swamikal

Therthapada and Theerthapad Parmahamsa who played very important role in renaissance and reformation in Kerala. The variety the is represented by the works of Chattampi Swamikal illustrates the vasteness and depth of his scholarship. the compositons of Swami have come out in various forms of single stanzas, muktakas, bhajan songs, essays, critical works, translations, commentaries, short notes, and letters. Vedadikara Nirupanam is conisdered as one of hi sgreatest works. it refuted baseless customes and rules that existed in Kerala. It for teh first time questioned teh monopolization of vedas, sciences, education and the relegious thought by a minority. Vedadikara Nirupanmam has infused strength and inspiration to the subltern groups to fight for their rights and spread the idesa that lead the movements for reformation and renaissance in Kerala.

Swami led a wandering life and left what he wrote with those who were with him at the time of writing. There was no later attempts to collect and conserve them which led to their gradual loss. A few works that got unearthed and published eight decades after his death and inspiring serious discussion show the value and the extent of the loss that occurred to Kerala society which was at one time unmindful of preserving his works. Recently Centre for South Indian Studies has initated Chattampi Swami Digital Archive (CSDA) project as an attempt to collect and collate documents related to Swami that still exist.

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He strongly opposed obsolete customs and inequality based on caste

He authored several books on spirituality and the history of language.

Chattampi Swamikal was known by different names throughout his intellectually and spiritually enriched life. The Swami's father was Vasudeva Sharma

Sharma is a name used in the Indian subcontinent as a Brahmin surname or given name. As a noun in Sanskrit, Sharma has various positive connotations, such as "bliss", "happiness", "shelter", "laid back" and "protection."In much of North India and Nepal, it is regarded as a family name, though it...

a Namboothiri, from Mavelikkara and mother Nangamma lady from Kollur, a suburban village of Trivandrum in southern Travancore

Kingdom of Travancore was a former princely state in the Indian subcontinent, with its capital at Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. It comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, the Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of Tamil Nadu.

He joined the traditional school conducted by Pettayil Raman Pillai Asan, a renowned scholar and writer. It was there that he earned the name Chattampi on account of his assignment as the monitor of the class. The young Kunjan Pillai was introduced into the science of yoga.Yoga refers to traditional physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines, originating in ancient India, whose goal is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility...

Kunjan Pillai was also called Shanmukhadasan due to his deep devotion of Lord Subramanya

It is said that in his youth Kunjan Pillai took to manual labour as a brick worker and later worked as a document writer in Neyyattinkara town, nearThiruvananthapuram.

It was in 1882 at the Aniyoor Temple near Vamanapuram that Chattampi Swami first met the young Nanu Asan. By then Kunjan Pillai was well versed in yoga and spiritual matters and their meeting proved to be the start of a profound and cherished companionship, although the two were of different temperaments. In those days Nānu Āśān was a soft-spoken introvert while Kunjan Pillai an outspoken extrovert. Swamikal took Nānu Āśān, who was in search of a mentor, to his guru Thykkattu Ayyavu.

Later Nānu Āśān and Chattampi Swamikal travelled together to many places in quest of truth and spiritual knowledge. It was with Chattampi Swamikal that Nārāyana Guru made his first trip to Aruvippuram, which was chosen as Nārāyana Guru's abode for meditation and spiritual activities. Chattampi Swamikal, however, did not stay there for long, although the two maintained their contacts, respect and regard for each other.

Chattampi Swamikal has got many disciples Grihastha disciples like Bodheswaran

Bodheswaran who made significant contributions to Kerala’s public life in the twentieth century was an example of many of the trends of Indian Renaissance. His parents Kunjan Pillai and Janaki Pillai had named him Kesavan. Born in Neyyattinkara a small town near Thiruvananthapuram in December 1901...

Perunnelli Krsihnan Vaidhyan, Velutheri Kesavan Vaidhyan etc. as well Sanyasi dsciples like Narayana Guru

Sri Nārāyana Guru , also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami, was a Hindu saint, sadhuand social reformer of India. The Guru was born into an Ezhava family, in an era when people from backward communities like the Ezhavas faced much social injustices in the caste-ridden Kerala society.Neelakanta Therthapada and Theerthapad Parmahamsa who played very important role in renaissance and reformation in Kerala.

Toward the end of his life Swamikal settled down at Panmana, a village in Kollam

Kollam. The city lies on the banks of Astamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. It is the headquarters of the Kollam district. Kollam is the fourth largest city in Kerala and is known for...

district, as requested by Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai. After prolonged illness, Swamikal attained Maha Samadhi on May 5, 1924. His mortal remains were enshrined at his Samadhistanam at Panmana. This site is today called Panmana Ashramam, which is a centre for social service and spiritual practices. During his visit to Travancore in 1934, Mahatma Gandhi had stayed at the ashram for a day.

Teachings of Chattampi Swamikal

• Avoid boastful thoughts about your physical achievements and material accumulations. Contemplate over the ultimate reality of existence. That alone will give meaning to life
• The whole universe is the manifestation of the one. The apparent differences between different objects are only an illusion. An understanding of this truth will lead to liberation and salvation
• This universe is the manifestation of but one mind. Alienation between one mind and another mind is unnatural. The mind of man is in no way different from the mind of any other creature
• Enslavement of woman is a manifestation of male arrogance. It is against all canons of justice and ethics. It is criminal, immoral

Works of Chattampi Swamikal

Swami led a wandering life and left what he wrote with those who were with him at the time of writing. There was no later attempts to collect and conserve them which led to their gradual loss. A few works that got unearthed and published eight decades after his death and inspiring serious discussion show the value and the extent of the loss that occurred to Kerala society which was at one time unmindful of preserving his works. Recently Centre for South Indian Studies has initated Chattampi Swami Digital Archive (CSDA) project as an attempt to collect and collate documents related to Swami that still exist. Major works of Swami available in print are:

Available)

• Advaita Chinta Paddhati
• Keralathile Desa Namangal
• Kristumata Chedanam
• Jivakarunya Nirupanam
• Devarcha Paddhatiyude Upodghatam
• Devi Manasa Puja Stotra Vyakhyanam
• Nijananda Vilasam (published by Narayana Gurukulam, Srinivasapuram, Varkala)
• Pranavavum Sankhya Darsanavum
• Prapanchathil Stri Purushanmarkkulla Sthanam
• Pracheena Malayalam (published by Kurukshethra Prakasan, Kaloor, Cochin)
• Pracheena Malayalam Part II ( A hundred year old manuscript discovered recently by Vaikkam Vivekanandan, published by Centre for South Indian Studies)
• Bhasha Padma Puranam
• Malayalathile Chila Sthala Namangal
• Vedadhikara Niroopanam (published by Kurukshethra Prakasan, Kaloor, Cochin)
• Chila Kavit Sakalangal
• Chila Kathukal
• Chila Sambhashanangal
• srichakra puja

The following works are not Available, but are mentioned in "Life and Works of Chattampi Swamikal" (Chattampi Swamikal: Jivitavum Kritikalum), Dr. K. Maheshwaran Nair, page 87, 2nd edition, 1995, published by Dooma Books, Trivandrum)

• Advaita Panjaram
• Adi Bhasha
• Ozhuvilodukkam (Translation)
• Chidakasa Layam
• Tamizhakam
• Tarka Rahasya Ratnam
• Parama Bhattara Darsanam
• Punarjanma Nirupanam
• Brahmatatva Nirbhasam
• Bhugola Sastram
• Moksha Pradipa Khandanam
• Vedanta Saram
• Shanmata Nirupanam
• Sarva Mata Samarasyam
• Stava Ratna Haravali
• Pillathalolippu

Chattampi Swamikal (b:1853 - d:1925) was one of Kerala's famed social reform activists and learned men. Chattampi Swamikal worked in parallel with his contemporary and soul mate Sree Nārāyana Guru to bring social equality to an otherwise heavily ritualistic and caste ridden Hindu society that prevailed around the late 19th and early 20th centuries across the present-day Kerala (erstwhile princely states of Travancore, Tirukochi and Malabar).

Chattampi Swamikal encouraged the Nair community to resist Brahmin hegemony in religion, administrative services and society. Swamikal also worked for the emancipation of Nair women from the clutches of Namboodiri Brahmin exploitation and encouraged women to come the forefront of society in respectable roles. He said that the enslavement of woman is a manifestation of male arrogance. Swamikal encouraged vegetarianism and professed non-violence (Ahimsa). He was open to learning other religions and authored several literary works on spirituality and the history of language.

Chattampi Swamikal was known by different names through his intellectually and spiritually enriched life. Swamiji's original name is said to have been Ayyappan, although he was later known as Kunjan Pilla and also as Shanmughadasan. In later life his formal name as a respected sage was Sree Vidyadhiraja Parama Bhattaraka Chattampi Swamikal.

Early life

Swamiji's father was Vasudeva Sarma and mother Manga Devi of Ullukod tharavad of Kollur village in southern Travancore. It is said that in his youth Kunjan Pilla even took to manual labour as a brick worker and also later worked as document writer in Neyyattinkara town, near the present-day city of Thiruvananthapuram.

The young Kunjan Pilla trained yoga under his guru Thykattu Ayyavu. He was later a disciple of Perunnalli Krishnan Vaidyar, a renowned scholar and physician of Central Travancore. When under the scholarship of Perunnalli Krishnan Vaidyar, Kunjan Pilla earned the name Chattampi on account of his assignment as the monitor of the class (chatambi in malayalam means naughty - but in this sense it is more similar to the expression cheeky in British English - his name in commen Trivandrum folklore is the naughty saint). Chattampi Kunjan Pilla also gained the name Shanmukhadasan on account of his deep devotion to Lord Subramanya.

Soul mate of Nānu Āśān

It was at Perunnalli Krishnan Vaidyar's house that Chattampi Kunjan Pilla first met the young Nānu Āśān (later known as Sree Nārāyana Guru. By then Chattampi Kunjan Pilla was well versed in yoga and spiritual matters and their meeting proved to be the start of a profound and cherished companionship, although the two were of different temperaments. In those days Nānu Āśān was a soft-spoken introvert and Chattampi Kunjan Pilla an outspoken extrovert. When around 1884 Nānu Āśān was searching for a guru to teach him advanced yoga, Chattampi Swamikal took Nānu Āśān to his guru Thykkattu Ayyavu.

Later Nānu Āśān and Chattampi Swamikal travelled together to many places in their quest for truth and spiritual knowledge. It was with Chattampi Swamikal that Nārāyana Guru made his first trip to Aruvippuram, which was chosen as Nārāyana Guru's abode for meditation and spiritual activity. Chattampi Swamikal however did not stay there for long, although the two maintained their contacts, respect and regard for each other.

Maha Samadhi

Prior to his Maha Samadhi (renunciation of the mortal body), Chattampi Swamikal was seriously ill and bedridden for a period of thirteen months. After Swamikal went into Maha Samadhi in 1925, his mortal remains were enshrined at his Samadhistanam at Panmana near Kollam. The site is today called Panmana Ashramam, which is a centre for social service and spiritual practices.

Teachings of Chattampi Swamikal

* Avoid boastful thoughts about your physical achievements and material accumulations. Contemplate over the ultimate reality of existence. That alone will give meaning to life

* The whole universe is the manifestation of the one. The apparent differences between different objects are only an illusion. An understanding of this truth will lead to liberation and salvation

* This universe is the manifestation of but one mind. Alienation between one mind and another mind is unnatural. The mind of man is in no way different from the mind of any other creature

* Enslavement of woman is a manifestation of male arrogance. It is against all canons of justice and ethics. It is criminal, immoral